Chairman's Circle Members
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Happenings in and around the Chamber!
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Happy Monday!
News never stops, that is one thing we know. Read on, we have plenty to share with you.
IDPH to File Emergency Rules on Masks
On Friday, Governor Pritzker announced that the Illinois Department of Public Health was filing emergency rules to give local health departments and law enforcement agencies “more leeway” in enforcing state mandates concerning masks and social gathering restrictions. If finalized, under the rules, businesses, schools, and childcare facilities could face fines of up to $2,500 for refusing to comply. It still needs to be approved. A bipartisan group, the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, is expected to meet this week to consider. Read more here.
EIDL Loans Still Available
There is still money available to all eligible businesses. The SBA had stopped taking applications for a short time except for agricultural based businesses. In June, they reopened the loans (not grants), which are not forgivable. However, since COVID-19 will likely impact business for the unforeseeable future, these 3.75%, thirty-year loans might be worth a second look. You can use this money for any business purpose, and you can get an EIDL even if you have already received the PPP. Check it out here.
PPP Loan Forgiveness FAQs Updated
The new FAQs document answers many issues that were unresolved. It provides more definitions about payroll costs that can be forgiven and further defines reductions in forgiveness. It also clarifies whether payments must be made while the bank is going over paperwork for forgiveness. You can access the FAQs, dated August 4, here.
Census Update
According to the Batavia Counts committee, 81% of Batavia residents have completed their Census. Please help encourage the last 19% to complete their Census and capture those dollars and resources for the next 10 years.
Enumerators have begun knocking on doors in Batavia. Residents have until September 30 to complete the Census, not October 31 as previously announced. You can read more on the City of Batavia website.
River Street and Water Street
Following a discussion at the Committee of the Whole meeting last week, you will see changes underway on River Street and Water Street. The goal is to improve the al fresco ambiance and make these streets fun, family-friendly destinations. On River Street, you’ll notice that Batavia MainStreet has already added oversized games: chess, checkers and tic-tac-toe. Musical entertainment is being lined up, along with family activities. Watch for new tables with umbrellas and twinkling lights in the trees. Batavia MainStreet is also planning downtown specials, including a $10 Lunch Rush every Thursday. There are exciting things being planned for Water Street, too. Keep watching!
Many of you have been viewing Mayor Schielke’s weekly videos. You can access last week’s August 7th video by clicking this link. The history lessons this week have to do with Batavia’s East side and West side elementary schools, fires, and city water systems. Watch the video to see how they all tie together!
More Potential Funding
Mayor Schielke also spoke about grant money received by Kane County from the Federal Government to pay for COVID-related expenses. Discussion continues as to how the monies will be distributed. Still on the table and worth following is the possibility that $8 million will be available to local nonprofits and businesses who were severely impacted by the pandemic. It is expected that Kane County will discuss allocations further this week; we will let you know if we hear more.
Please scroll down for many new events and other content, including our “Did You Know” segment. 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
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Play chess on River Street!
Photo courtesy of the Callahans: Nick and Alex test their skill against each other last Thursday.
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It is always a great day when we can present a check to a local business! Last week, we stopped by Chamber member The Rivers Edge Bar & Grill to give them their grant money.
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Congratulations to Mike Burke,
Our July 2020 Ambassador of the Month!
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The Batavia Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to announce that the July Ambassador of the Month is Mike Burke! Mike is in her second year as a valued Chamber Ambassador. She is a go-to person for the Chamber staff, often being one of the first to say yes when we need volunteers. She is a frontline representative for the Batavia Chamber at public and Chamber sponsored events and activities. She aids in the promotion, volunteer support and development of various Chamber-sponsored events. Mike generously speaks highly of our organization and helps recruit new members and donations for our raffles.
Besides being engaged with the Chamber, Mike is an active member and the president of the Batavia Women’s Club. She also serves on the Batavia Parks Foundation board and is a past major supporter of Batavia Youth Baseball and many other organizations supporting the vitality and strength of Batavia.
Mike, as an Ambassador, your dedication and efforts are appreciated and highly valued by the Board of Directors, Chamber staff and membership! Thank you!
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Local mental health counselors combine forces to share mental health tips, information, and developed an extensive Kane County Area Resource Guide.
A simple desire to help the community weather the COVID-19 pandemic has morphed into a much bigger and valuable collaboration.
By the beginning of May, six Batavia counselors, along with Margaret Perreault, CEO and president of Batavia Chamber of Commerce; and Jen Brens, executive director of BATV; were meeting every Friday via Zoom.
