Welcome March! We are ready for the spring weather.

On Thursday, March 9th, the RG Chamber luncheon meeting will be different. Hoping you're intrigued and don't forget your business cards to share. Did you hear RIVER INN is our caterer this month?! Always a good meal. RSVP with the button below.

Flag-raising dedicates Rockford Veterans Memorial on 4/22/23 

The American flag will rise above the Rockford Veterans Memorial for the first time on Saturday, April 22 at a 10 a.m. dedication ceremony.  

The Rockford Lions Club and its Memorial Planning Committee designed the site to be a reunion and recognition site for all local veterans -- whether serving currently, formerly or fallen.  The Memorial embraces all six branches of the U.S. military, including the Space Force that was established in 2019. 

All are invited to participate in the patriotic dedication culminating in the flag raising. Elected officials and military representatives will join residents and donors in celebrating the Veterans Memorial’s completion. Refreshments in the Lions Building follow the ceremony. 

The Rockford Lions Club funded the initial design and staffed a planning committee that worked throughout 2022. Fundraising support from local businesses and residents met the project’s goal in early 2023.The project is a collaboration between the Lions Club and the City of Rockford. 

Rockford Veterans Memorial anchors the north end of Riverside Park on County Road 20 in Rockford. Adjacent parking and handicap accessibility make it an inviting destination. 

Dear Fellow Rockford/Greenfield Chamber Members,

Do you know of anyone looking to work in this wonderful community?

I am looking for an experienced auto technician and also a lube/tire technician to join our team at our extremely busy and growing independent auto repair shop.

We have a newer shop, fully equipped, with air conditioning. Daytime hours, Monday – Friday. No weekends!! Anybody comes to mind, send them my way.

Thanks,

Scott Pivec

West Hennepin Auto & Tire

763-479-6395

Planning has begun for the 11th Annual Thousand Hearts Serve Day on Saturday, May 20!



Here’s a sneak peek at a few things to put on your calendar:

• FREE Shredding Event on May 20 from 10:00am to 1:00pm, sponsored by Shane Modrow/Farmers Agency and at 7963 Hwy 55, Rockford. Thank you, Shane Modrow!
• FREE Tech Dump at Techwarrior Technologies,8046 Hwy 55, Rockford, from 10:00am to 1:00pm on May 20. All electronics – no tube TV’s. Thank you, Techwarrier!
• FREE A1c Diabetes Testing, Riverside Park Lions Building, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Diabetes testing saves lives! Thanks to the Rockford Lions, we will be able to offer times for 50 people to get tested! Watch for sign up information on Facebook – Thousand Hearts Serve Day. 
• Save your used eyeglasses and hearing aides and donate them to the Rockford Lions collecting for those in need across the globe. Donation box at the Lions Building, Riverside Park, Rockford, May 20 from 9:00am to 2:00pm.
• Food Drive for the RiverWorks Food Shelf – watch for details.

For more information on Thousand Hearts Serve Day, contact Annette at annettetryon@gmail.com and like Thousand Hearts Serve Day on Facebook. 

“I love my interest rate, but not my home.” 

The Current State of the Housing Market

By: Shannon Sand- RE/MAX Results

In the past 9 months or so, we have seen some change with the housing market on both a national and local level. In fact, a common question I have received lately is, “Shannon, how is the housing market? Do you think it is going to crash? What do you think will happen to the interest rates?” These are all great questions! And while none of us have a crystal ball, it is safe to say that the housing market is not experiencing a “crash,” but instead we are seeing it balancing out a bit more. This is highly driven by the increase interest rates, which, at time of this article is currently at 6.6%. Much different than the interest rates we were seeing in 2020 through the beginning of 2022 at 3-4% range.

In most recent months, we are beginning to see less multiple offer situations, homes sitting on the market longer than a day, getting some seller paid closing costs, and buyer’s being able to request a home inspection in their offers. In other words, a more normal/balanced market. In the past couple weeks as we inch toward peak spring market season in Minnesota, we are starting to see multiple offers in certain locations and types of homes. The move-in ready and perfectly staged home is going to have a better change at selling sooner and for a higher price in this market. It will be interesting to see where the MN Spring market takes take us in the coming months. Inventory of homes and interest rates will be key factors. In the graphic, here are some local Twin Cities stats as of February 11, 2023 for the past 12 months.

*Source: Minneapolis Area Realtors

On the national level, the National Association of Realtors came out with some interesting 2022 statistics I wanted to share. From February 2012 to June of 2022, nationally we saw 124 months of consecutive home growth in the United States. That’s an astounding run! In June 2022, we saw 4 straight months of home price decreases of about 2.4%. It’s important to watch stats on a national level too to understand what moving patterns are taking place. Here is a following list of top states where people are leaving or moving to:

#1 State People Are Leaving: Illinois

#1 State People Are Moving to: Vermont

#1 State People Are Moving to for Jobs: Nebraska

#1 State People are Retiring to: New Hampshire

Did some of these states surprise you? I know they did for me! Inventory will remain low across the country as it has been the case for years now as many current homeowners have the mentality of, “I love my interest rate, but not my home.” 

For those that have that current mindset, I still would encourage you to talk to your Real Estate Agent to see what your options may be and get an idea of what your home is worth. Life is too short to not love where you live! And if you don’t already have a real estate agent that you can trust, I would love the opportunity to be your main resource for all your real estate needs.

About the Author: Shannon Sand has been a licensed Realtor for the past 14 years. She has been voted as a Minneapolis/ St. Paul Magazine “Super Real Estate Agent for 7 consecutive years straight. In 2015, she was featured as a guest host on the HGTV Show “Five Day Flip.” Shannon has been a Rockford Resident for the past 14 years with her husband, Aaron. She is a proud Boy Mom of 3 boys (ages 3, 6, and 8) who attend Rockford Schools. She is passionate about her community and volunteers and serves at the local elementary, Nourishing Hope, OFLC Church Council, OFLC Choir, City of Rockford Planning and Zoning, and coaches 3rd grade and Kindergarten basketball and soccer.

If you have not renewed your Chamber membership, we sincerely hope that you will continue to support the Rockford-Greenfield Chamber of Commerce by your continued support and membership.

“The Chamber is a voluntary organization of people with business, professional, and educational interests working together towards enhancing and improving the economic, civic, and cultural interests of our communities”.

rockfordgreenfieldchamber@gmail.com | rgchamber.org



Rockford-Greenfield Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors:

• Melissa Joseph, Comm. Ed. Director at Rockford Area Schools - President
• Chuck Tryon - Vice President
• Sharon Hertaus - Treasurer
• Brittni Bronczyk, Our Father's Lutheran Church - Secretary
• Andrea Unger, West Hennepin Electric - Board Member
• Jessica Larson, Edward Jones Investments - Board Member
• Heather Michalik, City of Rockford City Council - Board Member
• Shannon Sand, Realtor RE/MAX RESULTS - Board Member

Rockford-Greenfield Area Chamber of Commerce

PO Box 413

Rockford, MN 55373

Check out the Rockford-Greenfield Community Calendar

There is now ONE spot for events in the community to be found. Annual events, special events, etc.

Find it here: Rockford-Greenfield Community Calendar

For those interested, send us your events to be entered. After approval, events will be entered the first and the third Monday of every month.

If you have something to add to the calendar, please include Title, Description, Location (optional), Date, Time and Duration

Any events, questions or comments email rockfordgreenfieldchamber@gmail.com

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