MORTON
PROGRESS
The Latest News from the Morton EDC
Summer 2018
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Congratulations KAM Shooting Sports
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KAM Shooting Sports is our latest Microgrant Recipient. With plans to hire 8 full time equivalent employees in the next 12 months, KAM Shooting Sports was awarded a $5,000 grant to finish and launch its new shooting range, classroom, gun smith and office areas.
The Morton MicroGrant is funded through a directed investment with the Morton EDC made by Morton Community Bank
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EDC Connect Lunch - A Greener Morton
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Join us for our next EDC Connect lunch this Friday, August 24th from 12:00 - 12:45 pm at the Morton Chamber and EDC (415 W. Jefferson St.). We will be exchanging ideas for becoming a greener Morton. RSVP with Leigh Ann Brown at
labrown@mortonillinois.org or call 309-263-2491.
The EDC Connect is a quarterly opportunity for EDC Investors to engage first hand with other investors, board members and CEOs to build awareness and collaborate.
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Morton MIX with Larry Weinzimmer
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Save the date for our next Morton MIX session on Tuesday, October 9 featuring Larry Weinzimmer, Caterpillar Inc. Professor of Management at Bradley University. The subject of his presentation will be, "Challenging Strategic Management Assumptions and Finding New Opportunities for Growth.
Location: Freedom Hall
Time: 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
The event is free for 150% club members, $10 for Chamber Members, and $15 for non-members.
Ticket price includes lunch.
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The Morton Mentor Program Continues to Grow
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Now In its 3rd year, the Morton Mentor Program continues to grow. The Program matches Morton CUSD 709 High School students with business leaders willing to share professional knowledge, skills, contacts and resources. It helps students develop career and education pathways that will serve them long into the future.
The program received over 60 student applicants this year and although the registration deadline has closed, organizers are still lining up Mentors to meet student demands.
The program officially kicks-off on Monday, October 1 when mentors will meet their student mentees. Program training sessions are planned for the week before.
If you are interested in learning more about the program or in participating, contact Lenora Fisher at lfisher@mortonillinois.org. Additional details can be found on the
Chamber's website.
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There's Still Time to Record your Stories about Morton's History
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The Morton Chamber of Commerce received a Morton Community Foundation grant in 2018 to launch the Morton History Project. The project has 3 primary goals. It will capture video, audio and written narratives about the people and places in Morton's History. These stories will be highlighted on the Morton Library's History page and will be integrated into an interactive walking map of Morton's historical places. The project serves to identify local landmarks and create a walking tour of Morton for residents and visitors alike.
And there is still time to participate! Video, Audio, and Written narratives are being gathered through November 1st and the Chamber would love to hear from you.
Details for participating in the program and for recording and submitting narratives can be found on the
Chamber website.
Please be a part of telling Morton's story! We look forward to hearing from you.
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Morton Companies with Positions to Fill
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Morton companies are experiencing tremendous growth and have informed us about opportunities at their companies. Here's a sample of the positions available. Please share the opportunities with your networks. Let's help these companies grow!
Have a position to fill? Let us know! Write
lfisher@mortonedc.org with the listing and we'll help spread the word.
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August 24 (this Friday) is the last Fourth Fridays of 2018
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Join us for the final Fourth Fridays of the 2018 Season on August 24 from 5:00 - 8:00 pm. A complimentary Plank Pilates class on the Library Lawn, an art opening at the Jefferson Street Studio and Gallery, Art and pop up fun at Eli's, Telger Photography with a guest artist, a character artist at Dairy Queen, non profits with family fun at the Plaza, free music at the Library, car clubs,etc. PLUS an scavenger hunt with a huge grand prize and a chance to win a $25 Chamber Check. Join us!
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Featured Property - Main Street Business Park
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The Village of Morton is ideally situated for a range of businesses and we will be featuring development opportunities for businesses looking to locate in our thriving community.
Today, we'll feature the Main Street Business Park starting at 1600 N Main Street in Morton, IL.
There are a total of 32 acres in this business park and they are divided into 7 lots. The land is zoned I-2 but the popular anchor, Gold's Gym, received a variance for business operations at this location. The property is visible from the interstate and is development ready.
If you are interested in learning more, contact Justin Ferrill at jcfcommercial@gmail.com or call him at the office at 309-263-7400 or on his cell at 309-642-1009.
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Available Properties? Businesses Seeking Space in Morton
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One way the MEDC supports business growth is by maintaining a robust list of available buildings and sites on the EDC
website. As we visit with businesses in Morton, we learn about their needs and expansion plans. These listings help businesses navigate opportunities and supports new companies looking at Morton.
Do you know of other retail, office, commercial, industrial space available for lease or purchase? Please let us know!
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Contact Lenora Fisher
Community Development Director
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Morton Business Resources
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Building Improvement Grant
Morton Building Improvement Grant provides grants of up to $10,000 to commercial property owners and occupants for exterior structural and aesthetic improvements, interior code compliant elements, signage and permanent landscaping. and up to $5,000 for design and engineering costs on a reimbursement basis. Applications accepted monthly basis.
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Startup Travel Grants
Startup Travel Grants are for those that need to travel in order to take the next step in growing their business. These grants are made possible through Startup Greater Peoria to support the business network and fund the trip that will help entrepreneurs and startup companies in the Greater Peoria region meet with potential investors, suppliers, and customers.
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A Morton Momentum Goal is to meet with 40 businesses a year and assist with any opportunities identified in those meetings. We enjoy learning about the operations of our Morton businesses and to connect them with resources, other businesses and to celebrate their successes.
You will find a sampling of businesses visited below:
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The Morton Goldy's Gym location opened in 2001 and continues to be a successful, locally owned business that offers a variety of services to its members including group classes, childcare services, a smoothie bar and more. They have 3 full-time employees and 44 part-time employees and enjoy partnering with local businesses in Morton to offer employee gym membership programs.
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GROWMARK is an agricultural cooperative providing
agronomy
,
energy
,
facility planning
, and
logistics
products and services, as well as
grain
marketing and risk management services in more than 40 states and Ontario, Canada. GROWMARK owns the FS trademark, which is used by affiliated member cooperatives to serve more than 250,000 customers.
Growmark opened their Morton location in 2017 and has plans for utilizing the Morton location for training and growth opportunities in the future.
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Enterprise Rentals are expanding in Morton. They have leased 10 acres behind Growmark and America's Best Value Inn to service their vehicle and truck fleets, to supply their regional car rental centers and to sell fleet vehicles to auctions and car dealerships. The Rental location will move to the new location and will attract 3 employees from their Peoria and Bloomington locations.
Congratulations to Enterprise for this investment in Morton. We are delighted they've located their expansion here.
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David Mills, CPA, LLC provides expert accounting and financial services to small and medium sized businesses across Peoria, Morton, & all of Central Illinois. They offer bookkeeping, tax preparation, payroll services, Quick books training and more.
With a Morton location and one opening in East Peoria, they are a local resource for small businesses in the area.
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S'more Volunteers, Please!
Join the troop of more than 2,000 volunteers in hosting the 52nd Annual Pumpkin Festival. S'more fun available in the Sweet Shop, Grill Tent and Pumpkin Pancake breakfast.
Read about Volunteer Perks
here.
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Highlighted Community Events
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Morton Economic Development Council | 309-263-2491 | labrown@mortonillinois.org | mortonedc.org
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