Dear Members:
In her 2023 State of American Business Address on January 12 to businesses, business organizations and chamber of commerce across America and the world, United States Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Suzanne Clark urged federal government to reject partisan politics, pursue an actionable agenda to strengthen America and give businesses the best opportunity to succeed.
Clark called on the U.S. Congress to begin work on an “Agenda for American Strength” that can “help us not only navigate the present moment, but also steer our country to the brighter, stronger future that we expect—and future generations deserve.”
Clark outlined a forward-looking, aspirational agenda to strengthen our country in five key areas, as follows: building (infrastructure), people (immigration and workers), energy (independence), global leadership (trade deals and national security) and the rule of law (litigation and crime).
Her Agenda for American Strength calls on both Congress and U.S. President Joseph R. Biden’s Administration to take action on the following items:
- Pass a permitting reform bill to deliver on the investment made in infrastructure;
- Secure our nation’s border, protect Dreamers and increase the number of employment-based visas;
- Fix worker shortages by improving access to childcare and incentivizing work;
- Accelerate permitting for new American energy exploration and production, finalize a legally required five-year program for offshore leasing and make it easier to build energy infrastructure;
- Work in partnership with the private sector to achieve climate resilience through innovation;
- Resume free and fair trade negotiations and pursue new deals;
- Tackle head-on the challenges with China, while maximizing the benefits American can and must derive from continuing to do business with the world’s second largest economy in area consistent with our national security and values;
- End lawsuit abuse by going after litigation funder; and
- Enact policy changes to help law enforcement and prosecutors make our communities safe and fight organized retail crime.
Clark also called for an end to a “government-knows-best” approach that burdens American businesses with overregulation and micromanages our economy.
Active Shooting Training
Our Chamber will be working in partnership with the Elmhurst Police Department to present an Active Shooting Training Program for both members and non-member Elmhurst businesses in March or April, with sponsorship support from corporate participants NorthShore Edward-Elmhurst Health and Superior Air-Ground Ambulance.
The Elmhurst Police have staged active shooting training exercises for Edward-Elmhurst Health, Elmhurst University, Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205 and other entities.
104th Annual ECCI Awards Gala
ECCI will celebrate its 104th Annual Awards Gala at the newly-rebranded Elm West Banquets on Friday, March 10, from 5 to 9 p.m. Click HERE to register as an attendee and/or sponsor.
2022 honorees are A.J. “Toche” Terrones Business of the Year Helping Hands Cleaning Service, Ambassador of the Year Eva Sanchez of See Your House Right Here @properties Elmhurst, Chairman’s Award recipient Desiree Chen of Elmhurst University and ECCI Civic Hall of Fame inductee John DeVries of DeVries Animal Hospital.
“State of Our City” Mayoral Address
Click HERE to watch Elmhurst Mayor Scott Levin’s Annual “State of Our City” Mayoral Address delivered to 125 Chamber members and guests at the January 19 Membership Breakfast hosted in the second-floor Hammersmith Community Room at Community Bank of Elmhurst.
Aired live on YouTube by Elmhurst TV, the program also is being cable TV rebroadcasted in February on Comcast Channel 6 and AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 on Saturdays at 7 p.m.
Economic Development Projects
The City of Elmhurst’s Zoning and Planning (Z&P) Commission at its rescheduled January 10 meeting approved both the Planned Unit Development (PUD) application and setback variance for a proposed 28-unit condominium at 200 North York Street, but voted 4-3 in opposition to a height variance of 109 feet versus the by-right height of 77 feet.
The majority of Commissioners feared that the requested height variance would set an unwanted precedent as the first redevelopment on that block and that eight condos in the two additional floors did not constitute enough additional density to the project.
The Elmhurst City Council’s Development, Planning and Zoning (DP&Z) Committee will begin its deliberations on the project, starting at the February 14 meeting.
New Members
Our Chamber welcomed seven new members in January as follows: Amigas Restaurant, Big Blue Swim School Glendale Heights, Craftwood Inc., Elmhurst Magazine, Heartland Payment Systems, Sweeney’s Custom Landscaping and The Davey Tree Expert Co.
Reactivated Member
Byrnes & Walsh, Duly Health and Care and Elm West Banquets each reactivated their Chamber membership in January.
Dropped Members
The Chamber said goodbye to the following five members in January: Mata Ne New Asian, Super Cool Products, The Schiller Team @properties, The TQS Group and TransNational Payments (Celero).