Frankfort Chamber Chatter 12-21-20

December 21, 2020

COVID-19 information and resources, Chamber update emails and more can be found on our website homepage under the NEWS tab at top

www.frankfortchamber.com

The long-awaited COVID relief package is expected to pass this evening. Learn about what it means for the small business community during a webinar tomorrow at 1pm

Learn the latest about what the new pandemic relief bill could mean for the small business community. Hosted by U.S. Chamber executive vice president and chief policy officer Neil Bradley and CO— content director Jeanette Mulvey.

Click here to register now for the webinar at 1pm, Tuesday, Dec. 22.

Visit your local Chamber members for

last-minute gifts!

Not sure what to get? Purchase a Find It In Frankfort eGift card here, which can be redeemed at any of our participating members listed here.

2021 "Welcome to Frankfort" Gift Bag program

How would you like to get your business information in the hands of every new Frankfort resident in 2021—an estimated 400 to 600 people who are eager to learn about their new community, and local products and services.

The Chamber’s “Welcome to Frankfort” Gift Bag program provides you with an avenue to do just that!

It gives Chamber members the opportunity to capitalize on the credibility of the Chamber to influence new residents to “Shop Chamber Members First.” According to a national study, consumers are 63% more likely to buy from businesses that are members of the local chamber of commerce.

Here is how the Welcome program works:

The Village gets an average of 30 to 50 new residents each month! When a new resident visits Village Hall to set up their utility account, they are given a “Welcome to Frankfort” Gift Bag, a reusable tote bag full of coupons, information, and goodies provided by our members.

In turn, the new resident is asked to fill out a brief information sheet so we can capture their data. If they opt-in to receive future communications, we will provide their name and mailing address to our participating Chamber members so they can do their own follow-up.

The cost to participate for 2021:

* $200 for businesses

* Free for non-profits

To take advantage of this great promotional opportunity, please register at https://bit.ly/2VGtJ49 or call Kris at the Chamber, 815-469-3356. You can join at any time of the year. As soon as we receive your information we will start adding it to the bags.

Bring us 100-400 items and we will let you know when we run out so you can replenish. We will begin adding your items to the bags as soon as we receive them.

Be creative with what you give us for the bags. If you need ideas, call the Chamber and we will help. We also have several Chamber members who can help you come up with a promotional item or offer. See the list below. Click here to open and download a flyer with all this information

Chamber Members who provide printing

and/or promotional items include:

Action Sports

Advertising Solutions

Image 360

Local Printing & Design

Minuteman Press

On Time Design

Perma Graphic Printers

QBF Graphics

U.S. Safety Products

The Giving Tree Project continues thru Dec. 30

Please consider making a year-end donation to one or more of the 17 non-profits participating in our Giving Tree Project. Click here to make a donation. Choose your favorite participating non-profit(s) or make a general donation that will be split among the 17. See the article below flyer for special tax deduction information.

Learn more about each non-profit and their partner businesses, check out the videos from Dec. 5 on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/frankfort.chamberofcommerce

The trees will be up until Dec. 30. See the map below for locations. Click on the flyer below to open and download.

See the article below flyer for special tax deduction information.

Special $300 tax deduction helps most people give to charity this year – even if they don’t itemize

The Internal Revenue Service reminded taxpayers of a special new provision that will allow more people to easily deduct up to $300 in donations to qualifying charities this year.

Following special tax law changes made earlier this year, cash donations of up to $300 made before Dec. 31, 2020, are now deductible when people file their taxes in 2021.

“Our nation’s charities are struggling to help those suffering from COVID-19, and many deserving organizations can use all the help they can get,” said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. “The IRS reminds people there’s a new provision that allows for up to $300 in cash donations to qualifying organizations to be deducted from income. We encourage people to explore this option to help deserving tax-exempt organizations – and the people and causes they serve.”

More information here

Christmas tree recycling offered at Main Park

The Frankfort Park District with the assistance of the Village of Frankfort will be recycling Christmas trees.

Trees can be dropped from Dec. 26-Jan. 17 at Main Park in the south lot in the area that has a posted sign.

Note: All Christmas Trees must be completely bare and free of any ornaments, plastic bags, lights, tinsel, wire, etc. No wreaths or garland (with wire or plastic) can be accepted. Our program is FREE and open to anyone who would like to participate.

SMALL BUSINESS WEBINARS

The Illinois Small Business Development Center at Joliet Junior College offers one-on-one business advising, resources and seminars to assist entrepreneurs with the start-up or expansion of their business. JJC is part of a state-wide Illinois Small Business Development Center network that has been serving small businesses for over 30 years.

