Fox Valley Entrepreneurship Center Receives $20,000 Grant from First National Bank

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jackie Camacho-Ruiz

JJR Marketing, Inc.

630.441.6057

jackie@jjrmarketing.com

(Batavia, Ill.) August 15, 2016 – Fox Valley Entrepreneurship Center (FVEC) in Aurora received a $20,000 grant from First National Bank to help local businesses. This award lets the FVEC assist additional businesses accelerate growth to further establish itself in the community.

“We are very excited to receive this funding,” says Austin Dempsey, FVEC board president and co-founder. “Together, First National Bank and the FVEC will impact the future of local entrepreneurs, creating sustainable local jobs in the process.”

The grant is part of the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) and this is the fourth year the FVEC has received funding from First National. “It’s important for the bank to invest in the community and help it grow,” states Mike Algrim, Commercial Banker at First National Bank. “The FVEC is doing all the right things to stimulate sustainable growth.”

Since its inception in 2010, the FVEC has provided instrumental assistance to companies throughout the Fox Valley area. To date, the center has helped companies retain nearly 400 jobs, create over 150 new positions and brought in nearly $2 million in private equity. Their vision is to be an active partner in making the Fox Valley a fertile ground to start up new businesses and help grow established companies, adding value to the community.

First National Bank strongly believes in working hand-in-hand with businesses throughout the Fox Valley, as well as in the other areas it serves. First National has committed $100,000 in grants throughout the state of Illinois. In 1977, Congress enacted the CRA as a way for banks to help meet the needs of the communities in which they operate. This act has helped organizations get the funding they need, making a positive impact on the local economy.

About FVEC

The Fox Valley Entrepreneurship Center (FVEC) began in 2010 as a collaboration between several local entrepreneurs and supporting organizations. The mission of the FVEC is to provide critical support to companies to help them create jobs, expand their business and grow revenue. Further, they foster an environment in which businesses strive for excellence and where innovation is nourished. This is accomplished through training and advising the business owner, providing strategic introductions and engaging in strategic/growth planning across all areas of a business. As a non-profit, the center supports these programs through private donations and grants. To learn more about the FVEC, visit their website at www.fvec.org.

About First National Bank

First National Bank is the largest privately owned banking company in the United States. First National and its affiliates have $19 billion in managed assets and 5,000 employee associates. Primary banking offices are located in Nebraska, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota and Texas.

# # #