2021 July / August Commerce Connection

JULY / AUGUST 2021

Volume 28 | Issue 4

years

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A PUBLICATION OF THE CHAMPAIGN COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

INSIDE: PG. 9 Public Policy Update: What the Carp?

Permit No. 29 Champaign, IL

PAID

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COMMERCE CONNECTION

PGS. 12-13 Ag Month Recap PG. 16 NEW: Work Away From Home Program

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Patrick Pfeifer

Commercial Lending 114 W. Church Street • Champaign 217-398-0067 ppfeifer@firstmid.com

303 West Kirby Avenue Champaign, IL 61820 P 217.359.1791 | F 217.359.1809 www.champaigncounty.org

FY22 TOP INVESTORS TOP INVESTORS GOLD Busey SILVER Carle University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign BRONZE A & R Mechanical Contractors BankChampaign, N.A. Christie Clinic First Mid Bank & Trust Fisher National Bank Health Alliance OSF HealthCare Heart of Mary Medical Center Ramshaw Real Estate

IN-KIND CONTRIBUTORS

CHAMBER STAFF Laura Weis President & CEO LauraW@champaigncounty.org

Madeline Herrman Public Policy Director MadelineH@champaigncounty.org

Matt Bradley Business Growth & Development Director MattB@champaigncounty.org

Lindsay Quick Director of Marketing & Events LindsayQ@champaigncounty.org

BOARD OF DIRECTORS BOARD OFFICERS Rachel Coventry

Curtis Orchard, Ltd.

Deb Reardanz Clark-Lindsey Village

Tonya Horn

Nathan Escue

Dr. Jared Rogers

Kyle Emkes

Hamilton Walker’s

CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE Illini Radio Group - MIX 94.5, WIXY 100.3, Rewind 92.5, WYXY Classic 99.1, True Oldies 97.9, Extra 92.1, Hits 99.7

Laura Heiser

Stevie Jay Broadcasting - Q96-96.1FM, US105.9, Christian FM 95.3 & ESPN 93.5

R.J. Hynds English Brothers Company

PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE NewsTalk 1400 WDWS, Lite Rock 97.5 WHMS, Classic Hits 107.9 WKIO

Stephanie Smith-Jeffries Office and Accounting Administrator StephanieS@champaigncounty.org

Mindy Cain Director of Workforce Readiness MindyC@champaigncounty.org

RE/MAX Realty Associates

Pamela Lau

Parkland College

Janice McAteer Busey

Chuck McReaken TSM Ventures, Inc.

Justin Overstreet Martin Hood LLC

OSF HealthCare Heart of Mary Medical Center

Amie Smith

BankChampaign N.A.

Dalitso Sulamoyo Champaign County Regional Planning Commission

Bill Walter

Chair, Rogards

First Vice Chair, Maatuka Al-Heeti Emkes LLC

Dan Hurley

Second Vice Chair, FedEx Ground

Dan Kirby

Treasurer, CliftonLarsonAllen

Laura Weis

Secretary, Champaign County Chamber of Commerce

A & R Mechanical Contractors

Andrew Weintraub Health Alliance

FINANCIAL SERVICES Provided by CliftonLarsonAllen

All information contained within this publication is property of the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce and cannot be reproduced without prior expressed or written consent. This publication contains paid advertising; the opinions expressed in those advertisements do not reflect the views of the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce. For advertising information, contact the Chamber at 217.359.1791.

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WELCOME TO THE CHAMBER >> members who joined between May 1 and June 30, 2021 Champaign-Urbana Holistic Health Center 1606 Willow View Rd. Suite 2E Urbana, IL 61803 217.954.1048 Massage-Therapeutic

Champaign Urbana Holistic Health Center, LLC strives to bring you the best for your mind, body, and spirit. Providing massage therapy and reflexology, they strive to create relaxation that helps their clients re-center and balance their lives. The therapist’s specialties include prenatal massage, reflexology, gentle therapeutic massage, hot stone massage, Swedish massage, cupping and much more.

