MEMBER NEWSLETTER
January 20, 2021
Greetings!

Thank you all for your valued Chamber Membership. We appreciate and truly need your Membership dollars to continue advocating and promoting your business. Please login or email us if you are uncertain if you have paid or in need of a 2021 membership invoice.

Read below and promote your business by becoming involved in the our upcoming events, education yourself with new PPP procedures and required anti-sexual harassment training, be active in a committee, and read the many opportunities our civic partners are doing to enhance our business community.

The Chamber is dedicated to support our members by connecting your business with the greater community.

We wish you and your employees a healthy and prosperous new year,

Dawn Smith
Executive Director
Chamber Office Hours
In Person Office Hours: Tuesday & Thursday 9am - 4pm.
Staff will be working remote: Monday & Wednesday

Get YOUR BUSINESS INVOLVED

  • Sign up for a NEW event - Share the Love February 1 - 28
  • Restaurants register for a NEW event - Featured Family Feasts - February 1 - 28
  • Promote yourself in Glen Ellyn Community Awards - Voting through January 24
  • Learn your ROI in Chamber 101 Informational Meeting - January 27
Share the Love
of Glen Ellyn this February

This February, the “Share the Love of Glen Ellyn” event will feature heart-shaped wreaths, each sponsored and decorated by a local business, family or non-profit. Each wreath will showcase Glen Ellyn pride and be hung on light poles throughout the month of February. The wreaths will feature a theme in support of “Share the Love”. We hope this brings many to Glen Ellyn in a safe way to dine carry out and shop local while sharing the LOVE. Full Press Release HERE. Register today!
·   Wreath Kits include: 1-24” heart wreath and 2- 24” zip ties
·   You will be asked to submit your LOVE theme with an on-line form. We will post signage on your wreath with the creators name and LOVE theme (brief)
·   You will be given a designated light pole to hang your wreath by February 1
·   Be sure to fasten all materials tightly to the wreath and do not use any biodegradable materials
Scout Troops & Tax Exempt Non-profits - $7 each Kit
·   Includes: A Wreath Kit: 1-24” heart wreath and 2- 24” zip ties

Community, Business Heart Builders & Business Sponsors- $45 each Kit
Businesses have the option to build their own heart or Businesses can sponsor a scout wreath for $45.
·   Company logo displayed on the heart
·   Company logo included on social media posts, e-blasts and website
·   Hearts located in close proximity to storefront if in the Central Business District
Timeline:
·   Sign Up and pay for a Kit while supplies last
·   January 19 - 27: Pick up Kit at Chocolaterie Stam
·   January 27: Last day to submit your LOVE theme description
·   January 30 - February 1: Place hearts on assigned light poles
·   February 1 - 28: Hearts displayed downtown for all to LOVE
·   March 1 - 3: Teardown
Share the Love Glen Ellyn Committee

Be involved and join this committee to help distribute signage for all hearts. This Committee will meet February 1.
Glen Ellyn's
Featured Family Feasts

Glen Ellyn’s Featured Family Feasts is a restaurant meal program that will offer a calendar of complete dinners from local restaurants that will feed a family of 4- 6. Each day of February will feature a different meal from a Glen Ellyn restaurant. The goal is to offer a convenient option for area families, expose residents to expanded dining options as well as create new business for local restaurants. A calendar will be published by the Chamber and is available at glenellynchamber.com/featuredfamilyfeast. This program will be partnering with the Glen Ellyn Food Pantry where residents can also drop off much-needed donations when they pick up their meal to help those who maybe experiencing food insecurity. A box will be dropped off and picked up by a Food Pantry volunteer for each meal. Full Press Release HERE.
Attention Restaurants Please take a moment to fill out the form by January 21! We will create a month calendar with everyone’s logo on a day which will hyperlink to your menu and ordering instructions. It is important to be sure to mention your instructions as how soon and late people can order. We all want to ensure a seamless pick up and payment process.
 
·   Please Register on-line -or- print out the . (Preferred method is on-line, you can attach pics which are optional)
The Glen Ellyn Community Awards - Voting Through January 24
The Glen Ellyn Community Awards is a time when all those who live and work in Glen Ellyn are able to recognize the amazing individuals and businesses. Awards, press and recognition is highly visible throughout the Village. This year we will create a video of the award presenters and recipients to share in March via YouTube with plans of watch parties throughout the Village. More to come.

Promote your business and place the logo to the left on your social media, newsletters, website and marketing for your patrons to VOTE for YOUR organization in the appropriate category with a hyperlink to the our webpage: www.GlenEllynChamber.com/Awards.
The voting ends this Sunday, January 24.

