Dear Members:
As part of today’s many Giving Tuesday appeals, the ECCI Centennial Celebration NFP—an Internal Revenue Service (IRS)-designated 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization—is asking for your tax-deductible support for our Civic Hall of Fame Public Memorial Fund, Second Century Fund and/or Ralph P. Pechanio Student Internship Endowment Fund at Elmhurst University.
I am thankful to announce that ECCI Board of Directors member and Treasurer Ralph Pechanio, the principal donor to the Student Internship Endowment Fund, is donating $5,000 to the Second Century Fund—in hopes that member gifts generate a matching dollar amount. Simply click HERE to make a gift in denominations of $25 to any or all of the NFP charitable purposes.
The Second Century Fund has already allowed our Chamber to educate Elmhurst businesses and our community at large throughout the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic and promote to our residents the importance of participating in the 2020 United States Census. With Pechanio’s donation, more than $30,000 in gifts and pledges have been raised towards a goal of $50,000.
ECCI’s Civic Hall of Fame Public Memorial will feature an interactive, touch-screen, 60-inch TV monitor from Barrington-based TouchPros to be installed in the lobby within the City of Elmhurst’s scheduled construction for the new Metra Train Station in downtown Elmhurst. More than $10,000 in gifts has been made towards a goal of $50,000.
The Student Internship Endowment Fund at Elmhurst University has exceeded its $150,000 goal by more than $100,000 and continues to grow in value—assuring that our Chamber will have the funds needed to offer paid internships to EU students for decades to come.
Holiday Shop and Dine Hometown
While Small Business Saturday’s 11th Anniversary on November 28 has come and gone, it is imperative that consumers remain vigilant in their support of small businesses throughout this Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic-impacted holiday season by shopping and dining locally as much as possible—whether done in person or online.
You can still find an amazing mix of unique gifts and exceptional services to purchase for family and friends, while contributing to the well-being of your community’s economy.
This pro-local mantra is especially important for the “mom and pop” family-owned restaurants and bars across Illinois that have endured state-mandated restrictions and shutdowns on indoor dining since last March, will forfeit revenue from the cancellation of holiday lunches, dinners and parties, and are limited in their outdoor dining options as winter weather moves in.
Since first indoor dining shutdown last March, our Chamber’s “Dine Out” From Home website page has promoted some 90 Elmhurst restaurants and bars (members and non-members alike) that have remained “open for business” by providing their patrons with walk-in takeout, curbside pick-up, drive-thru and/or delivery services.
Accessible via the ECCI website home page’s navigational bar, the “Dine Out” From Home page features the name, address, phone number, hours of operation, both menu and online ordering (if an option) hyperlinks, and service delivery options for each restaurant and bar.
Today, small businesses account for some 30.7 million U.S. businesses (8.7 million minority-owned), employ nearly half (59.9 million) of those working in the private sector and create two out of every three new jobs, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. The food and beverage industry employs some 16 million, ranking No. 1 outside of government jobs.
More importantly, 68% of every $1 spent at a local small business stays in the community, as compared to 44% from a big box retailer.
Elmhurst Loves Local Contest
The City of Elmhurst kicked off its Elmhurst Loves Local Contest on Small Business Saturday to run through December 21 offering daily prizes of two $50 gift cards and three Grand Prize drawings of $250 in gift cards and merchandise from December 21-23. To be eligible, submit a photo of you or your family supporting an Elmhurst business by 10 p.m. for that night by e-mail.
Free Downtown Elmhurst Delivery
Elmhurst City Centre is running its FREE Hometown Holiday Delivery Service for Elmhurst residents who shop and dine at participating downtown businesses now through December 23.
Spring Road Ice Sculptures
The Spring Road Business Association will stage its annual display of newly-carved ice sculptures—including one of our Chamber logo’s iconic Elm leaf—along Spring Road starting on Saturday, December 12, at 10 a.m. and lasting for as long as Mother Nature allows.
Record Presidential Election Turnout
More Americans voted in the November 3 Presidential Election than in any other election in the history of the United States at more than 154 million, or nearly 67 percent of the registered voters, which marked the highest turnout percentage in more than a century.
That being said, the April 6, 2021, Consolidated General Election will carry more on an impact here in Elmhurst with two-term Mayor Steve Morley opting not to seek a third four-year term in office, the positions of City Clerk and City Treasurer both on the ballot and eight of the City Council’s 14 Aldermanic seats—one in each of seven Wards and a second in Ward 1 due to a recent resignation and appointment—also in the mix.
Aldermen Scott Levin (Ward 5) and Mark Mulliner (Ward 7) have announced their candidacies to succeed Mayor Morley and there is talk that a third Alderman is considering joining the race.
Prior to Mayor Morley’s tenure, both aldermen ran for mayor the year that Pete DiCianni won a four-person race and then Levin served as Interim Mayor in 2012 when DiCianni resigned to serve as one of District 2’s representatives on the DuPage County Board of Commissioners.
Typically, even strongly-contested mayoral races in Elmhurst bring out no more than 40 percent of the registered voters, so make plans in ahead to cast your ballot.
Fair Tax Amendment Defeated
Facing opposition from our Chamber, fellow chambers and peer business organization across the state, the Graduated or Progressive Income Tax Amendment, or “Fair Tax,” proposed for the State of Illinois Constitution on the November 3 Presidential Election ballot was soundly rejected by voting taxpayers, 55 to 45 percent.
“Fair Tax” proponents favored those who earn more to pay more, while opponents feared that the amendment would hand state legislators a “blank check” on income tax hikes for all residents down the road. The Fair Tax projected to generate an additional $3.6 billion from individuals and $350 million from businesses versus a state budget shortfall of some $7 billion.
Under Illinois’ current flat rate of 4.95 percent, individuals who earn more income are already paying more in income taxes. While among only nine states with a flat income tax rate, Illinois ranks lower than bordering states Iowa (8.5 percent), Wisconsin (7.6 percent), Missouri (5.4 percent) and Kentucky (5 percent), with only Indiana (3.23 percent) lower, and compares favorably among 43 states that levy individual income taxes.
Since 1969—when an income tax (then only 2.5 percent) was first instituted in 1969—Illinois’s Constitution has mandated that any income tax must be imposed at a single rate for all individual taxpayers, regardless of their level of income. Over the past 51 years, the income tax rate as ranged from as low as two percent to as high as five percent.
Illinoisans currently pay the nation’s second-highest property taxes (New Jersey ranks No. 1) at $2,400 for every $100,000 in home value, and the average state and local sales tax burden in Illinois is 8.78 percent, according to a study by Kiplinger, a financial forecasting service.
2021 Elmhurst Community Directory
Our Chamber has again contracted with the Elmhurst Suburban Life/Shaw Media to produce the 2021 Elmhurst Community Directory, with some 19,200 copies Every Door Direct Mail delivered to every resident, business and Post Office Box address in Elmhurst next January. Some 80 percent of display advertising space is already booked. Click HERE to book your display advertising space online or contact Bill Korbel by phone at (630-427-6230) or e-mail.
Happy Anniversary
Four members are celebrating Chamber anniversaries in December as follows: 20 years—Robert Hanisch, Tree Town Cooperative Nursery and Val-Matic Valve and Manufacturing Corp.
New Members
The Chamber welcomed one new member in November as follows: Michael Symber Studios.
Dropped Members
The Chamber said goodbye to the following four members in November: Beyond Center Stage, Brite White Pressure Washing Services, Dipsy Desserts and Elmhurst Academy.