C-U Folk & Roots Festival PO BOX 331 Urbana, IL 61803 217.417.8832 folkandroots.org Fairs

The Champaign-Urbana Folk & Roots Festival is an annual, mostly volunteer-run, grassroots festival that brings together national, regional and local artists -- and folk organizations for folk performances and participatory activities in downtown Urbana. Recently hired parttime festival director Cody Jensen is adding his musical expertise to the continued development of the festival offerings. Their mission is to help preserve and showcase the evolving forms of folk music and art and help promote community and tourism in the greater Champaign-Urbana area. Each year, the festival includes performances, dances, instructional sessions, jams, song-circles, family activities, storytelling and much more. Join them for the 13th annual CU Folk & Roots Festival, live and in-person, October 21-23, 2021.

DF FilterPro

301 Mercury Dr., Ste. 5 Champaign, IL 61822 217.202.1894 www.dffilterpro.com Filters-Liquid-Industrial-Mfrs. & Distrs.

DF FilterPro is a manufacturer and distributor of quality filtration products and a provider of exceptional customer service. They provide custom clean air solutions to meet all of their customers’ needs. DF FilterPro manufactures all of their AirX-brand filters in Indiana and stocks them locally at 4

their Champaign location. In addition to providing high-quality filters at competitive prices, they provide customers with minimal lead times and customized boxtruck delivery. They also offer customized cut filters with minimal turnaround times. Outside of air filters, they offer their Indiana-manufactured water filters, COVID-19 filter treatment products, HVAC maintenance products and many other products and services to fit your filtration needs.

Edelman, Inc.

3356 Big Pine Trail, Ste. A Champaign, IL 61822 217.972.9949 www.edelmaninc.com Heating and Air Contractors Edelman, Inc. has provided quality installation and service of HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems to both residential and commercial markets for over 15 years. They take pride in providing the highest quality of service and are honored to demonstrate that quality to Champaign and surrounding areas. Kraig Edelman purchased Edelman electric from his brother Kerwin in 2003. Since then, he has developed Edelman into a three-trade company and added a solar energy division. They pride themselves on being experts in their field. Edelman’s mission is to provide quality installation and service of HVAC, plumbing and electrical systems to both residential and commercial markets by ensuring that the customer, employee and company all win.

Fire Doll Studio

110 S. Neil St. Champaign, IL 61820 www.firedollstudio.com Home Accessories-Decorative & Gifts Fire Doll Studio is an independent woman-owned artisan chandlery with a passion for health, sustainability and the art of candle making. Freshly located in a new studio/ retail space in downtown Champaign, Fire Doll Studio is excited to offer expanded services to the community.

These services include artisan retail (candles, bath and body, self-care, gifts), pour-your-own-candle stations and candle ‘happy hours’ (think paint and sip parties, but with candles!). Fire Doll Studio also offers private parties, which is a great activity for small showers and birthdays. You can stop by for a gift, to pamper yourself, make a candle of your own or watch the candles being made in the workshop.

Flawless Biometrics

702 Bloomington Rd. Champaign, IL 61820 217.474.7491 flawlessbiometrics.com Biometrics Flawless Biometrics, LLC is the ONLY Service-Disabled, Veteran-Owned Live Scan fingerprinting vendor in Illinois.

They offer fingerprinting services to Central Illinois with office locations in Champaign, Danville, Tuscola and Paris.

They will travel to your group for onsite fingerprinting services or individual office appointments five days a week. Their fingerprint technicians are certified by state and federal government agencies and utilize ISP Certified Live Scan technology along with Accurate-ID software to capture fast, accurate and flawless biometric fingerprints.

