Dear Members:
While striving to adhere to Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker’s “Stay at Home” Executive Order May 30 extension, our Chamber will continue to work diligently (and safely) to help Elmhurst businesses both sustain operations financially and keep their workforce employed during the health care and economic crisis caused by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic.
In the past eight weeks, our Chamber has advocated on our member’s behalf to assure that federal, state and local agencies, and elected officials—including United States Senator Dick Durbin (D-Illinois), U.S. House of Representatives member Mike Quigley (D-Illinois 5th District) and Illinois Senator Suzy Glowiak (D-24th District)—understand the economic damage that COVID-19 and the related public policies have inflicted on the entire Elmhurst business community, not just our members.
ECCI has both supported the efforts of and shared information from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE), Illinois Department of Economic Opportunity (IDCEO), Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES), Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), Illinois State Treasurer’s Office, Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Illinois Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (IACCE), Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and more.
In partnership with the City, we have promoted Elmhurst restaurants and bars to patrons during the “Dine In” shutdown via our Chamber’s website—including the creation of a special “Dine Out” From Home page—member e-mails, Facebook and Twitter social media pages, and display advertising in local newspapers. “Dine Out” From Home features the name, address, phone number, hours of operation, both menu and online ordering (if an option) hyperlinks, and service delivery options for each of our participating member restaurants and bars. Thanks to website consultant Jennifer Speaker of SMB Advantage Group for her all of her “Dine Out” work.
ECCI also joined chambers of commerce across Illinois to promote IACCE’s statewide ‘IL’ove Local campaign (April 11-18) to rally consumer support of all small businesses.
Nearly every day, our Facebook and Twitter posts shine a spotlight on the good deeds of ECCI members, including promoting the efforts of “essential” businesses and encouraging e-commerce patronage of our non-essential small businesses.
In our Chamber’s role as a business educator, ECCI members receive near-daily updates on federal and state financial assistance programs available to small businesses and not-for-profit organizations via e-mails, which are then uploaded to our website’s home page (and archived in News page under the Community News tool bar link) and shared community-wide via Facebook and Twitter posts.
Hopefully, it won’t require another pandemic to prove how “essential” our Chamber is to both Elmhurst businesses and community.
Federal Relief Legislation
While much needed for small businesses and select not-for-profit organizations (charities, veterans and Native American)—including $310 billion in additional Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funding—the recent $484 billion COVID-19 federal relief legislation again excluded chambers of commerce, business and trade associations, and other 501(c)(6) NFPs.
Congressman Quigley is among many House members who are supportive of a fifth piece of COVID-19 legislation that would include relief funding for state and local governments, along with chambers of commerce and such, and Senator Durbin also is aware of our Chamber’s need.
Through Illinois’ emergency designation with the SBA, our Chamber applied for both the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) $10K Emergency Grant and a low-interest loan of at least $25K (at 3.75% for businesses and 2.75% for NFPs). We received Emergency Grant funding of $3K ($1K per employee), but have not been contacted regarding our loan application.
Professional Speaker Seminars
The April 29 Professional Speaker Seminar Series presentations on “The Deal Of A Lifetime? What’s really happening in the Auto Industry” by Alan Stern of McGrath Lexus of Westmont and “Container Gardens: The Good, The Bard & The Ugly” by Lynn Baralt of Baralt’s Custom Landscapes via Zoom can now be viewed online via our Chamber website’s video library page.
Membership Dues Payments
Although dozens of our Chamber members have been unable to afford either annual renewal or monthly membership dues payments in March and April (and I expect more of the same in May), their businesses or organizations remain a member in good standing during this viral shutdown.
Happy Anniversary
Six members are celebrating Chamber anniversaries in May as follows: 55 years—Nicor Gas; 45 years—Service Express Heating & Air Conditioning; 20 years—Elmhurst Choral Union; 10 years—AccuQuest Hearing Center and Beyond Center Stage; and 5 years—myeyeDr.
New Members
The Chamber welcomed no new members in April.
Reactivated Member
First Congregational United Church of Christ reactivated its Chamber membership in April.
Dropped Members
The Chamber said goodbye to the following two members in April: Bookmark Ventures and SpotOn.
Gone, But Not Forgotten
Our condolences to the family and friends of Frederick Ronald Luscombe, 85, Founder of Luscombe Music, who passed away on April 19 and is now playing his trombone for a new audience.