Please consider sponsoring this very important event. There will be high residual visibility for your company at this important Glen Ellyn tradition in recognizing the BEST of Glen Ellyn.
Business (Popular vote - Use icon)
  • Non-Profit of the Year
  • Restaurant of the Year
  • Retail of the Year
  • Service Industry Business of the Year
Civic
  • D41 Educator of the Year
  • D87 Educator of the Year
  • D89 Educator of the Year
  • Firefighter of the Year
  • Library Employee of the Year
  • Park District Volunteer of the Year
  • Police Officer of the Year
  • Village Employee of the Year
Service
  • Stuart S. Stone, Citizen of the Year
  • Paul Herwaldt, Senior Citizen of the Year
  • Youth of the Year
Chamber 101 Member
Information Meeting

Are you maximizing your Chamber membership? The Glen Ellyn Chamber of Commerce has many new member benefits and cost saving programs. Whether you are a new member or a veteran, come and learn how the Chamber works for you! At this session you can schedule your benefits for the year, use your member log-in to learn how to easily update your information online, network with new members and Chamber Board of Directors, learn how to get involved.
Wednesday, January 27
8:00 - 9:00 AM

Free to All Chamber Members & Prospective Members

Virtual Meeting via Zoom. A link to join will be emailed prior the meeting.
SAVE THE DATE

PPP Round 2—What You Need to Know presented by Glen Ellyn Bank & Trust
Virtual
February, 9
IL State Required Anti-Sexual Harassment Training
Virtual
presented by The Law Office of Lofgren & Wentworth, P.C
March 9
Glen Ellyn Community Golf Outing 1pm shotgun at Village Links.
Golf, Donate for Silent Auction & Sponsor
May, 17
Did You Complete Your Anti-Sexual
Harassment Training?
In 2019, the Illinois Legislature passed the Illinois Workplace Transparency Act. As a result, employers must provide anti-sexual harassment training to their employees at least once per year. Failure to do so could result in employers being fined by the Department of Human Rights.
 
Rick Lofgren and Charles Wentworth of The Law Office of Lofgren & Wentworth, P.C. have recorded a 20-minute presentation that you can use to provide the training to your employees, and they have been gracious enough to let the Chamber use for its members. For $10 per employee, we will provide to you a link to the video, as well as the Certificates of Participation for each employee who views the program. This program is NOT for restaurants or bars. We will soon email you when a presentation will be available for those serving alcohol.
 
Did you complete your Anti-Sexual Harassment Training? If not, register today so you and your employees can complete this requirement. You can register for this certified program throughout the year. An additional option is a live program which will be available on March 9, to include Q&A..
$10 per employee
*Includes a link to the video and Certificates of Participation 
More Chamber Member Marketing...
NEW: Refer a Member and Receive a Free Eblast
The Chamber would like to show their appreciation. If you refer a new Chamber member you will receive a free eblast (value $100).

  1. You or the new member mentions the referral
  2. Submit your eblast artwork at glenellynchamber.com/eblast-request/
Are you participating in our Gift Check program?
*Chamber Members: Contact jaclyn@glenellynchamber.com if you are not listed.
This program is included in your Chamber membership. The Chamber sells approximately $60K in gift checks annually. The Chamber does not receive any money from this program and it is a FREE service to our paid members.

Gift Checks come in the following denominations $10, $15, $20, $25, $30, $50. With limited office hours, Gift Checks are "pre-ordered" by phone or email and pick up is available during in person office hours Tuesday & Thursday. Gift Checks are SOLD at: the Glen Ellyn Public Library, Stacy's Corner Store & Glen Ellyn Chamber.

Gift Checks are available to be redeemed ONLY for Glen Ellyn Chamber Members.
Glen Ellyn Welcome Bags NOW A FREE SERVICE to ALL Chamber Members
The Glen Ellyn Chamber welcomes new residents to the community! All new residents (approx. 500) receive a Welcome Bag. Chamber Members are able to distribute marketing materials and items in these bags for FREE. It is a great way to tell new residents about your business and service!

The Glen Ellyn Chamber provides the reusable shopping bag which includes a welcome letter, map, a Glen Ellyn Community Guide and useful items, coupons, directories and brochures that offer residents information and savings. Welcome bags are distributed at the Cashier Desk at the Village Civic Center and at the Chamber office. Contact the office to place your marketing materials in the Welcome Bag. Complete FORM.

PAST CHAMBER EVENTS
January 12, held the Annual Installation of the Glen Ellyn Board of Directors for 2021, A year of Review for the Chamber by Executive Director Dawn Smith, and A State of the Village by the Village Manager Mark Franz.

GLEN ELLYN PUBLIC LIBRARY
Glen Ellyn Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Project

Make your voice heard by joining an affinity group meeting as part of the Glen Ellyn Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Project on Thursday, January 28! These listening sessions, listed below, are designed to hear the collective feedback of Glen Ellyn community members pertaining to their passions, culture, and roles/responsibilities related to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI).