Green Yoga Spa

302 W. Elm Urbana, IL 61801 217.367.9642 www.greenyogaspa.com Massage - Therapeutic Green Yoga Spa is proud to have some of the best therapists in Champaign-Urbana. On the “Therapists” page of their website, you can view each therapist’s bio to learn their areas of specialization. When you have selected a therapist, call or email the individual therapist to set up an appointment. Green Yoga Spa services include Swedish Massage, deep tissue massage, Ashiatsu, pregnancy massage, couples massage, hot stone massage, Thai yoga therapy and private yoga. They also offer Reiki and LaHo-Chi, powerful yet gentle, high vibrational energy healing modalities that balance and align all emotional, physical, mental and spiritual bodies.

Heel to Toe

106 W. Main St. Urbana, IL 61801 217.367.2880 www.heel2toe.net Shoes-Retail, Orthopedic Appliances Heel to Toe opened in 1976 in an 800-square-foot store in Market Place Mall. In 1987, they moved to a 10,000-square foot multiple brand comfort shoe store and orthopedic facility in downtown Urbana. They stock more than 20 brands of shoes, with Birkenstock and New Balance concept stores within the facility. Their inventory has more than twelve thousand pairs of shoes, socks, apparel, and shoe inserts, and there is also a full-service shoe repair lab onsite. There are five certified/licensed pedorthists on staff and a certified/licensed orthoptist, who perform biomechanical evaluations, fit shoes to help people with foot problems related to diabetes, arthritis, and injury fabricate and fit orthotics and braces. They have added an Innovative Bracing facility to allow for more room to serve clinical

patients. The facility provides orthopedic bracing, foot care and pedorthic services for folks with special needs.

Illinois Beverage Association

180 N. LaSalle St., Ste. 2750 Chicago, IL 60601 312.768.4716 illinoisbeverage.org/ Beverages-Non-Alcoholic-Mfrs. & Distrs.

The Illinois Beverage Association is a powerful network of businesses that make and sell the most popular, innovative non-alcoholic beverages of any type in the world. Their members work with local restaurants, movie theaters, hospitality venues and other local businesses, strengthening the Illinois economy through job creation and tax revenue, championing environmental sustainability and building a sense of community through partnerships and contributions. With nearly 100 years of history, the IBA facilitates constructive collaboration within the beverage industry that allows our members to work toward common goals. These partnerships drive innovation while increasing consumer awareness on issues related to sustainability and healthy diets. They tirelessly advocate on their members’ behalf by engaging lawmakers and stakeholders in Springfield and municipalities throughout Illinois. Their goal is simple, foster a pro-business environment that allows the non-alcoholic beverage industry to thrive and continue benefiting communities, workers and consumers across the state.

International Galleries

118 Lincoln Square Urbana, IL 61801-3302 217.328.2254 www.internationalgalleriesurbana.com/ Home Accessories-Decorative & Gifts International Galleries has been in business since 1976.

Their specialty is custom picture framing. They also carry art prints, work by local artists, jewelry, candles, oils, incense and pottery.

Kirby Wealth Management Group 4120 Belmont Point Champaign, IL 61822 217.355.9390 www.justin-kirby.com Investment Advisory Services

The Kirby Wealth Management Group’s mission is to help people achieve financial security. They do this by working with their individual, business, and 401k clients to integrate their financial, family and personal goals. These include short-term goals like reducing debt, increasing charitable giving, budgeting, long-term goals like saving for retirement, paying for college, reducing estate taxes, or building a family legacy. Because each client is unique, they help clients understand which strategy or mix of products will best 5

achieve their goals. They collaborate with their clients’ tax advisors and attorneys to produce the best outcomes. At Kirby Wealth Management Group, the team cares about the goals and dreams of clients and their families.

Marsden Northeast 3006 Gill St., Ste. B Bloomington, IL 61704 309.445.2761 www.marsden.com Cleaners

Marsden Northeast has been serving small and large businesses throughout central Illinois for over 40 years by providing them with well-maintained and welcoming facilities. They provide specialized building care to thousands of clients through quality-based service solutions and their customer-focused services allow them to maintain the cleanliness, appearance and safety of your property. Marsden Northeast clients benefit from the strength of a large corporation and the individual care of a small business. Marsden’s portfolio of services includes: Level I, II and III disinfection/sanitization, medical, commercial office and factory cleaning, LED lighting conversion, security services, carpet cleaning, window cleaning, hard floor care, and refinishing, high bay/ lift cleaning. Nationally, Marsden employs over 10,000 individuals in 52 office locations. Their teams service more than 300 million square feet daily.

