The Waterpower District Charitable Foundation was established to support redevelopment activities that include reducing or eliminating blight, increasing the tax base, and encouraging public and private investments to redevelop the Southwest Corridor in the Greater Rockford area. It is the philosophy of the Foundation to keep all interested parties informed concerning the activities of the Foundation and encourage active participation in the development of redevelopment programs benefiting the entire community.

The urban core of the Waterpower District and Rockford’s Southwest corridor was home to the historical manufacturing center of the Rockford region. Today this area features high levels of racial and cultural diversity. It has good access to public roadways for regional transportation while acting as a gateway to the urban downtown Rockford.