A History of Hard Work & Entrepreneurship
MAJOR EMPLOYERS
FHN Helm Group Berner Food & Beverage Honeywell Snak King Highland Community College Wal-Mart Titan Tire Corporation Stephenson County Stewart & Associates Danfoss Pearl Valley Farms City of Freeport Liberty Village Nationwide Inbound Anchor Harvey Provena/St. Joseph Campus
Home to a highly diverse business community, Freeport and Stephenson County provide work and career opportunities in insurance, manufacturing, healthcare and the food production industry, among others.
Stephenson County works diligently with manufacturing and value-added agriculture markets
Our region places a significant emphasis on nurturing entrepreneurs and small businesses through services provided by the Greater Freeport Partnership and workforce development with initiatives established with Highland Community College, The Workforce Connection and other job readiness programs.
Stephenson County was settled by German settlers who were traveling west from Pennsylvania and found their way by stagecoach to a beautiful area they began to call home in 1838. The community grew rapidly with agricultural and industrial ambitions and drew enough attention that it was the site of the second Lincoln-Douglas Debate for the US Senate seat from Illinois.
The Greater Freeport Partnership hosts BASE Camp, an annual Business Academy for Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs. In this six-course program, business owners are instructed by experts to create business plans, choose the right corporate structure, insurance and accounting strategies, and build their business for future growth and expansion.
Supporting business at each stage of their journey builds success for the entire region.
