Morton Matters Newsletter
 December 2016

In This Issue
Leadership Morton
LEAP Social Media
Trick or Treat Main Street
Annual Meet Up
Welcome New Members
Membership Survey
Business Briefs
Chamber Closed
Facade Grant
Save the Date
December 8

December 13
Business After Hours


December 8
4:30 - 6:00 pm
Join Our List
Join Our Mailing List
Chamber Board Members
Bill Aupperle
Brian Cross
Jamie Durdel
Nick Esser
Nick Graff
Lindsay Hall
Barbara Heer
Shelly Hunt, Treas.
Mary Jane Johnson, Past Pres.
Darren Martin, Pres.
Aaron Miller
David Mills
Tim Mueller
Alissa Williams
David Zern, Vice Pres.
150% Club Members
Aaron Miller, Real Estate Broker
Ackerman Consulting 
Ackerman Farms
Alltrust Financial Management
Apostolic Christian Counseling & Family Services
Apostolic Christian Restmo r
Barbara Heer, Broker
Benckendorf & Benckendorf PC
Billy Daniel Excavating 
Blain's Farm & Fleet
Brandon Wood Retirement Center
Carius Dairy Queen
Childers Door Service of Central IL
China Dragon
ClearPath IT Solutions
CMFS Group
Colby Natural Health 
Coldwell Banker Commercial
CORE Construction
Country Financial
Craig H. Barley
Crossroads Concrete
Culver's of Morton
David Mills CPA LLC
David W. Kinsinger DDS
Deputy Duct, Div. ATC Insulators
DSM-H LLC
Elevate Church
Firehouse Pizza
Grimm Bros. Trucking
Heartland Bank & Trust
Heartland Veterinary Clinic
Heavenly Express
Hometown Title Inc.
I llinois Business Financial Services
IRON-A-WAY
JA ROECKER Architecture/Structures
Jim Maloof Realtor
Jim Yordy 
Keach Architectural Design
Kennel Lake Sportsmen's Club
Kmart
Knapp Johnson Funeral Home
Kuhl Insurance
Lennie's Quality Meat Shop 
Libby's Pumpkin
Lighthouse Buick GMC
Liquor Station
Marie Fisk, Realtor
Marion Manufacturing
Markley's Pest Elimination
Massage with Pauline
McDonald's of Morton
Menold Construction & Restoration
Merlin Birky 
Midstate College
Mike Murphy Ford 
Mike Yordy Excavating & Land Improvement
Millennia Prof. Services 
Mohr & Kerr Engineering
Morton Audiology & Hearing Aid Center
Morton Buildings
Morton Collision Repair
Morton Dental Center
Morton Financial Services
Morton Knights of Columbus
Morton Rentals LLC
Morton Unit School Dist. 709
Morton Villa Healthcare & Rehab Centre
Oak Lawn Mobile Estates
Old Smokey's BBQ 
PC Doctor Computer Consulting
PAAR
Quinn Johnston Henderson Pretorius & Cerulo
Ranson & Ranson Dental
Reading, Rhyming & Romping Preschool
Relax Inn
Reliant Auto Glass
Renewal by Anderson of Central IL
Riverview Senior Living Community
RMH Foods
Robert Schnarr
Rocke's Meats Ltd
Schooner's of Morton
Sherwin Williams
Stephens Electric 
TCRC
The Iona Group 
The Prassas Co./Morton
Town Centre
The Whisler Agency 
Thomas E. Davies PC
Tri County Cleaning Systems
Unity Point Clinic Proctor First Care
Until He Return Prophetic Bible Ministries
Village of Morton
Walmart of Morton 
Web Services 
W. Central IL Bldg. & Construction Trades Council 
Witzig Financial Services 
Wm. Aupperle & Sons 
Yinlun USA
Yogi's Super Liquors

Leadership Morton Enrollment Open
Leadership Morton Logo
Leadership Morton is a program of the Morton Chamb er of  Commerce to develop business and community leaders by cultivating skills, awareness, and engagement through intentional learning experiences for the continual betterment of the Village of Morton and our employers.

Registration by December 31 is $200 for members or $300 for non-members. After December 31 price is $250 for members or $350 for non-members.

Participation is open to individuals who reside, work, or spend a majority of volunteer time in Morton and are employed by a member of the Morton Chamber. A minimum of 20 participants with a maximum of 25 will be selected.

