22 | FORWARD JANESVILLE Business Milestones Launching Our Child Care Directory Salvation Army Rock County – 140 Years www.centralusa.salvationarmy.org/rockcounty In 2025, The Salvation Army proudly celebrates 140 years of dedicated service in Rock County. Established in Janesville in 1885 and expanding to Beloit in 1886, it is the county’s oldest community support organization, committed to meeting human needs without discrimination. From its modest start in rented halls, The Salvation Army has grown to offer a wide range of services including emergency assistance, food and shelter programs, youth outreach and social services. Programs like the Pathways Transitional Housing support long-term selfsufficiency for residents. Seasonal campaigns such as the Red Kettle and Angel Tree provide vital aid during the holidays, while weekly events like Open Gym Night foster community engagement. As it marks this milestone, The Salvation Army Rock County remains a beacon of hope and compassion, steadfast in its mission to serve and uplift those in need across the community. Lloyd’s Plumbing & Heating Corporation – 50 years www.lloydsph.com This year, Lloyd’s Plumbing and Heating proudly celebrates 50 years of serving the Janesville community with trusted plumbing and HVAC services. Founded in 1975 when Lloyd LaReau purchased Kepp Plumbing, the company became Lloyd’s Plumbing. In 1985, HVAC services were added, and they became Lloyd’s Plumbing & Heating Corporation. Leadership passed from Lloyd to Brent Kepp in 1998, then to Brent Steinke in 2020. Throughout these transitions, the mission has stayed the same: to provide reliable, professional service with high-quality workmanship. “We are incredibly grateful for the loyal customers and strong relationships that have supported us through the decades. Your trust has fueled our success and growth. As we honor this milestone, we look forward to continuing our tradition of excellence for years to come. Thank you for being part of our journey!” ECHO – 55 years www.echojanesville.org Everyone Cooperating to Help Others is a nonprofit, faith-community sponsored charity organization. They have been working together to serve and support Rock County’s most vulnerable populations since late 1969. ECHO has evolved from a food pantry and clothing depot to a full-fledged charity organization called upon to help meet housing, food, transportation and other emergency needs for low-income families in Rock County, while addressing the barriers to self-sufficiency. ECHO seeks to help people help themselves through its programs and services and to assist them in utilizing other existing services and programs in the community. “We are so grateful for the donations and support we have received over the last 55 years. We couldn’t have done it without this wonderful community.” Learn more about ECHO at www.echojanesville.org. Forward Janesville celebrates our member businesses that are celebrating milestone anniversaries in 2025. To be considered in an upcoming edition, go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/977PVRV In June, we were excited to announce the launch of our Child Care Directory, a user-friendly online tool designed to help care seekers in Rock County navigate local child care options with greater ease and confidence. This valuable resource empowers parents and guardians to search for providers by location, age groups served, type of care provided and other key criteria—all in one convenient place. The importance of accessible, affordable and quality child care cannot be overstated. For working families, reliable child care is essential—not just for peace of mind, but for the ability to fully participate in the workforce. At the same time, local employers are feeling the impact of child care gaps, which directly affect employee retention and recruitment. Recognizing this critical intersection between child care and economic vitality, Forward Janesville’s Government Relations Council identified child care as a Policy Priority Area for the past two years. Our Child Care Work Group is actively developing tools and community resources to address the challenges families, employers and providers face. The new directory is one of the first major steps in this initiative. View the Child Care Directory at www.forwardjanesville.com/childcare
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