Frankfort Chamber Chatter 2-1-21

February 1, 2021

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

www.frankfortchamber.com

Will County moves to Phase 4 today!

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced Region 7, Kankakee and Will counties, is moving to Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois Plan effective today, Feb. 1. Additional information about which tier and phase regions are in can be found at the top of the IDPH website homepage.

A Phase 4 Guidelines Overview can be found on the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity website.

Phase 4 Guidelines include the following:

Restaurants and Bars

Indoor dining and drinking now permitted for parties of up to 10 people
Seated areas should be arranged so that tables allow for 6 feet between parties; impermeable barriers may be installed between booths that are less than 6 feet apart

Retail and Service Counter

Continue capacity limit of no more than 50% occupancy

Personal Care

Continue capacity limit of no more than 50% occupancy

Indoor/Outdoor Recreation

Reopening select indoor recreation facilities (e.g., bowling alleys, skating rinks); indoor playgrounds and trampoline parks should remain closed
Indoor recreation to operate at a lesser of 50 customers or 50% of facility capacity

Museums

Capacity limit of no more than 25% occupancy
Guided tours should be limited to 50 or fewer people per group

Meetings and Social Events

Limit to the lesser of 50 people or 50% of room capacity
Multiple groups may meet in the same facility if they are socially distanced and in separate rooms.

The Chamber's I Love Local Scavenger Hunt kicks off today and runs through the month.

Click on the Scavenger Hunt logo above, watch the video above for game instructions and download a game card with instructions here.

We have lots of great prizes from our participating businesses. Get out there and show your love to our local businesses. Happy hunting!

Thanks to our participating sponsors (below) and businesses: Briosa Boutique, Crossfit Rua, Dancing Marlin, Frankfort Park District, FUSE Salon & Spa, Glory Bee Gift Shop, Isabel's Journey, Jeffrey LaMorte Salon and Day Spa, Lincoln Travel & Cruises Inc., Lincolnway Community Bank, Lorin's Luxe, Orange Theory Fitness, Rare Apparel 28, Redtail Market, Rich's Pizza Joint, Salina's Pizza ~ Catering & Event Rentals, Short & Sweet-Tasty Treats, Simply Home Again, This & That Gifts, Tis The Seasons Craft Store, Whimsy, Lil Surprises, Raffy's Candy Store, Edward Jones-Brett Schaibley.

Don't miss out!

Reserve your ad space by February 5

Reserve your ad space today in the 2021-22 Frankfort Chamber of Commerce Membership Directory and Community Guide.

Contact Lora, of Shaw Media, at 708-377-8413 or LHealy@shawmedia.com. See information on ad sizes, rates, and schedule below.

The Guide, which is being produced by Shaw Media, will be directly mailed in March to 8,000 homes in Frankfort. Additional copies will be distributed in the Chamber’s New Resident Gift Bags, at the Chamber office and events throughout the year.

The guide will be filled with helpful demographic information, important phone numbers, shopping, dining, recreation as well as many area resources. It also will include a listing of Chamber members--alphabetically and by category.

Whether you advertise in the publication or not, please log into your Chamber account and make sure your information is correct--business name, address, phone, website, and category. Thank you!

Click on flyer below to open and print

Will County upgraded to

Tier 1 Mitigations

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has moved Region 7 (Kankakee and Will) back up to Tier 1, which allows limited indoor bar and restaurant service and increases the number of people who can gather for meetings, social events, and gatherings. Details can be found here https://www.dph.illinois.gov/covid19

Please support our local restaurants/bars.

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

Will County residents who are interested in getting the

COVID-19 vaccine

You must first complete a registration survey here in order to get on a list. Once you complete the survey, you will be contacted to schedule an appointment, based on IDPH Guidelines.

Click on the chart below to open and download.

2021 "Welcome to Frankfort" Gift Bag program

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.

More information and registration 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.

The Village of Frankfort has launched an official Facebook page as part of its continuing effort to enhance community outreach. Residents and community members are invited to visit and “like” the official Village of Frankfort page www.facebook.com/VillageofFrankfortIL/

The page is an extension of the Village of Frankfort’s website and is intended to provide information on Village meetings and events. Residents and community members are encouraged to visit the Village’s website at www.frankfortil.org.

Show your appreciation with Nothing Bundt Cakes. Looking to thank your employees and show appreciation for your clients? Choose Bundlet Towers, Decorated Cakes, Bundtinis and other one-of-a-kind gifts, starting at just $4.75. Visit the Mokena location at 11225 W. Lincoln Hwy, call 815-642-5754 or email mokena@nothingbundtcakes.com.

