September 14, 2020 Weekly Digest
Chairman's Circle Members
Happenings in and around the Chamber!
Happy Monday!

Last week was a wake-up call weather-wise! The cool, rainy week reminded us that autumn is approaching. The all-things-pumpkin-loving people are certainly rejoicing! 

This week is Illinois Chamber of Commerce Week. Please join us for Net-Working It! on Wednesday. If you wish to share testimonials about why you belong and/or how we help the community, please send them our way! We would love to hear from you.

Kane County Small Business and Not-For-Profit Grants Update

Kane County has now posted some information about these grants on their website. Take a look at their FAQs and start pulling supporting information to apply when they open after a Friday, Sept. 18 informational webinar. We expect that these funds will be snapped up quickly.

Small businesses can learn more by reading these application FAQs. Application FAQs for nonprofit organizations can be accessed here. The deadline for both groups to apply is 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 2. You can read a Kane County Connects article about the Kane County Grants, too.

Batavia Reconnected Grants Open

A reminder that round three of the Batavia Reconnected Grants are now open. Most of the requirements are the same as the previous two rounds with the exception that Batavia nonprofits who serve the public in person are eligible. Also, the grants top out at $1,000 and those who previously received monies cannot apply again. Grants will be provided on a first come first served basis and will be open through September 17 or a total of $20,000 is approved, whichever comes first.

Read the press release and access the application documents via this Google Drive Link.

National Community Survey Results

A scientific survey by the National Research Center was sent to a randomly selected 3,000 Batavia residents in June. The object was to get feedback from residents and set community benchmarks along with the 2020 Census. According to the City of Batavia website, the results are in. You are invited to view the final survey result highlights in the Powerpoint Presentation. For further detail, the individual documents are here.

Many of you have been viewing Mayor Schielke’s weekly videos. You can access last week’s September 11th video by clicking this link. In it, you will hear the mayor remember 9/11, and acknowledge a Batavian who went down with the Arizona at Pearl Harbor. We were pleased to hear a congratulatory shout-out about the work the Batavia Chamber of Commerce is doing, too. And finally, Mayor Schielke’s history lesson pays tribute to Batavia’s windmill heritage.

Please scroll down for upcoming events and other content. If you have news to share, remember to send it to us! We continually update our home page, bataviachamber.org when new resources and information comes out. Also, check our calendar for new events from us and the community.

Our local businesses need all of our support – please remember to shop and dine local! As always, we are now, and will be in the future, here for you.

Most sincerely,

Margaret, Patti and Shirley
Your Batavia Chamber of Commerce Staff
The Batavia Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that the 2020 Donna Dallesasse Award winner is Harriet Parker, manager of the Illinois Small Business Development Center at Waubonsee Community College.
 
Every year, the Batavia Chamber holds a Harvest Celebration to gather community members together to celebrate one Chamber member that has displayed an outstanding commitment and dedication to the Chamber's mission, vision, and values. This member is recognized as the annual Donna Dallesasse Award recipient.
 
In his letter of nomination, Roman Seckel of Drendel & Jansons Law Group, currently a director with the Batavia Chamber of Commerce and a past-chairman of the board, touted Ms. Parker’s commitment to the Batavia Chamber of Commerce and the business community. He explained that during the pandemic, she has made an even greater impact in the business community. Read the entire press release.
Please join us in honoring Harriet!
Space is limited, so register promptly.
Please email Patti@bataviachamber.org to reserve your sponsorship or get more information. Thank you in advance for sponsoring!
Congratulations to Michael Shoultz,
Our August 2020 Ambassador of the Month!
The Batavia Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to announce that the August Ambassador of the Month is Michael Shoultz! Michael is a first-year Chamber Ambassador and is a natural in this voluntary role. He has jumped in when asked to serve on committees or to volunteer at an event. He is a front-line representative for the Batavia Chamber at public and Chamber sponsored events and activities and makes calls to members on our behalf.

