04/02/2026
HOME OWNERSHIP is an awesome feeling and we are grateful you choose to call Rock Island HOME! Congratulations to our member, Friendship Manor, their employee and the GROWTH team.
If you are interested in becoming a DARI member or want more information on financial literacy & the Live-Work Rock Island program, reach out today 309.781.1655.
Join us in celebrating our 900th Homebuyer Closing!
Economic Growth Corporation's milestone homebuyer closed on her home on March 31, 2026. The 900th closing is especially meaningful- the home was previously owned by the homebuyerโs grandmother, a meaningful link between homeownership and family legacy.
The homebuyer purchased a home in Rock Island, IL, through GROWTHโs Employer Assisted Homebuyer Program (EAP), locally known as LiveโWork Rock Island. The homebuyer is an employee of Friendship Manor, a participating employer and member of the Development Association of Rock Island (DARI).
To celebrate the occasion, the homebuyer received a gift card to Handy True Value Hardware.
EAP serves as a workforce development tool designed to strengthen Rock Islandโs population base by helping local employees purchase homes within the community.
This closing marks the 482nd homebuyer assisted through EAP since the programโs inception in 2003. Over more than two decades, GROWTH has supported home purchases for buyers throughout Rock Island, the Illinois- Quad Cities, and northwestern Illinois.
โReaching our 900th homebuyer is a milestone weโre incredibly proud of, but what matters most are the individuals and families behind that number,โ said Brian Hollenback, President and CEO of Economic Growth Corporation. โItโs about the memories made, the continued investment residents make in their homes and their community, raising families, attending local schools, and being an active part of the neighborhood, while supporting local employers and staying rooted in the community they serve.โ
About EAP (LiveโWork Rock Island):
๐ตUp to 5% of the purchase price for down payment assistance
๐ต Up to $1,500 in closing cost assistance
๐จโ๐ฉโ๐งโ๐ฆ Income up to 120% Area Median Income (AMI), which translates to $117,240 for a family of four.
๐ข Must be employed by a DARIโmember company
๐ก Must purchase a home anywhere within city limits of Rock Island
โ
Minimum $1,000 buyer contribution
To date, EAP has provided more than $2.8 million in down payment and closing cost assistance, with an average grant of $5,875 per household.
All homebuyers complete GROWTH's free, HUDโapproved homebuyer education- we invite anyone considering homeownership to attend the class. Workshops are *not* limited to first-time homebuyers, as there are programs available that support homeownership beyond a first purchase, including EAP๐https://www.economicgrowthcorporation.com/homebuyer-class-schedule.html or call 309-794-6711.
Equal Housing Opportunity.