Sessions are weekly on Thursdays from January 19 to April 6, 2017, from 8 to 10 am at the Midwest Food Bank, 700 Erie Avenue, unless otherwise stated. Topics, speakers, and tours will be announced later this month.

New logo for Morton Chamber of Commerce
2017 brings a new look for the Chamber as we integrate our new logo. We are thrilled  with this opportunity to refresh our branding and continue to market our businesses and community. 

I Shop Morton
The Chamber would like to thank all of our businesses who  participated in Trick or Treat Main Street and Holidazzle/Shop Small Business Saturday this year. Our Partnership with Village Tourism and the Tourism Association spurred the opportunity to promote Shop Local with activities, prizes, and coupons over an entire week and on through the end of the year. Business participation  continued to grow this year  with an overall feedback of increased business sales. 

Through the I Shop Morton initiative, the Chamber is always working to increase the exposure and marketing for our local merchants.

Holiday coupon booklets are good through the end of December, and there are still some available at the Chamber office.
LEAP - Social Media Strategies
December 13
8:00 - 9:30 am
Morton Chamber of Commerce

Tammy Finch will show how to make social media "connect" for your business and how to access content, along with new tools, tips and ways to not only use but integrate social media into your business and marketing strategy. 
Save the Date for Chamber Annual Meet Up
Date: Thursday, February 2, 2017
Time: Doors open 4:30 pm
Place: Burroughs Farms, 26356 Cooper Rd., Morton
Price: $30 includes food and free drink ticket

This casual event will take the place of the Chamber Annual Dinner traditionally held in January. Join us for awards, heavy hors d'oeuvres, networking, and light entertainment.
Chamber Welcomes New Members for November
Shelley Hauter provides birth and postpartum doula services. 

Paintless Dent Repair for hail damage to vehicles.

Wine production and distributor.
Take the 2016 Membership Survey
If you haven't already done so, please take a moment to complete our 2016 Membership Survey. The short survey lets us know how we are doing, what we are doing well, and additional ways we can provide value to our members. We want to hear from you!
 
Business Briefs

On November 29 Morton Community Bank acknowledged the loss of friend, co-worker, President and Co-CEO Jim Mamer. Andrew Honegger has been elected Interim President of MCB.

Goodwill Industries of Central Illinois has announced Mike Nauth as the organization's new Director of Retail. 

Illinois Central College is taking applications for an open seat on their Board of Trustees. For more information or to apply, visit icc.edu/board-of-trustees-applicants.

Stop by  Illinois State Senator Brady's  Mobile Office at the Morton Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, December 21 from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm with any questions or issues you may have.

Soderstrom Skin Institute is having a Nursing Job Fair on Wednesday, December 7 from 10 am - 2 pm. If you're tired of working long nights and every weekend, they have the position for you. Find out more>
Memorial Plaza Grand Opening in Spring
The Memorial Plaza will be brought to completion by the end of 2016, and we look forward to a Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting in Spring 2017. 

Thank you to everyone involved for their support and contribution to the Memorial Plaza!
Comemmorative Books and Coasters For Sale at Chamber Office

Morton Pumpkin Festival Commemorative Books and Libby's coasters would make great Christmas gifts for the person on your list who enjoys Morton memorabilia. 

The coasters are $7 each or two for $12. The Commemorative Book is $10. Stop by the Chamber office to purchase yours today! Supplies are limited.
Morton Community Foundation news
by Scott Witzig

We are extremely blessed and thankful for generous donors and supporters like you who have helped make this another very good year for the Morton Community Foundation. The Foundation will soon hit a major milestone when we surpass the $3 million mark in money flowing through the Foundation and back into the community since our founding in 2000. Take a look at these remarkable numbers...
Facade Grant Program taking Applications

The Façade Grant Program, made possible through Business District funds, will be accepting the first round of 2017 applications beginning January 2. The applications will be released this month and available on the Village of Morton, Morton EDC and Chamber websites.  The Façade Grant Program provides financial assistance for the rehabilitation of the exterior of commercial buildings located within the Business District for matching funds up to $10,000. 
Senior Consulting Project Program

The Turner Center at Bradley University is accepting applications for the for the Senior Consulting Project Program. If you are in need of a marketing strategy, feasibility study, strategic growth plan or wanting to start a business, you can learn more or apply by clicking HERE.
Chamber/EDC Offices Closed for Holidays

merry christmas
The Morton Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Offices will be closed on Friday, December 23 and Monday, December 26 for Christmas.

The offices will also be closed on Friday, December 30 and Monday, January 2 for New Year's.