RVC-Breaks-Ground-on-New-Campus.php

RVC Breaks Ground on New Campus

• Events
• 04/02/2025

Rock Valley College (RVC) officially broke ground on its new Downtown West Campus on Thursday, March 27, celebrating with nearly 100 employees, stakeholders, and community partners in attendance. The campus, located at the intersection of Chestnut and Winnebago Streets in downtown Rockford, will house a variety of programs targeted at adult learners and is scheduled to open in August 2026.

RVC President Dr. Howard Spearman expressed his excitement and passion for the project: “This permanent location will provide educational and workforce opportunities and expand access for adult learners in the greater Rockford area. It will be a gateway and a starting point for students, but it will not be an endpoint. This expansion underscores our dedication to serving the Rockford area and our western counties and providing pathways to success for our students."

The groundbreaking marks a significant milestone in the college's commitment to expanding educational opportunities and enhancing community engagement in the heart of the city. The new campus will house a range of programs designed to meet the evolving needs of the community and the regional workforce. Those programs include Automotive Technology (electric, gas, and diesel engine repair), Collision Repair, Truck Driver Training, Criminal Justice, Early Childhood Education, Human Services, and Adult Education.

"This new campus is a testament to the college’s mission and commitment to serving the community. The programs that will be offered here are relevant to our workforce and economic development,” said RVC Board of Trustees Chair Robert “Bob” Trojan. “The Board of Trustees is grateful for our community partners who have helped us get to this point. This groundbreaking represents a significant investment in the future of our students and the vitality of downtown Rockford."

The establishment of the Downtown West campus reflects RVC's ongoing commitment to being an essential resource for education and workforce development in the region.

According to Winnebago County Board Chairman Joe Chiarelli, “This groundbreaking represents more than a new campus. It is a promise to our community, to our workers, and to our future.”

It was Chiarelli’s vision to see something more than blight in the heart of Winnebago County. As Winnebago County Board Chairmen, Chiarelli led efforts to facilitate the college’s purchase of the land that would become RVC Downtown West. The sale of 720 Chestnut was a catalyst for the project and was just the beginning of the vision of the new campus in the heart of the city.

The new campus will focus strongly on teaching and learning and feature community spaces to further integrate the college with the downtown area.

“The expansion of Rock Valley College into this downtown facility is really going to be a game changer for our residents and the city of Rockford,” exclaimed Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara. “This investment brings accessibility. It brings high-quality education closer to people by reducing barriers as they work to improve themselves and their families, thus improving our entire community. We're strengthening our local economy and setting up Rockford for long-term success.”

Senator Steve Stadelman echoed the comments of the event speakers when he added, “This will solidify downtown, I believe, as a place to go to work, go to school, and go for arts and entertainment as well. This will continue to put downtown Rockford on the path for more development and make us a stronger region.”

For many, the new campus represents so much more than economic and workforce prosperity. It means eliminating barriers to education and opening doors to opportunities that have the potential to create generational change. 

RVC’s Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Amanda Smith, shared, “So today, we can see that we are laying a foundation in concrete. However, it's so much more than that. We are laying a foundation of hope and equity for our entire community.”

Lastly, the groundbreaking marks the start of a $2.5 million campaign for scholarships for students at the Downtown West Campus. The Rock Valley College Foundation Campaign for Access and Opportunity will remove financial obstacles for all who wish to chase a brighter future at RVC. While developing and constructing a new campus is critical to creating access to education, securing scholarship funds is essential to ensure that students can afford to pursue their dreams.

Brittany Freiberg, Chief Development Officer of the RVC Foundation, explained, “All of us at the Foundation believe that education should not be a privilege for a few but an opportunity for all. All too often, we see that talented minds within our region are left untapped, and potentials are left unrealized simply due to factors like life obstacles, financial barriers, transportation, access, and so on. The RVC Foundation is committed to raising critical scholarship dollars that will turn financial barriers into bridges at Rock Valley College Downtown West for decades to come.”

Learn more about the Downtown West Campus at RockValleyCollege.edu/Projects.