If you are interested in participating in an affinity group meeting, please contact Library Director, Dawn Bussey at dawnbussey@gepl.org or 630-790-6760.

1 p.m.: Seniors Age 65+
2 p.m.: POC (People of Color)
3 p.m.: Black
4 p.m.: Youth Age 17 and Under
5 p.m.: Disability
6 p.m.: LGBTQIA
7 p.m.: Women

The purpose of the Glen Ellyn DEI Project is to provide a format for the residents of Glen Ellyn to learn more about the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion activities taking place in the community and then to participate in open, facilitated conversations regarding their thoughts and ideas about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Glen Ellyn.
INNOVATION DUPAGE
Fine tune your skills in Sales, Project Management, the Contract Bid Process and more. Tuition is funded through a scholarship from the Hispanic American Construction Industry Association. Apply for the Program today!
COLLEGE OF DUPAGE
Future Proof Your Business Series January to March 2021

Covid19 has brought home a hard truth: small businesses will only be truly viable if they plan for future growth AND for a future crisis. The Future Proof your Business Series is designed to help businesses plan for a sustainable and viable future even in the toughest of times.

This program encourages business owners to let go of old beliefs and begin their transformation. They will gain a new appreciation for the real shocks that businesses suffer and the role of leaders in times of crisis; the opportunities technology offers for business continuity and the concurrent need for cybersecurity protocols. Understand the need for and ways to maintain a sound financial basis for the business, build a flexible and effective sales model and incorporate efficient means of marketing and communicating their message.

Whatever fate can throw at us, this program will give business owners the tools they need to survive the tough moments and continue to grow. Businesses can attend all live sessions and registered clients of the Business Development Center at College of DuPage will have access to consultants in one-on-one virtual settings to develop their customized action steps.

For more information or to register for webinars, click here.
VILLAGE OF GLEN ELLYN
Plans for Pedway Move Forward as Important Connection to Main Street

At the Monday, January 11 Village Board meeting, the Board approved the final Planned Unit Development for the Civic Center pedway, the pedestrian connection from the parking garage, currently under construction, to Main Street and Duane Street. The design of the pedway includes opportunities for multiple outdoor dining areas, seat wall planter boxes, decorative lighting, landscaping improvements, as well as mechanical equipment screening. 

To make way for the connection to Main Street, the Village purchased and subsequently demolished the former Shonkwiler building, located at 423 N. Main Street, and the residential building to its rear. This important improvement will provide better access for customers, Metra commuters and employees between the public parking garage and businesses in the downtown.

This project, alongside the Civic Center parking garage, are expected to be complete by May 2021. Once complete, the public parking garage will have 277 stalls within five tiers of parking, one of which is underground. In addition to the garage, a row of ten surface parking stalls are proposed along the west side of the driveway from Duane Street. A total net gain of 212 additional parking stalls will serve residents, Metra commuters, businesses, visitors to Glen Ellyn, as well as Civic Center employees and other Civic Center tenants.
Downtown Streetscape and Utility Project Update
Seat Wall Planter Rendering
Duane and Main: Mid-block Crossing Rendering
Mock-up: Brick/Concrete Planter
The Village's Capital Improvements Commission (CIC) met Tuesday, January 12 to discuss the Downtown Streetscape and Utility Project, and to review the results of the materials preference survey. 

Over 400 people participated and selected the sidewalk, parkway and tree planter curb materials they preferred. Survey respondents had a slight preference for the exposed aggregate for the sidewalk material, clear preference for herringbone brick pavers for the parkway material and granite for the tree planter curbs. The CIC is recommending the plain concrete sidewalk for the walkway, herringbone pattern brick pavers in the parkway and a combination of granite and concrete tree planter curbs. In order to keep costs in line, granite tree plater curbs may be used at key locations while concrete tree planter curbs will be used for the remainder of the project. Select planters may also receive a decorative railing.

The trees will be 35 feet on center, which gives room for sidewalk cafes and will allow for a robust tree canopy downtown. The design also includes seat wall planters at some intersections and mid-block crossings to provide ample opportunity for seating and lush landscaping. 

The project team presented several pedestrian crossing options that would draw attention to the crosswalks and slow vehicular traffic when pedestrians are present. The CIC is recommending a decorative pavement material called methyl methacrylate (MMA), which will be applied over a concrete base. MMA allows for pattern and color customization that meets roadway standards while enhancing the look of downtown.

The CIC is recommending festoon lighting in key locations in the downtown. The lighting has the effect of creating a ceiling canopy which provides a festive atmosphere and the feeling of being in an outdoor room. If hung over the roadway, festoon lights are strung 16 – 18 feet, as to not interfere with emergency or truck traffic. The CIC recommended festoon lighting be explored in key locations over sidewalks, parklets and alleyways at this time. 