Medserv Equipment Corp

156 A Lincoln Square Mall Urbana, IL 61801 217.355.7971 www.medservdme.com Medical Equipment and Supplies MedServ Equipment Corp has been serving the Champaign-Urbana area for over ten years. Located at Lincoln Square Mall, they carry a broad range of medical equipment and supplies specializing in lift/recliner chairs, scooters, wheelchairs, stairlifts, CPAP products and supplies and much more. Their retail showroom carries a large inventory of equipment and supplies and the Lincoln Square Mall makes a great “test track” for scooter customers to take a model for a test drive. When faced with a health care crisis, customers don’t often know where to start. The experts at MedServ have years of experience to help guide families through already stressful situations.

Their skilled repair department will also help customers keep their equipment in perfect functioning condition.

Soul Care Urban Retreat Center 507 S. Broadway, Second Fl. Urbana, IL 61801 217.996.1752 www.experiencesoulcare.com/ Wellness Programs 6

Soul Care is a spiritual wellness center in the heart of Urbana serving people across east central Illinois. Their mission is to help people incorporate spiritual wellness in their everyday life by providing mindfully designed experiences and sacred space to inspire meaningful connection with self, others and the divine. They are a robust, heart-centered community of spiritual practitioners and seekers living with intention into our most authentic selves. They welcome people of all genders, ages, life experiences, faiths and backgrounds. They are not associated with a specific religion or faith community and aspire to be a safe, inclusive space for all. Come as you are and enrich yourself.

Spine Consultants - Jesse P. Butler, MD 2514 Village Green Place Champaign, IL 61822 773.321.2800 www.spineconsultants.org Physicians & Surgeons (MD)

Jesse P. Butler, MD, CIME, ABOS certified, is a fellowshiptrained practicing Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon who treats adult patients with spinal conditions, including complex revision spine surgery for failed back surgery syndrome.

He applies an evidence-based, multidisciplinary approach to manage spine disorders (cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacrum, coccyx). Dr. Butler has the training, technical skill and diagnostic expertise to provide the best possible results for his patients. Spine Consultants works with medical providers, insurance companies, case managers, employers, and plaintiff and defense attorneys. Dr. Butler is also credentialed as a Certified Independent Medical Examiner capable of providing expert testimony on lumbar, cervical and thoracic injuries, orthopedic interventions in medical malpractice, personal injury, workers’ compensation and motor vehicle accidents. Dr. Butler has more than 25 years of practicing as an orthopaedic spine surgeon and providing expert witness services.

Sugga Shaii Sweets 217.600.9180 suggashaiisweets.com Bakers-Retail

Sugga Shaii Sweets was founded in 2018 by Shaii Smith.

Shaii brings southern-style inspired desserts and expertise through made-from-scratch homemade sweets, custom cakes, candies and seasonal treats. If you can think of of she can create it. At Sugga Shaii sweets “the food don’t just look good it tastes good”.

The Axe Bar

114 S. Neil St. Champaign, IL 61820 217.648.7926 theaxebarchampaign.com Bars & Taverns

The Axe Bar has a ton to offer, from premium axe throwing lanes, handcrafted cocktails, cold steel axes and other premium throwables. With 24 beers on tap and a wide selection in our coolers, they have the drinks of choice in Champaign County. Their pizzas have a made-in-house sauce and plenty of appetizers to share. They offer a great environment, from casual date nights to executive gettogethers. They invite you to come to spend your time with them and hope to see you soon.