Michael is the founder of Spirit Rising Coaching and is a leadership coach certified with the John Maxwell Team. Last spring, Michael facilitated “Leading Through Crisis Virtual Mastermind Group,” which was made available to all Batavia Chamber members. It proved to be a valuable resource and greatly appreciated by the participants. He is also an active member of the Batavia Rotary Club.

Michael, as an Ambassador, your dedication and efforts are appreciated and highly valued by the Board of Directors, Chamber staff and membership! Thank you!
Please join us on Wednesday!
It is Chamber Week, so we hope that you will celebrate with us.

We are excited to celebrate Elderday Center as the new home of Seniors Helping Seniors with a ribbon cutting ceremony. This is the first day of their annual mum sale fundraiser, so pick up some fall color for your garden, too! Per IDPH guidelines, face masks are required.


We are excited to celebrate the opening of new member ASafeReturn.com! Come by to help cut the ribbon at 4:30 p.m. and wish them well on their new business venture, a pivot response to the pandemic. A Safe Return.com offers affordable plexiglass panels to provide a layer of protection for your employees and customers. Per IDPH guidelines, face masks are required.
Great information in bite-size chunks!
Join us for the inaugural multi-chamber Virtual Lunch & Learn. Batavia Chamber member Jamie Saam of LocalConnect is the first presenter.
Grab lunch at a local restaurant and tune in each week for a new topic.
Advertising Opportunities Now Open!
News and Updates from Our Members
Congratulations to Best of the Fox 2020 Winners!

Kane County Chronicle readers recently voted for their favorites. We are happy to see many of our members listed as winners of the Best of the Fox 2020! They include these listed as “The Best” – some in multiple categories:

Riverside Receptions and Conference Center, Apple Villa Famous Pancakes, Portillo’s, Crabby Boil, Eliff Dental, Delnor Community Hospital, Wellspring Creative Communications, KCT Credit Union, Edward Jones – Nick Ninedorf, Buttrey Wulff Mamminga Insurance Agency, Covenant Living at the Holmstad, and State Street Jewelers.

The following businesses were voted “One of the Best” – some in multiple categories:

Boyce Body Werks, Fox Valley Buick GMC, Apple Villa Famous Pancakes Catering, Oak + Swine, East China Inn, Daddio’s Diner, Acquaviva Ristorante, Comfort Inn & Suites Geneva, Paramount Theatre, Central DuPage Hospital, Northwestern Medicine Primary Care, Wazio Orthodontics, Carlson’s Flooring, Wade’s World of Woodworking, Red Hive Market, Great Guys Cleaning and Concierge, The Right Guy Carpet Cleaning, and Vons Electric.

Also, MW Specialties, Orange Home Services, Hogan Design & Construction, Gatherings by Design, River City Plumbing, Beardsgaard Barbers, Music Matters School of Music, Woofbeach, Two Bostons, Apex CPAs & Consultants, Old Second National Bank, Kon Printing, EarthMover Credit Union, Moss Family Funeral Home, Dorjath Law Center, Two Roads Lending, Water Street Studios, The Book Shop, Paula’s Couture Consignment, Batavia Downtown Shopping District, Prairie Path Cycles, Funway, and Batavia Park District – Quarry.
Please excuse us if we missed one of you...congratulations again to all! 
For local residents, the Batavia Counselors' Collaboration put together a fantastic resource, the Kane County Area Resources Guide. The downloadable PDF is available via this Google Docs link. We have the printed resource available in the office, too.

Follow them on Facebook for tips, videos and updated information! Here's another of their videos.
Purchase Chamber Bucks now and support our local businesses!
Businesses, have you received Chamber Bucks?
Bring them to the Chamber office for reimbursement.
Please contact us now to be added to the participating businesses spreadsheet.
Call 630-879-7134 or email margaret@bataviachamber.org to learn more and sign up!
Upcoming Business & Community Events
Platinum Members
Batavia Chamber of Commerce | (630) 879-7134 | Shirley@BataviaChamber.org |www.BataviaChamber.org