Phillips Chevrolet has been awarded a 2021 DealerRater Dealer of the Year Award, which recognizes auto dealerships across the U.S. and Canada who deliver outstanding customer service, based on consumer reviews written on DealerRater.com. This award is presented to the dealership that has earned its highest ratings among approximately 3,000 Chevy dealers in the United States.

The award recognizes top U.S. and Canadian auto dealers who demonstrate excellent customer service as expressed by consumer reviews written on DealerRater.

Full press release here

Old Plank Trail Community Bank, A Wintrust Community Bank is pleased to announce the opening of our Small Business PPP Resource Center to assist borrowers with applying for SBA PPP Loans!

The Small Business PPP Resource Center offers Wintrust staff who are well versed with the SBA PPP loan program to assist borrowers with questions along with technical equipment such as high-speed computers, printers and scanners for borrowers to use to apply for PPP loans at the Center!

The Small Business PPP Resource Center is located inside our Markham Bank & Trust location, 3120 W. 159^th Street and is minutes from the I-57 and I-294 expressways.

Hours are: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday from 9-11am and Wednesday 3-6pm.

For more information, please call 815-464-6888
Member FDIC® - Equal Housing Lender

Lincoln-Way Foundation

invites the entire community to celebrate their “Love of Lincoln-Way” at the annual Gala & Auctions. This year, support local students from the comfort of your home by tuning in to this VIRTUAL event on Saturday, February 20, 2021, at 7 p.m. via https://lwef2021.givesmart.com.

This fun night in will be hosted by Foundation Executive Director Bob Kennedy and Foundation Board President Stacie McGlone. Throughout the evening, learn how the Foundation raises money, and hear first-hand testimonials from students and staff on the various ways the funds raised benefit Lincoln-Way 210. Bid on some amazing gift baskets donated by individuals and businesses whose generosity makes a positive difference in the lives of many Lincoln-Way students and families. Raffles and silent auction open February 13, and tune in to the event on February 20 to win some amazing prizes through the premier auction.

Due to COVID-19, the Foundation has had to cancel or modify many programs. In order to continue to generate financial support with which to enrich and enhance the opportunities and educational experiences of Lincoln-Way High School District 210 students, the Foundation needs your help now more than ever. “We provided more than $23,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors in 2020 and with the support of the community, we hope to exceed that amount in 2021,” said Kennedy.

This event is free, so register today to be automatically entered into a $100 gift card raffle for those who register by noon on February 18, 2021. Visit https://lwef2021.givesmart.com to view and bid on silent and premier auctions or donate directly to the Foundation. Those unable to attend can still bid on silent auction or raffle items by registering at https://lwef2021.givesmart.com. Proceeds from the event are used for scholarships and classroom enhancements, which can be viewed at https://youtu.be/3ZRN21oGV2w.

2021-22 Kindergarten registration for Frankfort School District 157-C begins March 2. Call today to schedule an appt., 815-469-5922.

You will need to bring: Certified Legal Birth Certificate & 3 Proofs of Residency (One primary & Two Secondary) Primary Proof of Residency: Most recent real estate tax bill, signed lease, closing statement Secondary Proof of Residency: Driver’s License, Gas or Electric bill, Public Aid Card, Voter Registration Card, Home Insurance Certificate, Auto Registration, Telephone Bill

More information here.

Frankfort Public Library is offering many programs including:

The Real Story of Rosa Parks on Thu. Feb. 4 at 7 pm. To celebrate Black History Month, watch the 20-minute TED Talk "The Real Story of Rosa Parks-and Why We Need to Confront Myths About Black History" before the program and discuss it with us on Zoom. Black history taught in US schools is often watered-down and stripped of its context and rich, full-bodied historical figures. Equipped with the real story of Rosa Parks, professor David Ikard highlights how making the realities of race more benign and digestible harms us all and emphasizes the power and importance of historical accuracy.

Virtual Nonfiction at Night on Mon. Feb. 8 at 7pm. Join us on Zoom to discuss this month's selection: Last Boat Out of Shanghai: The Epic Story of the Chinese Who Fled Mao's Revolution by Helen Zia. The dramatic, real-life stories of four young people caught up in the mass exodus of Shanghai in the wake of China's 1949 Communist Revolution. Chinese American journalist Helen Zia interviewed hundreds of exiles about their journey through one of the most tumultuous events of the twentieth century.

Virtual Top Shelf Tuesdays on Tue. Feb. 9 at 7pm. Join us via Zoom to discuss Normal People by Sally Rooney. Connell and Marianne pretend not to know each other at school while having a secret relationship outside of school. Connell is popular and quiet Marianne is not. When they go away to College, their roles are reversed and their relationship is off and on. For Connell and Marianne, does love mean staying together or letting go?

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 more about these webinars and more and register for here.