• 4:00 PM:  Networking Begins
• 4:30 PM:  Welcome & Featured Speakers
• 5:15 PM:  Networking Resumes

68th District State Representative Dave Vella has lived in the Stateline his whole life. He worked 25 years as a public defender and criminal defense attorney in his family firm and was then elected as State Representative in 2020. In his legislative role, Representative Vella has been collaborating with regional leaders and advocating in Springfield, emphasizing legislation that supports the retention and attraction of manufacturing jobs. He recently sponsored the just passed Reimagining Electric Vehicles (REV) in Illinois Act, which is a groundbreaking program that is designed to bolster Illinois electric vehicle manufacturing. He has been married for 21 years to his wife Michelle, and they have two children.

• Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity: DCEO provide targeted referrals and counseling for economic opportunities to businesses, including site selection; customized workforce training; regional and local collaboration; expedited permitting, licensing and other approvals; connection to key stakeholders and civic and business partners; and potential financial support to include small businesses recovery grants for those hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Illinois Small Business Development Center: The SBDC provides information, confidential business guidance, training, and other resources for start-ups and existing small businesses to include free and confidential business advising, a professional referral network, access to capital, technology development, assistance to minority business owners, and more.
• The Workforce Connection: TWC is the local workforce development board that provides a fully integrated and accessible workforce development system that balances the needs of individuals and businesses to ensure our region has a skilled workforce to effectively compete in the global economy. TWC provides regional employers in Boone, Stephenson, and Winnebago counties with business services that make organizations more competitive, improve productivity, create new revenue streams, and improve acquisition and retention of valued employees.
• U.S. Commercial Service: The U.S. Commercial Service recently hired a Director of International Trade, who provides free and confidential support to businesses in the Northwest Illinois territory by promoting trade, exports, and investment to help U.S. organizations compete at home and abroad.

Join us at Loves Park City Hall to learn about Health and Safety Resources for the whole family! There will be games, food, demonstrations and screenings, emergency response vehicles, and so much more!* We hope to see you there!

*all activities dependent on appropriate volunteer staffing