Morrison, IL — The grand opening of the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Rock Falls marks the completion of the first phase of the City’s Riverfront Revitalization. The $6.1 million, 68 unit hotel is considered the anchor to Rock Falls’ RB&W (Ride, Bike & Walk) District, which will include a Riverwalk and bike path, entertainment venue, splash pad and restrooms. The hotel is also expected to draw other commercial enterprises to the riverfront and uptown area.
Rock Falls Mayor Bill Wescott exclaimed, “We feel this is the centerpiece to our riverfront development. This will make our riverfront and uptown area a more vital area than it has been in a long time. New jobs, commercial activity and a better quality of life for Rock Falls are all anticipated results from our the riverfront revitalization and the RB&W District. And I want to give thanks to City staff, and the hotel’s investors and developers, who all worked hard and diligently to see this project’s completion.”
Mayor Wescott added, “We expect to announce more commercial activity in Rock Falls soon along the 1st Avenue Corridor, and look for opportunities to arise from the City’s recent acquisition of property near the I-88 interchange. All of this will contribute to job growth, increased revenue for the City and an improved quality of life.” The hotel is expected to generate over $2.3 million for the City over the next ten years – $1 million in property taxes that go into the TIF District, $700,000 in hotel/motel taxes, and $600,000 in city utilities revenue, and create over 20 full time jobs.
Gary Camarano, Whiteside County’s Economic Development Director, offered his congratulations to City and called the project, “A significant enhancement to what is becoming the ‘Gateway to the Whiteside County region’. The addition of Holiday Inn Express to the area’s lodging lineup makes the region more attractive to tourism, and the planned entertainment venue is certainly going to be a big contributor as well. I offer my congratulations to everyone involved in this project. It’s a great example of using available incentives like the TIF district and Enterprise Zone to spur investment and development in the region.”
The Holiday Inn Express Inn & Suites is owned by the Rock Falls Hotel Group, and offers 68 luxurious guest rooms & suites with private balconies. The hotel has a business center & private meeting space, an indoor salt water pool, outdoor patio overlooking the Rock River, a 24-hour Fitness Center, Sundries Shop, guest laundry and complimentary Hot Breakfast Bar for guests. The hotel is located at 301 East 2nd Street, Rock Falls, IL and can be reached at 815.622.4002.
For additional information please contact:
Gary Camarano, Whiteside County
Economic Development Department
815.772.5247 – gcamarano@whiteside.org
