April 5th Newsletter
Business Expo

The annual Saline County Chamber of Commerce Business Expo is TODAY from 4:30-6:30 pm at the Bonan Business Center. This event is open to the public and gives businesses a chance to show off their products or services. We will be allowing sales at this event. 
Upcoming Events
4/12- TODAY
Business Expo

4/13-
Coaches Clinic
Business Break @ Wildcat Pizza in Carrier Mills
Book End Painting at Harrisburg Library

4/17-
Steward Chiropractic Center Patient Appreciation

4/19-
U of I Adult Cooking Class at Harrisburg Library

4/21-
Hee Haw Dinner

4/27-
Adult Coloring at Harrisburg Library

4/28-
Casino Night by Harrisburg Medical Center Foundation

4/29-
WADI Art Reception at Harrisburg Library

5/3-
Business After Hours

5/10-
National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day
Business Break
Come out to Wildcat Pizza tomorrow, Friday April 13th at noon  for our chamber Business Break. It is an informal 1 hour lunch where you can network and talk about things going on in our area and chamber. We hope to see you there.
Monthly Luncheon
Date: April 26th
Time: Noon
Southern Illinois Made Expo Event
Senator Dale Fowler and the Southern Illinois Chamber of Commerce present Southern Illinois Made Expo. The event will be held in Marion, Illinois at the Williamson County Pavalion and will feature exibitors from all over the region. Businesses are invited to display and sell their products and services. This event will be open to the general public giving businesses an opportunity to experience firsthand the quality of unique products made by Southern Illinois artists, designers, and manufacturers. For more information please click on the links provided below.
Southern Illinois Made Expo

Website: Click Here
 
Registration Form: Click Here

Facebook Page: Click Here




New Members
We would like to welcome the following new businesses to the chamber.

  • KFC
  • Biggs & Moore Heating and Air
  • Liberty Sign Company
  • Illinicare Health
  • Mr. M's Lock & Key
Contact: Maddison Harner                                                               April 9, 2018
             (217) 558-1752
Week-in-Review April 2-6, 2018
Harrisburg, IL— With lawmakers preparing to return to Springfield on April 10, Senator Fowler spent the week around the District taking part in a memorial dedication honoring Union soldiers, touring a local business and speaking out against a proposal to redirect funds about from the SIUC to SIUE.
Last week, Sen. Fowler joined with other area lawmakers to express his ongoing concern about the upcoming proposal to redirect $5 million in funds from Southern Illinois University’s Carbondale (SIUC) campus and to the University’s Edwardsville campus. Senator was quoted in a joint release with U.S. Representative Bost, and other local lawmakers noting the dangers such a hasty reallocation could have on the SIUC campus, the community and the region. Sen. Fowler urged the Board of Trustees to postpone the vote, get feedback from the community and gain a better understanding on the long-term consequences a fund shift would have on staffing, future student recruitment and the local economy.
Sen. Fowler joined with the Lusk Memorial VFW Post 9227 and the Pope County American Legion Post 719 for a memorial dedication service honoring seven Union soldiers from Pope County who tragically lost their lives when returning home from war. The ceremony took place on the 153 rd anniversary of the tragic loss of life, where approximately 200 men from the 56 th Illinois Infantry died in a boat fire. Their bodies were never recovered and these men never received a burial. Speaking at the event, Sen. Fowler noted that it is never too late to remember a fallen soldier.
“Just like any other soldier that we would recognize today, these men deserve to have their legacy and stories shared, honored and remembered,” Fowler said. “During a time when our nation was divided, these soldiers came together, fought for freedom and died as heroes.”
From Golconda to Cairo, Sen. Fowler also met with a construction company out of Kentucky who are interested in pursuing the possibility of housing development in the area. Sen. Fowler joined representatives from the interested company, the Mayor of Cairo, Cairo Public Utility representatives, and HUD representatives to visit some possible sites for future housing development.
In other news, members of the Saline County CEO program met for their monthly meeting on April 3. Serving as a mentor in the program, Sen. Fowler joined the group for a discussion on their upcoming trade show and a scheduled visit to the Illinois State Capitol.
From encouraging future entrepreneurs to supporting local businesses, Sen. Fowler joined representatives from the Dynegy Joppa Power Station for a tour of their facility. According to the Dynegy website, Dynegy powers more than 400 Illinois communities. Sen. Fowler was excited to visit and learn more about the business that employs more than 140 people and works with other local contractors and vendors.
Later in the week, Sen. Fowler joined the Autism Society of Southern Illinois for a tour of their facility in Carbondale. April is officially recognized as Autism Awareness Month, promoting autism awareness and acceptance. According to the Autism Society, tens of thousands of children face an autism diagnosis each year.  
Also happening last week, Sen. Fowler joined athletes, supporters and volunteers for the 50 th Anniversary kickoff of the Special Olympics Illinois. Sen. Fowler came out on April 6 to the Touch of Nature Environmental Center to join the celebration of the foundation, their history and their ongoing mission of inclusion and encouragement of those with intellectual disabilities.
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Maddison Harner
Illinois Senate Republican Staff
Communications and Public Affairs
305 Stratton Building
Springfield, IL 62706
Office: 217-558-1752
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