The Gilbert Gallery

102 W. Main St., Ste A Urbana, IL 61801 217.367.2400 thegilbertgallery.net Art Galleries, Dealers, & Consultants The Gilbert Gallery is owned and operated by Ilene Corman Silverman, a retired art teacher. The gallery exhibits affordable artwork by local artists using a variety of mediums and techniques. They are housed on the second floor of an architecturally pleasing Victorian building, with an interior boasting high ceilings and oak woodwork; it is a fun place to visit. In addition to showing a variety of art pieces for sale, The Gilbert Gallery is available for art classes, private art shows, meetings and social events. The gallery is also active in community festivals and art events.

Fisher Area Business Association New Member: Main Street Cookies & Cream

101 S. 3rd St., Ste. C Fisher, IL 61843 www.mainstcookiesandcream.com Located in the heart of central Illinois, Main Street Cookies & Cream offers locally roasted coffee, tea, plant-based energy drinks, custom decorated cookies, super premium hand-dipped ice cream and so much more.

Interested in hosting a ribbon cutting?

Chamber members have the opportunity to sign up for ribbon cuttings to celebrate a grand opening or groundbreaking. Along with your team, a Chamber representative will be present and we invite ambassadors to attend to help you celebrate.

Thousands will see photographs of your event through this publication as well as the Chamber’s social media pages. We ask that all current CDC guidelines be followed at ribbon cuttings.

If your business is interested in hosting a ribbon cutting, contact Mindy Cain at MindyC@champaigncounty.org or call 217.359.1791.

The Scientist and the Farmer Come see, said he Excited to, said she From the great university Out to the black carpeted fields Where science meets the soil A communion of sorts Sharing ‘where are we’?

‘Where do we dream of going?’

‘How do we get there…together?’

Environment. Conservation. Water.

Nutrition. Population. Transportation.

Governments.

Then the farmer knelt.

Scraping soil aside.

Precisely one inch deep Mothered in the warm, moist soil The seed.

Sophisticated genetics A heart of gold Seed coat bursting Life surging Grow! Grow! Grow!

The scientist and the farmer gaze Thinking. Imagining.

100 days one seed grows 800 Staggering…

Creation.

- Lin Warfel

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BOARD OF

DIRECTORS

Thank you: Outgoing board members We would like to extend a very special thank you to these individuals who served on our board of directors. As their terms come to an end, we cannot thank them enough for their dedication to the members and Champaign County and to developing an economically thriving community.

Chip Craddock Clark Dietz, Inc.

Mike Estes Fisher National Bank

Susan Jepsen Christie Clinic Illlinois Marathon

Pradeep Khanna University of Illinois

Julianna Sellett Carle

Help us welcome: Incoming board members As we thank the above individuals for their service as their terms end, we also welcome our newest board members. The following indviduals begin their three-year term on the board of directors.

Please help us welcome them.

Nathan Escue Hamilton Walker’s

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Laura Heiser RE/MAX Realty Associates

Pamela Lau Parkland College

Janice McAteer Busey

Dalitso Sulamoyo Champaign County RPC

Andrew Weintraub Health Alliance

PUBLIC POLICY UPDATE:

WHAT THE CARP?

Head a few hours west, and you can enjoy a river cruise or fishing trip along the Mississippi River. Keep on the lookout, and you may spot some flying fish diving in and out of the water.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) also keeps a close watch for the fish on the Mississippi with fellow state and federal agencies. Throughout Ag Month, the Chamber has “uprooted” traditional agriculture ideas and shared expanded perspectives of the industry and its connections. Fishing is a crucial connection and element of agriculture.

The species group of fish that has made headlines over the past couple of decades as it has taken hold in the Mississippi is the invasive carp. The invasive carp is a broad term used typically to describe a group of four carp species.

The fish was primarily introduced to the United States’ ecosystem from Asia in the 1970s to fish farmers to clean commercial ponds. Due to flooding and accidental releases, carp found their way to the Mississippi river, where they have been populating since. The fish are officially considered an invasive species by the USDA. An invasive species is non-native to a specific ecosystem and causes or is likely to cause economic/environmental harm to human health. This definition begs the question: why is invasive carp a concern?

