Latest news with #GoRockford
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
GoRockford takes home top honor as sports tourism organization of the year
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Rockford's visitor and convention bureau, GoRockford, has been named the 2025 Sports Tourism Organization of the Year, recognized as best in class among U.S. communities with a population of 500,000 or less. GoRockford was selected from more than 80 national entries, and honored for its efforts in recruiting sporting events by the Sports Events & Tourism Association. 'This is a really big deal, not just for our team, but for Rockford and the region,' said John Groh, President and CEO of GoRockford. 'It affirms that what we're building here, a thriving, high-performing sports destination, continues to gain national attention. This recognition is a tribute to our hard-working staff and our board, partners and this community that supports and believes in the power of tourism to create opportunity.' The team highlighted events such as the upcoming IRONMAN tournament, NXT Pro Basketball, and the National Collegiate Table Tennis Championships as examples of high-profile sports events drawn to the area. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
51 Rockford restaurants receive $189K in COVID-19 pandemic relief grants
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Fifty-one Rockford restaurants will share $189,871 in COVID-19 pandemic relief grants to offset high unemployment taxes. Each business received different amounts, depending on their tax liability. The highest grant awarded by the Illinois Restaurant Relief Grant was $21,622. 'The Restaurant Relief Grant is making a real difference for our local hospitality industry,' said John Groh, President/CEO of GoRockford. 'These businesses shape our community identity, spark creativity and create vital jobs. We're proud to see another round of funding go to the hardworking restaurant, bar, and coffee shop owners whose passion helps Rockford and our region grow, thrive and remain a vibrant place to live and visit.' The funding aims to help with the financial strain placed on restaurants due to unemployment tax payments incurred during government-ordered shutdowns during the pandemic. The following restaurants received grants in the third round of the program: 27 Aluna @ Octane Abreo Restaurant Alchemy at Aldeen/ Gio events Alpine View Restaurant Broadway Joe's (Dusty Boots Saloon) Carlyle Brewing Casey's Pub Culver's of Winnebago District Bar & Grill Don Carter Lanes Famous Dave's Rockford Forest Hills Lanes Franchesco's Ristorante Golden Corral Greenfire Restaurant & Bakery Hoffman House Hope & Anchor English Pub J. W. Marc's Fusion Café Joe's Casa Di Amici Johnny Pamcakes Johnny Pamcakes Too John's Restaurant LimaMar Restaurant Lucha Cantina Machine Shed Mary's Market Mulligan's of Rockford Murphy's Pub & Grill Onyx Bar & Grill Oscar's Pub & Grill Park Lanes Pig Minds Pizza Ranch Rookie's Pub & Grill Rusty Nail Tavern Scanlan's Spider Sushi Stockholm Inn Stockyard Rock Burger Bar/Half Baked Bar Tad's Bar & Grill Tavern on Clark Thai Hut Restaurant The Cherry Bowl The Filling Station The Norwegian The Olympic Tavern The Pomodoro Thunderbay Grill Tower Kitchen & Bar Viking Lanes Vintage @501/TacoLibre This is the third round of funding from the grant program, which has administered $855,158 to local businesses in total. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Rockford's Davis Park to get $12M renovation with new amenities
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — A renovation project to transform Rockford's Davis Park is soon to get underway. 'The current plans, really started to get underway back in 2016, 2017. We're ready to go. Right before the pandemic we took a long pause and now the city is in the position to be out, to bid for construction, with a planned late June construction start and a 12-month construction timeframe,' said GoRockford President and CEO John Groh. The renovations will bring a playground, skatepark, and a small stage to Davis Park, which sits along the banks of the Rock River in downtown Rockford. The large field has been host to 4th of July fireworks viewing events, Friday Night Flix, and large concerts during the era of the city's On the Waterfront festival. 'The new plans call for it to be a much more active park on a daily, weekly basis than it had been in its previous iteration, which was much more special event-based or festival-based,' Groh said. The park sits on nearly 10 acres, something the city knows will bring flexibility in terms of events. 'The skate park is on the south side of the railroad trestle. The playground is on the north side. The stage can be used in a couple of configurations for small concert experiences or larger concert experiences. It's meant to be a really flexible space with a lot of different uses,' Groh explained. Groh said he hopes the park can be used year-round. 'The community [will] have this destination-level park with this amazing playground, the skate park, the stage, and many future phases, including some water features, and in the winter, an ice rink or an ice ribbon,' he said. The city says construction should be completed by June 2026. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
2025 Rockford Restaurant Week winners announced
