On behalf of the Rock River Development Partnership (RRDP) board and staff, I want to thank our community for another successful season of the Rockford City Market. This year was our eighth season, and it was a record-setting season: 107,365 visitors experienced the Rockford City Market and 4,331 visitors attended the busiest closing day ever on Sept. 29.

On top of a record-setting season, Rockford area residents voted City Market “Best Event/Festival” and “Best Summer Attraction” in the Rockford Register Star’s “What Rocks in the Rock River Valley.”

The Rockford City Market continues to support local economic growth, revitalize our downtown, and most importantly it fosters a greater sense of community. The average visitor spends $32 at the market. Ninety percent of the respondents from our 2017 survey indicated their primary reason for coming downtown on Fridays was to attend City Market.

Other responses from the survey were that 57 percent of our patrons spent between $20 and $50, and 57 percent of patrons visit a downtown business before or after the market and spend an average of $19 at those businesses.

Visitors attended the City Market from over 40 zip codes. By coming together downtown on Fridays, visitors helped create place and economy while socializing with family, friends, and neighbors. Our slogan “Meet Me at the Market” has become a reality to many. We couldn’t be more pleased.

RRDP continues to manage the North End City Market on Saturday mornings. We just wrapped up our third season and are delighted with the continued growth and vibe of the North End City Market that serves the long-time neighborhoods surrounding the North Main Street and Auburn Street area.

We launched a new event this year, Bite Nite at City Market Pavilion, which was positively received and well attended. We look forward to a larger and improved Bite Nite in 2018.

As we enter the winter months, we eagerly anticipate the construction of the Indoor Market. We are grateful to the City Council and city staff for supporting the recent amendments to the development agreement.

The indoor market will be host to a variety of uses for the community to enjoy. There will be permanent tenants, a shared use commercial kitchen for entrepreneurs wishing to start or grow their business, and a market hall for winter and seasonal markets. The indoor market will feature regular programming for families such as live music, activities for children, and cooking classes. We want to take the opportunity to clarify that the outdoor market scheduling will not change because of the indoor market.

The indoor development will allow vendors additional opportunities to sell their wares year-round rather than only 20 weeks during the outdoor season. The indoor market will complement — not replace — the outdoor events of City Market.

There are many individuals and organizations that come together to make the Rockford City Market happen.

First and foremost, we appreciate our hard-working vendors that show up and set up every week.

A special thanks to our presenting sponsor Mercy Health for their financial support and weekly on-site presence.

Additional thanks to our other sponsors Rockford Bank and Trust, City Body Shop, OrthoIllinois, Pig Minds Brewing, Prairie Street Brewing, LaMonica Beverages, RMTD, Larson & Darby, Interstate Graphics, Advanced Disposal, WREX, PepsiCo, Rockford Register Star, Workplace, SupplyCore, Midwest Family Media, Delehanty Funeral Home, Tri-B Hardware, LinkUp Illinois and Clifton Larson Allen.

Thank you to the 49 nonprofit organizations who volunteered their time to provide a free children’s activity or staff the gates.

Special recognition for the tenants of the Waterside Building who graciously relocate their vehicles every Friday to accommodate the market.

Thank you to RACVB for their marketing support and plantings through Forest City Beautiful and to the City of Rockford for their ongoing support.

Finally, thank you to the RRDP board, Cathy McDermott and the City Market staff for all they do — for the market, for downtown, and for Rockford.

Peter Provenzano is president and CEO of SupplyCore Inc. and chairman of the Rock River Development Partnership (RRDP).