A message from the Mokena Chamber of Commerce regarding COVID-19
During this time, more than ever please do your best to patronize our chamber members. These businesses invest in our community by sponsoring events, donating product, time and services. A link to our membership directory can be
found here.
We created a "COVID-19 Updates" page on our website at
Mokena.com
which we will continuously update. This is a resource for the community, and for you. Please send us any info you would like us to share on the page.
At this time all office phone calls are being forwarded to my cell phone so you are still able to contact the office. I realize now more than ever the chamber needs to be here to serve you. Email and social media is constantly being monitored. In my email signature below I have every possible way you can reach me. Also feel free to reach out on Facebook Messenger.
Lastly, if there is ANYTHING you need, this is what we are here for. Please reach out and tell us how we can help you. Stay healthy!
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April 7:
The Great American Buy Local Day. Even though Americans are being told to socially distance themselves, there are still ways to support local businesses by shopping online, buying gift cards, utilizing services of essential companies, referring a friend, or leaving a positive review online.
Join our Facebook Event here.
April 14:
Virtual General Membership Meeting via Zoom, 9 to 10 a.m. Guest Speaker and Sponsor: Bob Diamond of
Diamond Financial Services
. Link to the meeting will be emailed later this week. Everyone attending the meeting will be given 30 seconds to introduce themselves and their business.
April 16:
Deadline to submit materials for 2nd Quarter Mailbag. More info in box below.
June 10:
Save the Date for the Mokena Chamber Golf Outing at The Sanctuary Golf Course, 485 N. Marley Road, New Lenox.
July 4:
Mokena Chamber Annual 4th of July Parade! 10 a.m. step off. More info in box below.
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Tomorrow! The Great American Buy Local Day
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On April 7, we encourage you to participate in The Great American Buy Local Day, a national initiative to support local businesses, the communities they serve, and millions of people they employ.
During this time of social distancing to stop the spread of COVID-19, there are many locally owned businesses suffering the effects of the Coronavirus and subsequent lockdowns.
Even though we are socially distancing ourselves, there are still ways to support local businesses. We can do this by shopping online, buying gift cards, or utilizing services of essential companies. There are also
FREE
ways to help our local businesses if you're on a tight budget. You can refer a friend to a local business, or leave a positive review online on Facebook, Google, Yelp, etc. Follow your favorite local businesses on Facebook and share their posts!
Examples of how to support a local business/Chamber Member while still following federal and state guidelines is:
-Get a vehicle serviced or repaired
-Buy gift cards online
-Order take-out or delivery from a local restaurant
-Complete your taxes with a local CPA (submit forms via email)
-Complete interior or exterior home renovations
-Order products from a locally owned business and have them delivered or do a curbside pickup
These suggestions are not limited to businesses that are still open – leaving reviews or referring friends to companies that are temporarily closed is still helping for the future.
More info on our Facebook event
here.
Distance socially, support locally!
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Mokena Mayor's Message regarding COVID-19
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A video update from Mayor Frank Fleischer on the Village of Mokena's response to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic has been posted.
Click here
to download the video message recorded April 3, 2020.
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Show your 60448 pride and support your fellow chamber members!
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Purchase a t-shirt and our Mokena Chamber Member/Ambassador Aaron Guisinger of
Destination Athlete
will donate $10 to the business of your choice that you specify in your order.
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COVID-19 Small Business Guidance and Loan Resources
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Businesses can access additional information by clicking
here.
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The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act
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The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act allocated $350 billion to help small businesses keep workers employed amid the pandemic and economic downturn. Known as the Paycheck Protection Program, the initiative provides 100% federally guaranteed loans to small businesses.
Importantly, these loans may be forgiven if borrowers maintain their payrolls during the crisis or restore their payrolls afterward.
The administration soon will release more details including the list of lenders offering loans under the program. In the meantime, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has issued this guide to help small businesses and self-employed individuals prepare to file for a loan.
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COVID-19 Updates from the IRS
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The tax filing due date is extended from April 15 to July 15. All taxpayers -- individuals, corporations, other non-corporate filers and those who pay self-employment tax -- can also defer income tax payments.
More info here.
The IRS has announced plans to implement COVID-19 related paid leave for employees, along with tax credit for small and mid-size businesses.
More info here.
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COVID-19 information for small businesses from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
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COVID-19 Updates from the Village of Mokena
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All Village facilities remain open for business; however, a number of practical, common sense operational adjustments have been made in the interest of protecting the health, safety, and well-being of the public, as well as Village elected officials and staff.
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Follow Silver Cross Hospital on YouTube
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Your Response Matters - U.S. Census 2020
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Health clinics. Fire departments. Schools. Even roads and highways. The census can shape many different aspects of your community. Census results affect our community every day.
According to the
Illinois Department of Human Services website
, on the
state level
, an accurate count of Illinois' population is essential to ensure that the State receives the funding it needs to properly care for its residents and provide critical services and programs. In 2015, Illinois received $19,738,866,367, or approximately $1,535 per capita, in federal assistance for sixteen programs. The failure to count every Illinois resident would have devastating effects on Illinois' ability to meet the needs of its residents. Even a one-percent undercount would result in the State losing $19,557,435 per year for a decade, resulting in a total loss of $195,574,350.
More information regarding the U.S. Census can be
found here.