Finally, the project team recommended removing two right turn lanes; southbound Main Street at Duane and eastbound Crescent at Main Street. The project team analyzed traffic flow and determined removing the turn lanes would not create backups and would provide several important benefits of added sidewalk space, pedestrian bump outs and parking. 

Village staff has been conducting meetings with downtown business owners to discuss the project timeline and address any concerns they have about construction, traffic flow and access. The Village Board will meet on Tuesday, January 19 to review the CIC recommendations on the streetscape items as well as business owner feedback on the proposed construction schedule. The Village Board is expected to review the final streetscape design concept in February 2021.
Comprehensive Plan: Third Public Hearing Scheduled for February 25

On Thursday, January 7, 2021, the Glen Ellyn Plan Commission conducted a public hearing on the second half of the draft Comprehensive Plan. Topics covered during the meeting included transportation, community facilities, parks and open space and plan implementation. Recordings of the first public hearing, held on December 10, 2020, and the January 7 public hearing are both available to view on the Comprehensive Plan website.

Next Steps
A third public hearing with the Plan Commission is scheduled for Thursday, February 25 at 7 p.m. via Zoom. During this meeting, the finalized Comprehensive Plan will be presented, incorporating any feedback received from the Plan Commission and the public from the prior open house meetings (held in November 2020) and the public hearings (held in December 2020 and January 2021). The finalized plan will then be presented to the Village Board at a Workshop meeting, tentatively scheduled for March 2020, and at a future Village Board meeting thereafter.

Opportunities to Provide Feedback and Comments
A copy of the most up-to-date draft of the Comprehensive Plan can be found on the website. Residents and businesses have the opportunity to provide comments and feedback directly on the website or by emailing Village Planning Manager, Kelly Purvis.

Consider signing-up via Notify Me to receive notifications on the Village’s website. Notify me allows you to receive updates (via email or text) on the comprehensive plan.
Join a Committee
Membership Committee
This committee welcomes and mentors our newest members, helping them to take advantage of the many benefits offered by the Chamber. Not surprisingly, we often find that our newer members are the very ones who enjoy participating in this role. This committee meets the fourth Thursday every monthly.
Thursday, January 28
9:00 - 10:00 AM

Free to All Chamber Members
Virtual Meeting via Zoom. A link to join will be emailed prior the meeting.
Glen Ellyn Business Leaders' Forum
The Glen Ellyn Business Leaders' Forum is comprised of non-competing businesses that provide products and services to businesses and consumers. Because each member represents a different industry we have industry specific expertise we openly share with the group. We want to share what we know so that we each become better business owners, and in turn can provide guidance to our clients and customers with relevant referrals.

Members collaborate to form effective referral partnerships for the markets they serve in Glen Ellyn and Chicago's Western Suburbs.
Friday, January 22
7:30 - 8:30 am

Virtual Meeting via Zoom. Link will be sent to all current members and those interested prior to meeting date. For more information click link or contact :

John Hughes, VP Business Banking
Glen Ellyn Bank & Trust
(630) 469-3000 (work)
Support Local Businesses
The Glen Ellyn Chamber is dedicated to be a resource during this difficult time. This is a very crucial time for our small business owners. We have began the following programs:

*Attention Chamber Members: Check your business listing and fill out the form below to provide business updates. If you have any questions email jaclyn@glenellynchamer.com.
Participate in our GLEN ELLYN DINE AT HOME
Curbside Pickup / Delivery / Carryout / Drive Through / Outdoor Dining
Participate in our KEEP SHOPPING LOCAL program
Curbside Pickup / Online / Shipping / In Store
Glen Ellyn Essential Services
These Business are critical to our community. Please note the Essential Businesses description described by the Executive Order . Please contact these companies via phone or email as many of these companies are working remotely.  
Call For Volunteers
Volunteers are needed across the state. If you are an able-bodied volunteer and are willing to volunteer, please visit DuPage County’s Volunteer Portal, Giving DuPage, that links volunteers with non-profit organizations within DuPage. If you are Non-Profit not associated with Giving DuPage and would like more information, please contact the Chamber Office.
Glen Ellyn Business Resource During COVID-19
The Glen Ellyn Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to be a resource during this difficult time. Please click the link to view:
  • Emails shared with Glen Ellyn Chamber members regarding COVID-19 on their website
  • COVID19 Links to Village, County & State.
  • Additional ways to help in the pandemic.
THANK YOU TO OUR MEMBERS
Without your paid memberships we are unable to provide services to strengthen the Glen Ellyn Businesses and community

Gold Members
Silver Members
Bronze Members
Emerald Members
COVID-19 Update Links
Quick Links
Glen Ellyn Chamber of Commerce
810 N. Main Street
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
630.469.0907