Friday, July 31, 2009

DEVCORP NORTH CHANGES NAME TO ROGERS PARK BUSINESS ALLIANCE

Chicago, Illinois, July 30, 2009-- DevCorp North, a non-profit organization that leads business, community, and economic development efforts in Chicago's Rogers Park, announced today it is changing its name to Rogers Park Business Alliance to better reflect the organization's mission, its services and its commitment to building a better Rogers Park.

In addition, Rogers Park Business Alliance recently made a big investment in the Rogers Park community by purchasing a commercial condominium to serve as its offices at 1448 W. Morse Avenue. The 3,000 square foot ADA accessible space has multiple conference rooms available for community meetings and incorporates green features such as tankless water heaters and low VOC paint.

Since it was created 16 years ago, Rogers Park Business Alliance has provided businesses with consulting, networking and business attraction and retention services. Special emphasis has been placed on developing and managing two Special Service Areas, the Clark/Morse/Glenwood (SSA 24) and Howard Street (SSA 19).

Rogers Park Business Alliance’s leadership resulted in a vision for these commercial corridors and a stronger retail climate. SSA and Rogers Park Business Alliance accomplishments include supporting hundreds of Rogers Park businesses with assistance and transforming the facades, awnings and signage of more than a dozen businesses through the Business Improvement Program.

The SSAs and Rogers Park Business Alliance have also hosted and sponsored successful events throughout the year such as the Celebrate Clark Street Festival, the Glenwood Avenue Arts Festival, the Dancin’ in the Park dance series and the Mile of Murals project, an expanding outdoor public art installation along the Red line from Farwell Avenue to Estes along Glenwood Avenue.

In order to bring the business community together, Rogers Park Business Alliance co-hosts the popular Rogers Park BizArts networking events, held twice a month at participating businesses, and will build upon the success of its first Dinner Crawl with a second one to take place Thursday, September 24th. "Rogers Park is one of the country's most ethnically diverse communities, and it's now one of the 'bloggiest' in the country, too" said Executive Director Kimberly Bares. "More than 80 languages are spoken here, and Rogers Park has an infinite number of opinions among our 65,000 residents. At Rogers Park Business Alliance, we celebrate that diversity of culture, language and opinion. Our job is to strengthen and support business so we can continue to build a strong, sustainable community."

An important part of building a strong community is developing partnerships with for-profit and non-profit organizations serving Rogers Park and the Chicagoland region. Bares said: "Collaboration leads to change, and we're committed to having a positive impact on our community."

Board president Tommy FitzGibbon, President, MB Financial Community Development Corporation, explained the move to change the name and find a new home was made to reinforce the organization's commitment to a resurgent Rogers Park. He said: "Rogers Park has many strengths, from our location on the lake to a shared boundary with Evanston, to our diversity, affordable housing and strong educational institutions. We want to continue to strengthen the business community here and lead the way in demonstrating to the City of Chicago and the nation that balanced development is possible."

12 comments:

Unknown said...

So now they can serve no practical purpose under a different name?

Philip McGregor Rogers said...

again, no mention
of historical society
being housed in old firehourse
on greenleaf. This needs a blog entry.

positive news that is swept under the rug, leaving use rogerparkians
with an incomplete view of the neigborhood.

I come here for news, but find I have to search many other sites due to incompleteness of this site.

proGun said...

The new office digs are spectacular.
This should help showcase our neighborhood in the most positive of ways. Good job all around in making this happen. Got a guided tour from Renee C a few days after they moved in. Any new business prospects would be impressed with the potential and reality that Morse offers.

Can hardly wait for the GAAF to take place.

While Howard Street continues to make progress Morse has made continued improvements and seems to be ahead of the Howard street initiative.

proGun said...

Hey Jeff get out at night and go to some of the local establishments and see for yourself what is going on in the hood.

Lots of good stuff going on and it is very affordable.

The beer wars at the Clark Street fest was a win win for everyone.

The CPD did an excellent job keeping order and generally looked like they had a good time.

There was even a Big Daddy Sighting.

Anonymous said...

jeffo (troll) - Do you really not have anything better to do than to come here and complain? People like you really amaze me! You obviously have no life and probably sit at home trolling the internet to bash people.

Very sad!

Anonymous said...

sorry... to bash a blog that shows the crap and nonsense in RP. actually, wait, it showed you.

Once again, the Broken Heart shows it all. Good job Craig!

Unknown said...

well jeffo (that name seems quite appropriate for you) - here we are - give us any news you have and quit complaining!

Philip McGregor Rogers said...

I always love the "wow you have no life" statement.

That is a very very boring statement. Also I know you mean in a nonliteral way, but even taken in this nonliteral way it has always sounded stupid to me and now it sounds dated. Like something leftover from highschool.

Also very unwarranted.
That comment took me at most 2 or 3 minutes to write.

If I was a day after dedicated nonstop comment writer, seemilingly skipping meals and sleep to clog up the blog with words and nonsense then, i would agree with you.

I just miss the old broken heart, when there was just a bit more good news and there were actual photos of stuff that happened.
But hey I have to give craig a break, gonzo journalism in RogersPark is dangerous and he doesnt want to stick his neck out there like he used to get the photos.

Chip Bagg said...

(Big Yawn)

Anonymous said...

Jeffo - I know I am not as fat witted as you, nor do I claim to be. You have absolutely NO proof that your comment took 2 or 3 minutes to write, so I hardly believe that. Since there is about a 4 hour difference in post time, there is no telling how long you sat pondering on what you want to say.

I can tell you that I suck horribly at writing, so we can both agree on that... math and music is my area.

If trying to talk me down, or talk above me is going to make you feel good, then keep on... I really don't give a s$@# ! I have nothing to prove to you, or anyone on this blog, but I do respect the author and the ones that contribute in a positive way to it.

Anonymous said...

which is NOT you!

Craig Gernhardt said...

I'm sorry this blog author hasn't been giving you content lately. I've been real busy with work and the national off-road race circuit.

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