One important discovery was that no one organization had a substantial list of area resources, especially where to find mental health services. Thus, the Kane County Area Resources Guide was put together. The downloadable PDF is available via this Google Docs link. Follow them on Facebook, too! Read the entire press release.
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Kirk Road Construction Begins Today!
Heads up everyone who uses Kirk Road! Construction of a multi-use path between Pine Street and just south of Fabyan Parkway begins today.
During the work, there may be temporary single lane closures of southbound Kirk Road with flaggers directing traffic to allow construction crews to safely complete this work.
Construction work hours will be from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
The work is anticipated to be complete by Oct. 30, 2020. Click here to read more.
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Your Chamber Works For You!
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Here we are in week five of our Did You Know feature, and we still have more to share!
If you’ve followed along, we are communicating how the Batavia Chamber of Commerce has helped our members and the community since the beginning of the pandemic. Like many of the businesses we serve, we continue to pivot and assist in new ways.
Continuing our story, a bullet point or two at a time, did you know that:
- We made more than 200 different points of contact with local, state, and federal legislators and government officials to communicate business hardships and discuss possible solutions.
- We also joined with our partners at the state and US Chambers, the Illinois Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (IACCE), the West Suburban Chamber of Commerce Executives (WSCCE), and the Fox Valley Chamber Leaders (FVCL) to co-sign letters promoting pro-business legislation to help our members get much-needed support.
- These collaborations are ongoing. The pandemic hasn’t gone away; neither has our fight for our businesses. We remain ready and able to connect our businesses with those who can help.
Watch for more examples of our community support next week.
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All Are Welcome - Please Come!
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We are excited to celebrate the grand opening of Ruby Jane in downtown Batavia. After we cut the ribbon, stay to shop this clothier for a modern child! Per IDPH guidelines, face masks are required.
Postponed - Will Reschedule!
The City of Batavia, Illinois has joined the Kane County bike sharing program. Check out the bikes available and celebrate the launch with a ribbon cutting ceremony at Batavia City Hall, 100 N. Island Avenue! Per IDPH guidelines, face masks are required.
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Registration for this fantastic annual event is open until noon today.
You will receive a virtual business card for all attendees.
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Last Call - Event is Wednesday
Register today for the Batavia Breakfast Club!
Share your updates and meet new contacts
during this structured networking event.
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We are still accepting raffle prizes and sponsorships.
Volunteers are needed, too! Please sign up here.
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Mark your calendar and save the date for
an update on Illinois manufacturing!
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News and Updates from Our Members
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Congratulations to Chamber member Brother Chimp Brewing on their recent news feature! Patch reporter Jason Addy wrote how Steve Newman's new business was forced to adapt due to the pandemic.
Customers were allowed inside Brother Chimp Brewing's North Aurora taproom for just a day before the coronavirus brought new restrictions.
NORTH AURORA, IL — Steve Newman realized his dream March 16 when he poured a beer over the bar at Brother Chimp Brewing in North Aurora. He had no idea that was the only day people would be drinking and enjoying each other's company in his new taproom. Read the entire article here.
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AAA Tree Service is excited to announce that they have teamed up with Oh My! Floral to bring you the "Spread the Joy Initiative." Together, we have set out to bring a little bit of joy and happiness with a beautiful arrangement of flowers sent to you or a person of your choosing. We have chosen our "Joy Recipients" for the month of April and May. We will soon be contacting them to find out if they will be accepting these beautiful flowers or if they would rather continue to "spread the joy" and forward to someone else. Read the entire press release.
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Good news - you can still start your Batavia-themed holiday village!
We have a limited supply of our original building available for purchase.
The Chamber office is open - stop by and get yours today.
(Release of the Depot Museum is delayed until 2021 due to the pandemic.)
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Purchase Chamber Bucks now and support our local businesses!
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Please contact us now to be added to the participating businesses spreadsheet.
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School is just around the corner.
Child-sized masks are needed.
The Batavia Chamber of Commerce is helping Embrace A Family collect child-sized face masks.
If you sew and can help, you can drop off masks in our marked collection bin in the lobby. You can also purchase masks and either send directly to the Chamber or drop them off in our lobby.
Thank you for sharing this!
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Upcoming Business & Community Events
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Members, do you want to see your event listed here?
It's easy to add it to our Community Calendar!
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Batavia Chamber of Commerce | (630) 879-7134 | Shirley@BataviaChamber.org |www.BataviaChamber.org
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