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Greater Freeport Partnership outlines workforce strategy and tourism gains
Summary
Andrea Schultz Winter told the Stephenson County Board the partnership is focusing on workforce alignment, young-professional retention, small-business training and promotion of the county's tourism season; she said survey results show skill gaps employers want addressed and promoted a July open house and an Aug. 20 office event.
Andrea Schultz Winter, speaking for the Greater Freeport Partnership, told the Stephenson County Board on July 9 that workforce development and talent retention remain the organization’s top priorities.
Winter reviewed second-quarter activities and early survey work that the partnership is using to shape a workforce-alignment strategy. She said employers continue to report skill gaps — notably technical skills, certifications, attendance/reliability and poor work histories — and that those gaps suggest a need for more targeted training and employer-education partnerships.
She described initial survey coverage as representing a portion of local jobs and said follow-up work will expand the employer sample and coordinate with area schools. Winter said the partnership has launched young-professional networking and a "come home" campaign aimed at Ages 25–44 and promoted a series of small-business education events; the partnership also awarded three monetary prizes via a business academy pitch competition funded by a Stephenson County Farm Bureau grant.
On tourism, Winter said 2026 appears to be tracking ahead of 2024 and 2025 in occupied rooms and overnight stays, citing occupancy and geofencing data included with the quarterly report. She noted recent events including Pretzel Fest, a City express-by-Marriott hotel conversion and several third-party tour visits that brought visitors to downtown Freeport.
Winter invited board members to an open house on Aug. 20 and encouraged residents to complete an online climate/business survey and a public-feedback map for an ongoing promotional and workforce-data dashboard the partnership is developing.
Board members asked about the origin of two tour groups (answered as organized through partner outreach at a tour-conference) and for clarification on the partnership’s data and outreach plans. Winter said the partnership will share more detailed results in future quarterly reports.
