MORTON PROGRESS
The Latest News from the Morton EDC
November/December 2017
 
Investor Connect Lunch
Join us on Friday November 17 from noon - 12:45 at our Morton EDC office (415 W. Jefferson Street) for a casual round-table lunch with informative information about the EDC, projects, available resources and data to support the continued growth of Morton and its business environment.

EDC Connect is a monthly opportunity for EDC Investors to engage first hand with other Investors, board members and CEOs to build awareness and collaboration.

Please join us, RSVP to [email protected]
Lunch will be provided. 
 
November 25 is Small Business Saturday
Small Business Saturday is a part of the Morton Chamber's Hometown Holiday events in Morton this year!  Small Business Saturday is a national event designed to celebrate and support small businesses and all they do for their communities.  It is always the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and businesses in Morton are opening from 10:00 - 3:00 to participate.  Small Business Saturday participants will be advertised in the Chamber's Hometown Holidays promotions.

Businesses are also invited to log their participation on the national platform and to receive shop small hand outs.  Interested businesses can register here.

Be sure to join us and bring your family and friends out on November 25th for Shop Small Saturday!
 
New Microgrants Awarded
Congratulations to Morton's latest MicroGrant recipients:
  • Synergetic Industries was awarded a grant to rennovate a building in Morton and move all their operations to one building.  They anticipate adding 7-10 employees in the next 1-2 years.
  • Super Sublimation was awarded a grant to move to Morton and expand operations with the purchase of new equipment and addition of new employees.
If you are interested in applying for a Morton MicroGrant, visit here.  

To see a list of previous MicroGrant and Facade Grant recipients, visit here.
 
2018 Annual Investor Luncheon
Save the date for Monday, January 22 from 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM for our Annual Investor Luncheon.  This year's meeting will be held at Season's Gastropub located at 149 S. Main St.  Tickets will be available for purchase soon.

The investor lunch will include a recognition of the 2018 Venture Award Winner as well as a progress report from the Morton EDC Board of Directors.

Additional details coming soon.
 
Business Updates to Share?
Does your company have important news to share?  We at the EDC, would like to hear from you about any of the following topics affecting your company.

Does your company have:
  • Open positions to fill?
  • New hires to announce?
  • Capital projects in the works?
  • Business successes to celebrate?
  • Business Transition/location assistance needs?
  • Successes to celebrate?
  • Or challenges we can help address?
Answers to these questions will alert us to developments in your company and will prompt a follow up phone call or visit to further address, celebrate, assist your needs.  There are a host of resources available to support businesses with the above topics and we want to ensure your company enjoys the assistance available to it.
 
If you'd like to tell us now, write [email protected]!  Be thinking about the information you would want to share.  We look forward to keeping in touch! 
 
Morton EDC Local Business Visits
EDC logoA Morton Momentum Goal is to meet with 40 businesses a year
and assist with any concerns identified in those meetings.  We enjoy the opportunity to learn more about the operations of our Morton businesses and to connect them with resources, other businesses and celebrate their successes.

A few of the businesses we've had the pleasure to visit in the past months include:
  • RMH Foods (becoming Sandridge Foods, based in Ohio):  Sandridge processes packaged foods (meats and meals) that are cooked and steam-sealed.  These products are carried in grocery stores across the US.  Jeff Keech is the Director of the Morton facility and moved to the area from Jacksonville, IL this year.
  • Witzig Finanical Strategies:  Witzig Financial Strategies are EDC investors and Mike Witzig sits on the EDC Board of Investors.  The Witzig team is compromised of independent financial advisers that focus on helping individuals and corporations determine and achieve their financial goals.   
  • Park Inn by Radisson:  Repainted and newly staffed, the Park Inn by Radisson has made significant changes in the last year and is interested in reconnecting with businesses in the area.  The interior and exterior of the building was re-painted this year and they are on the final phase of updating their rooms with new carpet and decor.  They have partnered with Barracks Catering for food service at events and have hired a new Assistant General Manager.
  • Morton Rentals: Founded in 2011, Brad Kniep and his wife launched Morton Rentals to be a tool and equipment rental store.  Discovering the demand for high quality wedding products, they quickly became the premier wedding rental company in the area.  They also stock a wide range of party rental items too.  They have expanded through the purchase of Peoria rentals and distinguish themselves by their customer service and friendly atmosphere. 
We look forward to a visit with you sometime in the future too.  If you have any EDC questions or concerns in the meantime, give us a call at 309-263-2491.  We look forward to hearing from you.
 
Out & About
Here's a highlight of additional activities available to you this month.  There is a little something to do for everyone.
  • Sucre Sweets and Socials Ribbon Cutting and Open House  Join us at 321 S. First Ave. on Wednesday November 8 from 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm.
  • Cybersecurity Seminar hosted by the Illinois Small Business Development Center on Tuesday, November 14 from 11:30 am - 2:00 pm at 801 W. Main St. in Peoria.
  • Starting a Business in Illinois Workshop  hosted by the Illinois Small Business Development Center on Tuesday, November 14 from 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm at 801 W. Main St. in Peoria.
  • Business After Hours - Villas of Hollybrook.  Come network with community leaders and local business partners on Thursday, November 16 from 4:30 - 6:00 pm at 1709 N. Main St.      
  • I Shop Morton Hometown Holidays   Hometown Holidays activities kick off on Friday, November 17 and run through the end of the year.  Holidazzle, Shop Small Saturday, and Fourth Fridays are all included in this renamed series of events for the holidays.  
  • Starting a Business in Illinois Workshop hosted by the Illinois Small Business Development Center on Thursday, November 30 from 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm at 801 W. Main St. in Peoria.
  • Business After Hours - Kuhl Insurance   Come celebrate the season with community leaders and local business partners on December 7 from 4:30 - 6:00 pm at 632 W Jefferson St.
  • Starting a Business in Illinois Workshop hosted by the Illinois Small Business Development Center on Wednesday, December 13 from 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm at 801 W. Main St. in Peoria.
  • Cybersecurity Seminar hosted by the Illinois Small Business Development Center on Thursday, December 14 from 11:30 am - 2:00 pm at 801 W. Main St. in Peoria.
We look forward to seeing you out and about!
 
Brave Launch Pitch Day, November 9
Our regional Greater Peoria Economic Development Council hosts a range of activities and programs that support the entire region. As members we are pround to share the following even with you:

Brave Launch is a business accelerator modeled off of the National Science Foundation's I-Corps accelerator program and Steve Blank's Lean LaunchPad. The foundation of the program is evidence-based entrepreneurship and agile development, which pushes teams out into the real world to gain insight and develop their business model through customer discovery. A  seven week  intensive program, the accelerator intends to spur economic development and to accelerate the development of innovative companies. The program culminates in a pitch-day, where the participants will have the opportunity to pitch to investors and those interested from the community.

Pitch Day is on Thursday, November 9 from 9:00 am - 2:00 pm.  Tickets are $35 and you can reserve your space here.  
Morton Economic Development Council                                                           Leadership Circle 
415 West Jefferson Street village of morton
Morton, IL  61550
309-263-2491