economic development «

Archive for the ‘economic development’ Category

Trade Means Jobs & Opportunities for Illinois

Friday, July 2nd, 2010

In 2008, Illinois exported $53.4 billion in manufactured goods, which supported more than 409,000 manufacturing jobs. That year, Illinois exported $7.5 billion in agricultural products which supported more than 86,800 agricultural jobs. In one year, Illinois exports more than $16 billion in services. Foreign companies employ more than 243,000 workers in our state.

And, smaller businesses in Illinois benefit from trade. Nearly 90% of the 15,607 Illinois companies that exported goods in 2007 were small and medium-sized enterprises with fewer than 500 employees.

Illinois’ top export markets in 2008 were Canada ($14.9 B), Mexico ($4.2 B), China ($2.5 B), Australia ($2.4 B) and Japan ($2.4 B). Opportunities for small business are available.

The Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce is interested in assisting our business members interested in international trade. We want to hear from you. If you would like to share your business’s trade experiences, please click this link to take the survey: http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07e2ygpw5ngb57a7u8/start

Thank you!

Posted in Federal legislation, catalyst, economic development, legislative affairs, membership | No Comments »

State of the City Address

Wednesday, February 24th, 2010

Thursday, March 18, at 11:30 a.m.

Piper’s Banquets, 1295 Butterfield Road, Aurora

The Honorable Thomas J. Weisner, Mayor, City of Aurora, will present his state of the city to business members and the community. Topics of interest to our business community would include budgets, taxes, economic development and quality of life improvements. Join us to get Mayor Weisner’s perspective. Member downtown businesses will be on hand to showcase downtown Aurora’s recent developments.

Presented in collaboration with Aurora Economic Development Commission and Aurora Area Convention and Visitors Bureau

Building a Referral Machine

Monday, February 15th, 2010

Join us Friday, March 5, 9-11 a.m. for the first of a three-part program to expand your referral generation and move beyond “networking.” Brian Marshall, Alliance for Strategic Advantage, will lead the way.

Referrals are the key to success in building any business. That’s why people invest so much time, energy, and resources in various forms of networking activities. However, meeting your immediate growth goals solely through networking activities is not easy. That’s why networking is called a “farming” activity, and not a “hunting” activity. You plant enough seeds over a long enough time, you can build a robust, totally referral based business, but how long will that take in your business? Five years? Ten years? Fifteen years?

You will learn how:

You can systematically revitalize your current connections and have them become active ambassadors for you in the marketplace
You can systematically break down the barriers to referrals and get others motivated to help you and how to get them to understand how best to help you
An understanding of network dynamics will help you to quickly build a far more powerful and productive network
How to get 10 times the referrals without even asking

The process will take you through five stages of development from understanding how to re-think your business and messages through the eyes of a “connector”, to, ultimately, becoming a “connector” that others want to be associated with, regardless of your profession. In addition to understanding key guiding principles of networks and the psychology of referring, you will receive the processes, methods, behaviors, tools, and templates that will ensure your success.

Three-part program (for one low price of $20) includes:

March 5 program from 9-11 a.m. at Chamber offices
March 16 Coffee & Connections at 8:30 a.m. at Painter’s District Council 30
March 19 webinar at 9:00 a.m. for follow-up and questions

Presented in partnership with Imprint Enterprises and Fox Valley Networking Professionals.

To register, click here.

Posted in AuroraChamber.com, catalyst, economic development, membership, networking opportunities | No Comments »

Busch to Speak on 2010 Economic Forecast

Thursday, January 7th, 2010

Aurora Regional Chamber Offers 2010 Economic Forecast

Expert to Address Lunch on Thursday, Jan. 21, at 11:00 a.m.

Andrew B. Busch, Director of BMO Capital Markets and a Global Currency and Public Policy Strategist in Chicago will provide insight into the 2010 economy. Busch has been heard on WBBM radio and numerous cable and local financial programs.

Busch is a senior fellow on economic issues for the Illinois Policy Institute and consults with the staffs from the US Treasury, Congress, and the White House on economic and financial market issues. He was an adviser on the economy and the financial markets to US Republican presidential candidate John McCain.