The U.S. National Park Service notes that the invasive carp pose an ecological and physical threat. Ecologically, the carp can out-compete other fish for resources and lower the overall water quality. These outcomes can kill off sensitive species and dominate native species. Physically, some carp can jump out of the water and potentially injure humans engaging in water activities or damage equipment used in those activities.

Experts are concerned that if the invasive carp reaches the Great Lakes, there will be a negative impact upon the region’s $7 billion/ year fishing and resort industry. Populations of native fish that are sought in the region may be decimated, and an entire industry may hang in the balance. The concern is so great that various policy measures have been enacted to combat the spread of invasive carp.

State and federal agencies monitor the Mississippi and connecting waterways for invasive carp. Studies were conducted to identify if fence-like structures can block the carp from entering new stretches of waterway.

Interstate public partnerships along the Mississippi have invested millions in controlling already established populations of fish.

Other control methods include incentives for those who fish invasive carp, whether commercially or in private fishing tournaments. Several grant programs are available to help companies sell the invasive carp for food purposes. It all echoes a push to increase the edible desirability of the invasive carp and bring it to menus across the region.

Maybe, we can eat our way out of this ecological problem.

Should you have any questions, please contact director of public policy Madeline Herrman at madelineh@champaigncounty.org.

Image courtesy of Illinois Department of Natural Resources

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Business | Wealth Management | Personal

Building Business.

Growing Wealth.

Since 1868.

New to entrepreneurship?

The Chamber Has Your BACK. Starting a business can be intimidating, but you’re not in it alone. With free counseling services available and regular educational events, the Chamber has your back.

We are here to help you get your business where you want it to be. www.champaigncounty.org/business-advisors-council 10

DO YOU HAVE UNSKI LLED WORKERS?

NEW

WE PAY FOR ONBOARDING!

*

BUSINESS

CONNECTIONS JOIN OR RENEW TODAY. CHAMPAIGNCOUNTY.ORG 217.359.1791

HIRE, TRAIN, AND RETAIN Build a strong workforce with help from East Central Illinois workNet. Find out more at

www.eciwork.net/employers 217-531-8282 | 1307 N. Mattis Avenue, Champaign Additional offices located in Douglas, Ford, Iroquois, and Piatt Counties.

*“Pay” means eligible employers can apply for funding from the WIOA On-theJob Training program, which includes partial reimbursement of wages for up to six months and the provision of support services such as coaching, transportation vouchers, and uniforms. Federally funded, locally driven, we are East Central Illinois’ workforce development agency operating under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.

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Thank you for helping us celebrate

Ag Month

During the month of July we celebrated agriculture and agribusiness throughout Champaign County. We wanted to “uproot” the idea of traditional agriculture by educating and engaging members on the extensive reach that agriculture has on our lives in central Illinois.

Beekeeping at Curtis Orchard

Precision ag at Parkland College

This multi-faceted celebration of agriculture included weekly newsletters with information on ag and it’s effect on economy, food & beverage, arts & culture and more.

We also expanded our annual wine raffle to include grain-based spirits and beer and rebranded it as the Grapes & Grain Raffle. On August 6, one lucky winner, Gaye Aaberg, owner of SYNERGY Home Care, was selected to take home the entire selection of 50 bottles (total quantity) of wine, spirits and beer.

Chamber staff members Madeline Herrman and Lindsay Quick experienced behind-the-scenes looks at some of the most innovative agriculture-related jobs and locations that can be found in Champaign County. Visits to Curtis Orchard, Parkland College, Clearview Farm and Fowler Farm resulted in a video series featuring different segments of agriculture from beekeeping to drone flying. All of the Out of Office videos can be viewed on our YouTube page. Search for Champaign County Chamber to view the videos.

