As Chamber Board Members, and as local business owners, we are committed to ensuring that our business community has a voice and a qualified resource to stay informed. Having a network to lean on and knowing that there are people in our community who have your back - we believe plays a huge part in making our Villages a place where people love to do business.
|
|
Advocacy Update
What is the Chamber doing for you?
Every month, the Executive Director, Liz Holt, along with the Advocacy Committee, Sam Yousif & Rob Guenthner, are working tirelessly to make sure that your voice is heard. Check out some of the accomplishments that have happened so far this year!
|
|
Workforce Development
What do you need?
|
|
Friday March 4 , 12-12:30pm - Takeout Stakeout at Kettlestrings Tavern
Come join your fellow Chamber members for our next Takeout Stakeout, this time at the esteemed Kettlestrings Tavern! In this event, we convene at a designated restaurant to pick up our takeout lunch choices, and get to see each other for a bit while we're at it in a socially-distanced meetup. Like our Tuesday Tasting lunch series from which this springs, lunch is a flat $16 including tax and tip; a range of menu choices are listed on the website.
|
|
Tuesday March 8 , 5-7pm - Business After Hours at Baird & Warner
Join us at our regular monthly networking event! Business After Hours (BAH) occur on the second Tuesday of every month at a new location each time. This is your chance to connect with other members in a more casual setting. All members and non-members are welcomed.
Our March Business After Hours (BAH) will be hosted by Baird & Warner, one of Oak Park's most successful real estate agencies.
|
|
Thursday March 10 , 5:30-7pm - Design, Construction and Real Estate at Cross Function
Come join your fellow Chamber professionals in Design, Construction and Real Estate for an evening in the historic Boulevard Arcade building, looking at adaptive reuse as this beautiful edifice is in a new form of use!
Food and drink will be provided by DCRE affinity group co-chairs Deborah Wess, Realtor with Coldwell Banker, and Phil Gould, owner of Property Guidance Inspection, providing building inspection and radon testing services.
|
|
Thursday March 10 , 5-7pm - Ribbon Cutting at West Suburban Medical Center's Outpatient Center for Behavioral Health
Come join us to celebrate the opening of the West Suburban Medical Center's Outpatient Center for Behavioral Health! We'll kick off the evening with a ribbon cutting ceremony, then the open house will continue until 7 pm with beverages and hors d'oeuvres.
This new center will be a resource for the mental health needs of the community, featuring both a partial hospitalization program (PHP) and an intensive outpatient program (IOP).
Come on by for a little networking, a little fun, some food and drink, and the photo op!
|
|
We will be hosting an informal meet and greet at Styles 4 Kidz on Monday, February 28th at 5:00 pm. Come connect with Black, Latinx, Asian-American, indigenous peers from the OPRF business and nonprofit community!
During this event, we will do introductions, talk about the type of programming and resources are needed for the community, and discuss meeting frequency and goals for the group.
Come join us to make connections with great folks, and help us shape the future of this new group!
|
|
Take a Break with Us
We know that owning or working in a business has been particularly hard this past year and we are guessing that you could use some TLC!
Join us as we launch our NEW Chamber program aimed at taking care of you, our small business community. Welcome to our monthly Meditation Mondays! All it takes is half an hour (that's only 30 mins!) for us to help you put your to-do list aside, empty your head of all the chatter and truly look after yourself.
Who will lead the meditation?
We are thrilled to partner with the Kadampa Meditation Center in Oak Park to bring you this monthly meditation. The fabulous Kelsang Chogo will lead the meditation and talk you through every step. You don't need to do anything but show up and breath!
|
|
Come join the Chamber's nonprofit affinity group for our monthly gathering. This month: guest expert Jerry "Hutch" Hutchinson, principal of local design firm Hutchinson, on "When to do a branding refresh, and considerations in doing so."
Coming to you via Zoom Meeting! You can connect via video link on your computer using the link we'll send you, or call in via your phone.