He met recently with all the most senior staff at the US Treasury and has advised the last three US Treasury secretaries, including Tim Geithner.

Busch joined BMO Financial Group in 1990 in the foreign exchange trading room of Harris Trust and Savings Bank, which merged with Bank of Montreal’s room in 1995.

In his blog today, Busch writes:

As a reformed currency trader, I often can asked why I spend my time following what happens in politics. Does the resignation of Sen. Dodd really matter? Why should we care if Congress fights over health care or regulatory reform? What difference does it make if there’s an estate tax or not? These are all questions that seem to have very little on the surface to do with currencies and the value of the dollar.

The best answer to all of this is that it all matters. Since the 1930s and the seismic shift of US governmental intervention into the private sector, the economy has been buffeted by the use of the very tools that were supposed to reduce variation in unemployment and growth. Namely, monetary and fiscal policy. As we are focused on politics, we’ll look at the fiscal side of the equation which includes tax and spending policies.

For more information about Andrew Busch, visit his site.

The program, sponsored in part by Harris, NA, will be at Gaslite Manor, 2485 Church Road, Aurora, on Thursday, Jan. 21, at 11:00 a.m. Reservations are required: $25 Members; $35 Non-Members. The Chamber’s 72-hour cancellation policy applies. For information, visit http://www.aurorachamber.com/forecast.asp or call (630) 897-9214.

Posted in Federal legislation, Uncategorized, catalyst, economic development, healthcare reform, membership, networking opportunities, stimulus | No Comments »

ExpoPalooza 2010: Your Opportunity to Meet New Consumers

Monday, January 4th, 2010

The Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce will host ExpoPalooza 2010 at Westfield Fox Valley, Aurora, on Friday, March 12, and Saturday, March 13. If your 2010 business strategy includes meeting and engaging new customers to increase your success, then ExpoPalooza is for you. Visit the Aurora Chamber website at http://www.aurorachamber.com/expopalooza.asp for information and applications. Early bird discounts are available if you sign on before January 29. Don’t delay. Let’s make 2010 a profitable one for all of our members.

Posted in AuroraChamber.com, catalyst, economic development, membership, networking opportunities | No Comments »

20 Ways to Make the Most of Your Holiday Business

Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009

by Mary Kurek, Visibility Consulting
1. Boost Customer Service (Have employees wear holiday attire and special holiday nametags. Train them to offer to hold items at the counter. Have them learn to “pay compliments” and jot personal thank you notes on receipts.)

2. Attach your business to a charity during the holidays. Co-promote and give a % back to the charity.

3. Offer holiday refreshments on high traffic weekends.

4. Offer gift wrapping.

5. Offer in-house babysitting or children’s entertainment corner.

6. Create a special rest or seating area of spouses of shoppers.

7. Offer free delivery.

8. Offer shipping.

9. Create a frequent shopper strategy – progressive percentage off or a special gift that graduates in value with each $50 purchase.

10. Hold an open house with specially packaged items and Santa with a “helper elf” to assist younger shoppers.

11. Hold a holiday sweepstakes, raffle, scavenger hunt, guessing game, or contest.

12. Bombard customer senses with visuals, aromas, music, and interactive displays.

13. Show the savings a customer receives at purchase (pointing out dollars saved is a winning idea used by many big department stores).

14. Institute a “check-out strategy” that could include a coupon on the receipt, pre-wrapped stocking stuffers at the register, buy 2/get 3rd free, or pick an ornament for a mystery % off. (Collect names/e-mail addresses)

15. Cross promote – create collaborations with complimentary businesses to include fliers in bags and in-store posters.

16. Have holiday candies at the register to draw attention.

17. Send out special customer Christmas cards with hand-written notes and offer a % off.

18. Send out a holiday newsletter with recipes, stress reduction tips, and local events.

19. Produce your own gift giving guide/catalog.

20. Hold a special customer/employee dinner or brunch where everyone contributes. Great bonding.

Aurora Regional Chamber Note:

Do you have more ideas or suggestions? Let us know. Share them with your fellow Chamber business members.

On behalf of the Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce team and Board of Directors, we wish all of you a happy, healthy and profitable holiday season… and may 2010 be a wonderful year for our community.