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An important message from Mokena Fire Protection District Chief Howard Stephens
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This is Chief Howard Stephens with the Mokena Fire Protection District. I am sending in this request for assistance on behalf of the men and women who find themselves on the front lines of this COVID-19 battle, on a daily basis; I am referring to the brave men and women of the Mokena Fire Protection District and the Mokena Police Department, your Emergency Response Personnel.
We are currently advertising for assistance from the public; but we need more supplies. As you could imagine, having the necessary supplies listed below, is a matter of life and death for your front line emergency response personnel.
We need all generous donations of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and cleaning supplies to protect your Paramedics, your Police Officers, and our patients against the COVID-19 Virus. If we receive donations, they will be used, and the donations will not go to waste.
All donations are being accepted at Mokena Fire Station #1, please contact Lt. Mark Sickles for additional information.
We need:
Hand Sanitizer (any size)
Hand Soap (liquid)
Laundry Soap (liquid)
Medical Gloves (M, L, XL)
Disinfectant Wipes
Disinfectant Spray
N95 face-masks Masks
Homemade & Other types of Face-Masks
Isolation Gowns (M, L, XL)
Eye Protection (goggles)
If no physical donations are available, I ask that you consider helping us by spreading the word of our request. Thank you for your consideration and support.
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Did you see our full page ad in the Mokena Messenger?
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Don't miss out on the 2nd Quarter Mailbag
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Do you have something special you need to promote? Let us do the work for you!
Just bring 400 copies of your flyer* to the Chamber Office along with $125 (cash, check or credit card) and we will mail your flyer to our 400 chamber member businesses!
Feature your business specials, announcements, special events, etc.
The deadline to bring in your mailbag materials and payment to the chamber office is Thursday, April 16.
The mailbag will be sent out the week of April 20.
*One page only please. Double-sided is okay. Call the Chamber office at (708) 479-2468 or
email
chamber@mokena.com
with questions.
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The Little Free Library on Front Street is stocked!
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The Little Free Library is fully stocked with books for all age groups! Take a book, or leave a book! We will make sure the library stays FULL!!!! All book covers have been wiped down with anti-bacterial wipes and a package of wipes is inside the box. Please help yourself to a wipe, but leave the package inside for the next person.
The Free Little Library is located in front of the Mokena Chamber office at 11104 Front Street.
Below is a message from the Mokena Library:
While the library will be closed to the public, we have many remote and digital services including eBooks, research databases, streaming music, online magazines, and more.
The library will be waiving all fines during the time we are closed. We will update the public of any further changes to services.
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Our Annual July 4th Parade!! Applications available.
Theme: "The 20's Roar Again" Celebrating the great things that happened from 1920 to 2020!
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Our annual MAGNIFICENT 4th of July Parade is only about 4 months away. Held on July 4 at 10 a.m. on Wolf Road, this parade is FREE for Chamber members, Civic Groups, and area residents! Come one, come all!
Create lasting memories and promote your business, bring awareness to your group, or start a new tradition with your family!
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Take our Weekly Poll!
Final results in next week's E-Newsletter.
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What is your favorite Easter treat to eat?
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Do you like Poll Questions? (Sorry running out of material here with the world being closed).
Yes - 100%
No - 0%
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If you would like your information included below, submit as either a Word Document, PDF, or a website link by 3:30 p.m. on the Friday before the week you would like it included. Reply to this email or send to
chamber@mokena.com
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McAlister's Deli
has been providing meals to the Silver Cross ER and ICU. Their individual boxed lunch is a safe and convenient option for healthcare workers as its contents are labeled, and includes a full meal of a sandwich, chips and cookie. If your business is interested in donating meals, please contact Denise Burks, Director of Catering and Marketing at 630-886-2249. Their full catering website can be
found here.
April 8
June 24
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View our recent Ribbon Cuttings on Facebook Live!
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Welcome to our new members that joined in the past 30 days!
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19235 Wolf Rd. Ste. 140, Mokena
815-333-4032
Mary Maertin - Resident at Large
19404 S. LaGrange Rd. Mokena
815-553-2790
19008 Wolf Rd. Mokena
708-479-0414
708-479-4328
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News from Lincoln-Way High School #210
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These members renewed their chamber investment in the past 30 days!
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Friends of Mokena
Newmark Construction
Lee Family Partnership
JND Truck Repair, Inc.
The Mane Tamers Salon
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New Resident 'Swag Bag' marketing opportunity for you.
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As a member of the Mokena Chamber of Commerce you can be one of the first businesses to welcome new residents to Mokena!
When new residents set up their utilities account at Village Hall, they are given a card to bring to the Chamber Office to redeem for a Welcome Swag Bag of free gifts, including promotional items and coupons from Chamber member businesses, along with information about the community.
To participate in the Welcome to Mokena program, we just ask that you provide a promotional item for the Welcome Bag, and/or a coupon for your business.
To participate, we ask for a 12-month commitment in the program. In return, at the end of each quarter, you will receive the mailing addresses of the Welcome Swag Bag recipients who have opted to receive information from you.
The program fee is only $200 per year!
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Our 2020 Premier Sponsors
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Melissa M. Fedora
Executive Director
Mokena Chamber of Commerce
11104 Front Street, Suite 1B
Mokena, IL 60448
Tel: 708-479-2468
Fax: 708-479-7144
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