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — GoRockford has announced the winners of the Rockford Restaurant Week 2025 Best of Awards. Each year, residents are encouraged to try a new restaurant or visit a favorite to take advantage of a new menu or specials. This year's event ran from January 23rd to February 2nd. According to GoRockford, 65 businesses participated in this year's event, with several reporting an increase of over 35% in sales, and an average of 20%. 'This year's Restaurant Week was transformative,' said John Groh, GoRockford President/CEO. 'Our survey data shows that local restaurants experienced significant sales growth. This surge is a testament to the community's enthusiasm for our culinary offerings, turning a traditionally slow period into a vibrant opportunity for our dining scene.' The 2025 Restaurant Week Winners Are: Best Experience: Plume This award recognizes the establishment providing an exceptional overall dining experience, including ambiance, food and customer service. Plume, known for its chic atmosphere and inventive menu, captivated diners and has set a new standard for culinary excellence in the Rockford region. 'This award for Best Experience really does mean so much to us! It's such an honor and a testament to how hard the entire Plume team works every day, said Plume's co-owner and drink chef Lia Pennacchi.' Added Owner and Executive Chef Chase WIlliams, 'It's a testament to our team's commitment and passion to providing a memorable dining experience. It's an honor to be recognized by our community and something we will always celebrate' Best Main Course (Tie): 27 Aluna and Lucha CantinaThis award recognizes the eatery offering the most authentic and uniquely prepared main course. 27 Aluna's globally inspired dishes and Lucha Cantina's bold, fresh flavors impressed diners, leading to an exciting first-time tie for the category. 'One of the great things about restaurant week is the community that supports local restaurants comes out in force and when that community choses a restaurant like mine as their favorite entree of the week, well that certainly means a lot to us', said Josh Binning, Lucha Cantina owner. 'Rockford Restaurant Week this year was such a blast for us and the busiest one to date! Thank you to GoRockford for putting this event together and to the Rockford community for supporting such a great event, said Patrick Alberto, 27 Aluna owner and chef' Best Dessert: Hidden Creek EstatesRenowned for its picturesque setting and sophisticated cuisine, Hidden Creek Estates delighted visitors with its decadent desserts, making it the top choice for sweet indulgences this year. 'Hidden Creek Estates is honored to be recognized with a Rockford Restaurant Week award for the second consecutive year,' said Jared Malavolti Hidden Creek Estates, Director of Operations. 'Our team has worked tirelessly to maintain our high standards of excellence, from innovative new beverage offerings to exceptional food and service. We're thrilled to see our efforts celebrated and grateful for the continued support of our community.' Best Deal (Tie): 8th Ward Pub andThis award goes to the eatery offering the most creative and valuable deal. Both 8th Ward Pub and Sticky Rice Bites offered outstanding specials, earning them recognition for their exceptional value and innovation. 'We're honored to be recognized for having the Best Deal, said Sophia Chanthalangsy, Sticky Rice Bites. 'Thank you to all our amazing customers for your support. It's very challenging to keep our costs down while we are faced with high costs for fresh ingredients and labor. When our customers appreciate our food and hard work and effort, it makes it all worth it!' '8th Ward is thrilled to be named 'Best Deal' during Rockford Region Restaurant Week, said Alison Fuller, 8th Ward Pub. 'Many of us local restaurants put in such hard work year-round to stay on top of trends and serve up what our community loves. Your support means everything to us, and we'll keep bringing the great food, great cocktails, and deals all year long!' Best Cocktail or Brew: AbreoAbreo, a downtown Rockford staple, took home the award for its outstanding selection of craft cocktails and expertly curated beverages, making it the top choice for those seeking a unique and flavorful drink experience.'We are incredibly honored that Abreo has been awarded 'Best Cocktail' for Restaurant Week! A huge thank you to our amazing Rockford community for your support and to GoRockford for organizing such a fantastic event that showcases the incredible talent in our local restaurant scene. This award is a testament to the hard work and creativity of our entire team, especially our Hospitality Manager, Elliott Earnst, whose dedication to our cocktail program continues to raise the bar. We also want to recognize all the incredible restaurants that participated—your passion and innovation make Rockford's dining scene truly special. Here's to another amazing year of great food, great drinks, and great company,' said Paul Sletten, Abreo founder / chef. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New Rockford residents mingle at ‘Made for Rockford' mixer atop Embassy Suites
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — New arrivals to the Rockford area were welcomed to the city at a social mixer event at the Embassy Suites Hotel and Convention Center on Monday night. The 'Made for Rockford' event was hosted by GoRockford, the second since the program was established to introduce new residents to the Forest City. Mayor Tom McNamara was among those who hosted the new residents at The Top rooftop restaurant at the Embassy Suites, at 416 S. Main Street. 'The response to our first New Resident Mixer was incredible. We saw how much people value the opportunity to connect and feel at home in their new city,' said Whitney Martin, Made for Rockford Program Director. 'The energy in the room was amazing, and it was clear that one event wasn't enough. That's one of the reasons we`re back with a second mixerto keep building those connections and helping new residents discover all the reasons Rockford is a great place to put down roots.' Roger Raley, who moved to Rockford six months ago, said he found a thriving community. 'It was an opportunity that was right time for me, right time for the business. I really came here to run the business, but what I found is Rockford's a really cool community,' he said. 'There's a lot of stuff happening. Downtown is especially being rejuvenated, there's a lot of restaurants, there's things to do, it's very close to Chicago, close to Milwaukee so I'm pleasantly surprised about what I've seen since I've been here.' GoRockford's Made for Rockford initiative hopes to highlight the community and attract people to the city. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