Posted in catalyst, economic development, membership, stimulus | No Comments »

Aurora Regional Chamber advances member interests

Thursday, October 22nd, 2009

Joseph B. Henning, IOM
President and CEO

The Chamber often refers to change. By definition, as a “catalyst for business success,” the Chamber must be an agent for change in our economy to better provide programs, services, activities and benefits that help our members succeed. Often, that change we must provide results in a direct change for the Chamber and its leadership.

In September, as we sought to begin another great year of providing outstanding programs for our members, the Board of Directors unanimously voted to change our name to Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce. It was not done in haste.

In fact, the Board called a special meeting for discussion of the topic and, in the end, agreed that it was the right time for the Chamber to address its growing coverage. In fact, as the Chamber team — including its experienced and dedicated staff and the committed Board — began reviewing the highlights and statistics for the year, it became apparent that our reach was increasing with the membership more than 90 percent of our membership in the eight counties of northeastern Illinois. While more than two-thirds of our membership comes from an Aurora location, the communities of North Aurora and Naperville each contribute nearly seven percent to our membership. Other communities with significant segments of our membership include Oswego, Montgomery, Batavia and Sugar Grove.

The value that we strive to provide to our members is recognized through the area as being necessary for businesses to identify and market to prospective customers and to address pro-business ideals with our elected officials.

With that in mind, Pam Bellm has taken on the position of director of Legislative Affairs. Although she has long been involved in many of these efforts, this shift commits the Chamber to a more effective and focused presence in assisting our members with advocacy.

We also have a number of new programs and services for our membership this year. Opportunity Institute will offer new ideas and tactics for better financial management, sales strategies and business development. A new collaboration with Aurora University’s Dunham School of Business has resulted in a three-part Leadership Series to begin this year. A partnership with Dynamic Professional Women’s Network will bring the first Illinois Women’s Symposium to the area next spring. Plus, we still will offer great programs for our members on topics they have requested to advance their business.

I share these details with you to let you know that we at the Chamber are effectively committed to identifying the needs of our membership and to provide the resources they require. Last year we saw more than 20 percent increase in attendance and participation at our programs and seminars. With effective management of our resources, we were able to end the year with a positive balance in our books. As you are aware, this was not easy. But each of our members deserves our appreciation for their support of our programs and our organization.

We look forward to another great year of providing services to our membership. If you are a member, we look forward to seeing you at the many events we have scheduled for the year; and remember, each of your employees is a member, as well. If you cannot make it, perhaps someone else within your organization is interested and available.

If you are not currently a member of the Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce, we invite you to become involved in our programs and services. Check out our website — www.AuroraChamber.com — and see what we are about. Call the Chamber at (630) 897-9214 for information. We look forward to meeting you.

Tags: AuroraChamber.com, membership, networking opportunities
Posted in economic development, membership, networking opportunities, planning and development | No Comments »

Help for Small Businesses Available

Friday, July 24th, 2009

The US Small Business Administration – through the 2009 Recovery Act – has short-term relief available for qualifying businesses. If your small business is stressed meeting expenses during these economic times, the SBA has a new loan program designed just for you.

Under authority provided in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (signed Feb. 17, 2009), SBA has designed a deferred-payment loan program to help small businesses make payments on existing debt. Section 506 of the Recovery Act authorized SBA to help viable small businesses make payments on existing small business debt. The America’s Recovery Capital, or ARC Loan Program, is designed to give viable small businesses facing immediate financial hardship some temporary financial relief so they can keep their doors open, refocus and get their cash flow back on track.

ARC loans are available through SBA-approved small business lenders and have been authorized through Sept. 30, 2010, or until the appropriated funds run out, whichever comes first. Non-SBA lenders can become ARC lenders. Contact the local SBA district office for information and training. Interested businesses can find the nearest SBA district office at www.sba.gov/localresources/index.html.

How small business owners benefit

ARC loans are interest-free to the borrower, have deferred payments for 12 months, and have no SBA fees associated with them.
ARC loans will allow borrowers to redirect cash flow from making loan payments to investing in their businesses.
Banks will begin investing in small businesses again, making credit more readily available for those businesses that need it.
Streamlined applications by SBA.