Learn about and register for upcoming webinars here.

Small Business Update

Congress is zeroing in on a new coronavirus relief deal that will include a new round of funds for small businesses across the country. Join U.S. Chamber Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer, Neil Bradley, and Content Director at CO— and host of our Blueprint series, Jeanette Mulvey, Tuesday, December 22 at 1pm as they discuss what the new bill could mean for you.

Gain insider knowledge on the new relief provisions for small businesses.
Hear advice on how to take advantage of federal aid funds.
Ask the pressing questions most important to you.

They'll answer your questions live and catch you up on the latest info. Click here to register for this complimentary event.

Please support our local restaurants/bars/catering companies.

Below is an updated Chamber Eatery list to help with your meal planning. Click on the flyer to open and print. The list can also be found on our website here

Click here to read and download all the recent Member Spotlights

Submit your information for a Member Spotlight here

https://forms.gle/7heCUpVWQAw3ffYr5

CHAMBER MEMBER

OFFERS & EVENTS

If you have a special offer or event you want us to share here, send text only to kris@frankfortchamber.com.

Phillips Chevrolet has been awarded the Better Business Bureau’s highest honor, the “Torch Award.” This prestigious award is given to businesses that represent the highest business standards of honesty, and integrity. For over 50 years, Phillips Chevrolet takes a great deal of pride in providing a fair, quality car-buying and service experience, with non-commission salespeople and transparent pricing. Phillips Chevrolet has been the #1 Selling Chevy dealer in Illinois for 14 consecutive years, with locations in Frankfort, Lansing and Bradley.

Office space for rent in Frankfort at 10175 Vans Drive.

$1,950/month for a minimum 24-month contract. All water and electric utilities are included in the rent as well as there are no additional tax bills owed.

Office 1 18 X 14; Office 2 15 X 14; Office Area 29 X 25; Storage Room 3 X 9; Kitchen 12 X 8.5; Restroom 9 X 7 + 3 X 3 shower; Entrance 14 X 7; Hall 12 X 5.

If interested, call Michael DeJong. Welsch Ready Mix, at 815-464-2000, ext.101

The SBCD at Joliet Junior College is offering a new, no- cost session to help you plan for 2021.

21 topics in 21 minutes for 2021 growth. In less than 30 minutes, the Illinois Small Business Development Center at Joliet Junior College will help you prioritize key 2021 business plans whether it is for your people, your product, your marketing, your sales, your money or the impact of this crisis. In this short one-on-one exercise, we will help you determine up to 3 of the biggest opportunities for growth in the year ahead. We will offer no-cost tools to develop your strategy for success in those areas. Email us at SBDC@JJC.edu and we will send you a link for registration.

In response to the Executive Order issued on November 17, Frankfort Park District has cancelled in-person recreation programming, effective Friday, November 20. The Founders Center office will be CLOSED effective end of day November 20.

Please contact staff via phone at (815) 469-9400 or email, info@frankfortparks.org.

Announcing the retirement of Frankfort Public Library Director, Pierre Gregoire, effective Dec. 31, 2020.

Pierre gave 12 years of tireless, selfless, and visionary service to the Frankfort community. He led with great equanimity & poise during a decade marked by enormous change and challenge. Pierre made a positive impact on the Frankfort community by contributing effectively to the accessibility & forward-thinking of the library organization, as well as facilitating the library’s commitment to community enrichment & lifelong learning, and supporting the happiness & growth of library staff. Please join us in congratulating Pierre for his many years of dedicated service and leadership.

The Library Board of Trustees has appointed Melissa Rice the Interim Director. Ms. Rice has served as the library's Head of Adult Services for 16 years. Her dedication to providing excellence in programming, collection development and library services to the community as well as her commitment to library staff will be tremendous assets as she guides us through this transitional period.

Those wishing to reach out to Pierre prior to Dec. 1 can contact him by email: pgregoire@frankfortlibrary.org

Virtual Author Event: Keir Graff and Linda Joffe Hull on Wed. Jan. 13 at 7pm.

Authors Keir Graff and Linda Joffe Hull, together pen-named as Linda Keir, will join us via Zoom for a discussion of their latest collaboration, The Three Mrs. Wrights. In The Three Mrs. Wrights, Lark, Jessica, and Holly are three strangers with a whole lot in common, their charming Mr. Wright. Things seem perfect until Mr. Wright’s constant lies catch up to him and he becomes Mr. Wrong.

Test POSITIVE for COVID?

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