We will be meeting on Thursday, March 3rd from 1-2pm via Zoom.
|
|
WIB is continuing our monthly series on Friday, March 11, 9-10:30am by honoring Women's History Month. This month, we will be meeting at The Sheridan at River Forest. In lieu of a guest speaker, we are inviting you to be our speakers. Every woman has powerful women in her life that influenced, encouraged, motivated, taught, coached, or mentored her.
Bring your short stories of the powerful ladies in your life.
Show us a photo or two!
|
|
Member Benefits Series
New to the Chamber?
Meet other new Chamber members, staff and Board Members!
|
|
Welcome New Members! This event is perfect for new members and those who need a refresher, this fast-paced seminar will review all of your member benefits to maximize your marketing advantage.
In this seminar we will go over all of your marketing benefits that come with your membership!
|
|
Speed Networking
Save the Date!
We will be holding a Speed Networking event on Wednesday, March 16th at Concordia University. Keep an eye on the website and future newsletters for more information and how you can get involved!
|
|
The 6th Annual Community Health & Wellness Fair on SUNDAY, MAY 15, from 11A-2P at the FFC Gym in Oak Park, IL. This event is a showcase of outstanding health & wellness services available throughout the western suburbs and attracts hundreds of area residents who interact with 50+ exhibitors, receive complimentary screenings, enjoy family activities & appreciate excellent giveaways.
Register now to be a Vendor or Sponsor for the event!
|
|
Exclusive Presenting Sponsor |
|
Funding Opportunities
Need a little help?
Check out some of these funding opportunities we have
gathered for you to help keep your business running!
|
|
Illinois Arts Council Agency Grant Opportunity - The deadline is fast approaching for the Illinois Arts Council’s (IACA) 2023 General Operating Support (GOS) program, open to all eligible Illinois non-profit organizations for public arts programming of high artistic merit.
The FY23 GOS application deadline is Tuesday, March 15, 2022 at 11:59pm. Late applications will not be accepted.
|
|
Apply Today for a $25,000 Amber Grant for Women - Applying is simple. Just take a few minutes to tell them about yourself and your business dream. No long, complicated forms to fill out. Submitting one application makes you instantly eligible for all grants related to your business. They will announce the grant winners by the 23rd of the following month.
|
|
Below is a list of many other grant opportunities you can apply for. Some of the deadlines are fast approaching. Make sure to take a look at this list and apply for any that work for your business! |
|
The Oak Park Department of Public Health announced today that the community’s indoor mask and proof of vaccination in public places requirements will be lifted Monday, Feb. 28. The decision comes as local COVID-19 metrics continue to steadily improve and mirrors similar steps being taken across the region and state to remove measures put in place to slow the spread of the virus. Click here to read more...
Village of Oak Park’s Covid-19 Business Assistance Grant Programs Have Paid-Out Over $800,000 to Licensed Businesses - Over 200 Covid-19 business assistance grant applications have been approved by the Village of Oak Park, resulting in the pay-out of more $800,000 in grant money to small, licensed Oak Park businesses. Grant money is still available, especially to assist Oak Park businesses with the cost of current and past PPE expenses. As an example, if you have purchased masks, gloves, hand sanitizers, air purifiers, plexiglass dividers, sneeze guards and other PPE products, you may qualify to receive reimbursement for those items up to $2,500 per licensed business. The Village is committed to continuing our ongoing efforts to assist small Oak Park businesses as we move through the Covid-19 emergency. More information and application forms for Oak Park’s Business Assistance Programs can be found at www.oak-park.us/covid19grant.
|
|
This newsletter is made possible in part from a grant from the
Oak Park River Forest Community Foundation.
|
|
Oak Park River Forest Chamber of Commerce
143 S Oak Park Avenue
708.613.0550
|
|
This eBlast was sent out by the OPRF Chamber of Commerce on behalf of a member in good standing as a member benefit. For information about the event described please contact the host. For information about joining the Chamber, click our website below.
STAY CONNECTED TO THE OPRF CHAMBER
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