According to the SBA website, SBA loan programs now provide greater incentives to the lender, are more affordable for small business owners, and help to drive economic recovery in our community.

Loan structure

An ARC loan is a deferred-payment loan of up to $35,000.
ARC loans will be used to make up to six months of principal and interest payments on qualifying loans for existing viable for-profit small businesses in the United States.
Disbursement period (up to six months) is followed by 12 months with no repayment of the ARC loan principal, followed by a repayment period of five years. SBA pays monthly interest to the bank.

If you would like to speak directly to a customer service representative about the ARC Loan Program, please call our toll-free number (866-947-8081) Monday through Friday during the hours of 8am to 9pm (Eastern Time).

http://www.sba.gov/recovery/arcloanprogram/index.html

Posted in catalyst, economic development, membership, stimulus | No Comments »

Ill. Tollway to Host Open House for Eola Road Interchange

Thursday, July 16th, 2009

New I-PASS Only Interchange to Provide Congestion Relief on Local Roads

The Illinois Tollway will host a public open house meeting to share information with interested residents and commuters regarding construction of the new Eola Road Interchange on the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88). The meeting will be held from 4-7 p.m., Tuesday, July 21, at the Eola Community Center, 555 S. Eola Road in Aurora. The open house format will allow the public to view displays and planning documents, as well as pose questions to representatives of the Illinois Tollway’s Engineering Department. The new Eola Road Interchange will include four ramps providing access for Eola Road traffic to and from the Tollway via Bilter Road on the north side of I-88 and Diehl Road on the south side of I-88. Construction is underway and scheduled for completion by the end of 2009. The $50 million project is a joint collaboration between the Tollway, DuPage County and the City of Aurora, with the Tollway serving as the lead agency covering up to $25 million of project costs, the county funding up to $19 million for construction and right-of-way and the city contributing up to $6 million for right-of-way.

First Electronic-Only Toll Collection
The new Eola Road Interchange will provide all-electronic toll collection, the first on the Illinois Tollway system, and will include tolled ramps to and from the east. I-PASS toll rates will be set at 30 cents for passenger vehicles, and truck rates will range from $1.15 to $3.00 during daytime hours, with overnight discounts offered. Cash-paying customers will have access to existing interchanges at Farnsworth Avenue two miles to the west or IL Route 59 two miles to the east.

Eola Road Interchange Project Status
Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88) mainline traffic is shifted to the inside shoulder and two left lanes in both directions and crews are working on embankment, installing storm sewers, digging new detention ponds and driving piles for retaining walls as work continues to build the new ramps for the interchange. On local roads, traffic is reduced to one lane in each direction on Diehl Road between White Oak Circle and Eola Road with traffic traveling on the south side of the road. One lane also is closed on Bilter Road between Ferry Road and I-88 for median removal and preparation for resurfacing and widening to accommodate the new interchange.

Posted in catalyst, economic development, planning and development | No Comments »

Aurora Hotel Licensing Information Session

Monday, July 13th, 2009

Many of you have contacted the Greater Aurora Chamber with questions regarding the proposed hotel licensing in the City of Aurora, Illinois. There are also building code changes proposed and an overall Master Hotel Plan being considered. Throughout this process there have been some zoning changes.

The Chamber has asked Mike Turner, consultant for the City of Aurora; Sue Vos, Aurora Area Convention & Visitors Bureau president; and city staff to share all of this with our members. Mike & Sue have been involved in this work and are in a position to not only share this information, but to answer your questions as well.

This information session is scheduled for Monday, July 20, at the Chamber Offices from 4:00 – 5:00 pm. The Chamber Offices are located at 43 W. Galena Blvd., Aurora 60506. Parking is available in the Hollywood Casino parking facility on Galena Blvd.

We have limited seating available. Given our limited space, reservations will be requried. Please send RSVP to chamberinfo@aurora-il.org

Any questions, please call Pam Bellm, director of programs, at (630) 897-3717.

Posted in AuroraChamber.com, catalyst, economic development, hospitality, membership, planning and development | No Comments »