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Eric Dregne

building a cruise ship in a corn field

Updated: Sep 16, 2022

How we helped Prairie Ridge of Galena make go from idea to reality and make the largest private investment in Jo Daviess County in the form of an $18 million senior community.



When groups find themselves lacking staff time, or experience needed to implement a project plan the resulting lack of progress can be frustrating, drain resources, hurt momentum, and even kill the idea. Skilled facilitation, project management, and resource development can make the difference between a project moving ahead or not.


We helped Prairie Ridge of Galena in this way. The board members had been developing a senior-living community for three years. The group was armed with a good idea, a favorable market study, and some of the resources they needed to make a 60-unit assisted living community a reality, but their momentum had stalled.


"Eric coordinated everything – from our interactions with zoning boards and banks, to investors and consultants on the project. I remember when he told a group of bond holders that the project would be a “cruise ship in a cornfield” to help them understand our service model; it worked! Today our project is ready to open and when we look back, we know we would not have gotten it done on our own."

Our partnership began by organizing their process, facilitating meetings and researching solutions to challenges with zoning. We developed tools and provided support for raising equity, engaging local governments, organized financing, and even negotiated the purchase of the land.


"Eric coordinated everything – from our interactions with zoning boards and banks, to investors and consultants on the project. I remember when he told a group of bond holders that the project would be a “cruise ship in a cornfield” to help them understand our service model; it worked! Today our project is ready to open and when we look back, we know we would not have gotten it done on our own."


John Cooke, Founder/Board Chairman, Prairie Ridge of Galena, LLC.

Within the first year, of our partnership we secured needed zoning, gained enterprise zone status and identified a financing partner. Six months later, we secured the last of the $4.5 million in equity needed to begin construction and broke ground. During construction, we completed owners statements and monitored progress and quality right through to the final walk thru and move in process.


If you have a real estate development project that needs dedicated oversight, next level can help with project management, equity development, and engagement of neighbors and local government.

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