Economic Growth Corporation

09/02/2026

Northside Lofts- Aledo, IL is officially under construction!

This historic adaptive reuse development has been in the works since 2021 and will transform the former Northside Junior High School into 27 studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments within the Downtown Aledo Historic District.

Reaching this point is a testament to the perseverance, dedication, and determination of many who never gave up on bringing this vision to life. We are proud to preserve an important piece of Aledo's history while creating new housing opportunities near the city center.

Stay tuned for progress updates and follow along as Northside Lofts continues to take shape. Learn more: https://www.northside-lofts.com/

08/28/2026

"𝘑𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦. 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘮."

Moments like these remind us why we do the hard work.

This testimonial came from someone who was feeling overwhelmed and concerned about their financial situation. By working with GROWTH, they were able to create a plan, regain confidence, and get back on track.

If you're looking for guidance to get back on track, join us tomorrow for our FREE virtual Don't Freak Out! Homeownership Webinar

🔗Link is live, click above event for link
☕ Grab your coffee and join us online from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
👋Lead by James Jones, Housing Manager & HUD-Certified Housing Counselor

⚠️Be sure to download Microsoft Teams in advance.

08/20/2026

We've transformed our Post Purchase class into a "Don't Freak Out: Homeownership Webinar."

Lately, we've been hearing from more and more homeowners asking the same question: "What if I can't keep up?"

Gas prices. Groceries. Utilities. Insurance. Home maintenance. It feels like every bill is getting bigger. If you've been feeling stressed about rising costs, you're not alone, and there are steps you can take today.

This isn't about panic. It's about having a plan.

We're helping homeowners:
✅ Focus on what they CAN control
✅ Build realistic spending plans
✅ Prepare for future expenses
✅ Strengthen long-term financial stability

Reserve your spot and join us.

📅Saturday, August 29, 2026
⏰9:00-11:00 a.m.
💻Free Webinar
📢Advance Registrations required by calling (309) 788-6311.
📎Webinar Link will be sent the day prior.

Learn more 👉https://www.economicgrowthcorporation.com/post-purchase-class.html

08/18/2026

A milestone worth celebrating🌟: since 1998, GROWTH has provided over $16 million in down payment assistance to 907 homebuyers, supporting more than $86 million in real estate transactions (and growing!).

But for us, this milestone has never been about the dollars.

It's about the families who thought homeownership was out of reach. The buyers who stayed committed to the process. The clients who spent months, and sometimes years, budgeting, improving credit, attending education classes, and working toward a goal they refused to give up on.

We've celebrated those closing days right alongside them. We're proud of every household we've served and grateful to have walked alongside them on their journey.

07/30/2026

Join us in congratulating Carey Jorgensen on her 25th Work Anniversary! 🎉

We are incredibly grateful for the dedication and longevity of our team members. Today, we celebrate Carey and the commitment she has shown throughout her 25 years of service.

We are fortunate to have team members who have built their careers with us, including two employees with more than 25 years of service, three with 15+ years, two with 10+ years, and three more approaching their 10-year anniversaries.

Carey, thank you for all you do and for the impact you have made over the years. Congratulations on this amazing milestone! 👏🎊

07/03/2026

Happy 250th Birthday, America!

Our offices will be closed on Friday, July 3, 2026, in observance of the Independence Day holiday. We will reopen on Monday, July 6, 2026.

We wish you and your family a safe, happy, and memorable 4th of July weekend as we celebrate this historic milestone together.

07/02/2026

Halfway Through the Year! 🌟
July is the perfect time to check in on the goals you set in January:
🤔What's working?
🤔What needs adjusting?
🤔What's one step you can take today to get back on track?
👉Personal Growth Workshop on July 13th from 5:30–7:30 PM.

Together, we'll reset and create a plan to help you finish the year strong.💪

Personal Growth Workshop (Online Only- Live Webinar)
📅 July 13th
🕠 5:30-7:30 PM
📞 (309) 788-6311 to register
🌐 Webinar only
🆓 Free workshop

Registrations are required by calling (309) 788-6311. Webinar link sent to registrants via email in advance of the meeting.

Take the time to invest in yourself- you are worth it. 💙

GROWTH is a mission-driven 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to driving economic and community development, developing market-driven housing, creating jobs, and promoting homeownership and financial literacy initiatives.

06/18/2026

Cheers to our latest Live-Work Rock Island homebuyer!

Yesterday, an employee of Bally’s Quad Cities Casino & Hotel purchased a home in Rock Island with the help of GROWTH’s Live-Work Rock Island homebuyer program.

This marks the 𝟭𝟭𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗯𝘂𝘆𝗲𝗿 assisted in 2026🏠 , the 𝟰𝟴𝟴𝘁𝗵 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲-𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗥𝗜 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗯𝘂𝘆𝗲𝗿 since 2003🌟 , and GROWTH’s 𝟵𝟬𝟲𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗯𝘂𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 overall 👏 reflecting a continued commitment to strengthening the community through homeownership. ❤️

Under the Live-Work Rock Island homebuyer program, eligible homebuyers who work for a DARI-member company can receive 5% down payment assistance and up to $1,500 in closing cost assistance. Learn more about the program here: https://www.economicgrowthcorporation.com/live-work-rock-island.html

Congratulations!

06/18/2026

In observance of Juneteenth, our offices are closed on Friday, June 19, 2026. Please call (309) 788-6311 and leave a message. We will respond on Monday, June 22, 2026 where we resume normal hours from 8:30-5:00 p.m.

05/01/2026

Shimer Square was always going to be a high-impact historic, adaptive-reuse with complex challenges in rural Mt. Carroll, IL. Estes Construction met that challenge head on, delivering with precision, care, and deep respect for the historic integrity of the site- ultimately bringing 51 units of affordable housing to life in a rural community, within an amazing setting rich in history dating back to the 1850s.
Special thanks to the team at Estes Construction: Nathan Billany, Sam Pilcher, Kendall Deter, and Clint Hoeger alongside Brian Hollenback and Andrew Fisher, for helping tell the story behind Shimer Square’s transformation.
Learn more from the Estes team and watch the full video series: https://www.shimersquare.com/video-series.html