Experimental farming at Clearview Farm Livestock care at Fowler Farm

To close out July’s Ag Month celebration, the Chamber curated an online marketplace featuring some of the “sweetest” items in Champaign County. The store included hand-poured candles from Fire Doll Studio, honey and candles from Maple Street Garden, cake jars from Hunny Bunny Bakes and pies from Lucky Moon Pies.

Shoppers enjoyed this one-stop online market of local, women-owned, small businesses.

Thank you for celebrating agriculture and agribusiness in Champaign County with us in July.

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Thank you to our online marketplace sponsors: A very special thank you to both Clearview Farm and Farm Credit for sponsoring the online marketplace as part of our Ag month initiative. Their support enabled us to showcase local, woman-owned makers & crafters on the online store. Thank you!

Clearview Farm, developed by the Atkins Group, is where the heartland’s history meets farming’s future. As Champaign-Urbana’s newest community attraction, Clearview Farm offers a visually stunning destination, educational opportunities, commercial partnerships, and more.

Located in northwest Champaign, the 140-acre farm features 18 crops grown using regenerative agriculture practices, miles of walking paths, and numerous educational opportunities.

At Clearview Farm, people of all ages are invited to enjoy beautiful surroundings and educational opportunities. Many of the crops grown at Clearview Farm are not commonly grown in Illinois, providing unique opportunities for academic partnerships and beautiful scenery year-round.

Guests are invited to walk or drive through the farm and are encouraged to explore the farm’s numerous educational placards.

Popular this year is Clearview Farm’s 25-acre sunflower maze, which attracted thousands of visitors from the Champaign, Urbana and surrounding communities.

To learn more about Clearview Farm or to plan your visit, visit Clearview-Farm.com

Farm Credit Illinois is a farmer owned and directed agricultural lending cooperative serving the southern 60 counties in Illinois. Farm Credit employees live and work in the communities they serve. Their deep understanding of agriculture enables them to provide knowledgeable and effective service to farm families, rural landowners and agribusinesses. They are committed to improving the quality of life for farmers and Rural America while fulfilling its core purpose of helping farm families succeed.

To learn more about Farm Credit Illinois, visit farmcreditil.com.

Photos courtesy of Clearview Farm

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MEMBER ACCOLADES & NEWS ROSECRANCE Champaign County residents experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis will soon have easier access to care through a $4 million federal grant awarded to Rosecrance Central Illinois.

Screening, assessment, and diagnosis; primary care screening and monitoring; crisis care for mental health; client-centered treatment planning; outpatient behavioral health services; case management; psychiatric services; peer and family support; veterans’ services.

The two-year grant, from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA), will address critical needs for communitybased services identified by Champaign County residents. Rosecrance Central Illinois and county law enforcement will form a crisis co-responder team (CCRT), in which the agencies work together in response to 911 calls that involve a person experiencing a behavioral health crisis and ensure proper follow-up care to reduce the number of mental health calls into the 911 dispatch center. In addition, an assertive community treatment (ACT) team will start to provide long-term mental healthcare to individuals with serious mental illnesses.

Rosecrance Central Illinois expects to serve an additional 600 clients throughout the two-year duration of the grant.

The service expansion also will bring valuable healthcare employment opportunities.

Rosecrance will be hiring mental health clinicians, mental nursing, those with lived experience, clinical support and leadership.

These positions will impact Champaign County in a positive way.

“We are grateful that we can provide services that community members have wanted for years,” said Rosecrance regional president Carlene Cardosi, “people in crisis will be able to receive treatment in their moment of need, as well as long-term coordinated care to help them achieve a higher quality of life.”

As a grant recipient, Rosecrance Central Illinois receives a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) designation. These clinics provide a robust continuum of care in a timely manner to anyone who needs treatment, regardless of ability to pay. They are required to provide nine core services:

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CUNNINGHAM CHILDREN’S HOME Cunningham Children’s Home has been awarded EAGLE reaccreditation by the EAGLE Accreditation Commission. EAGLE is the only faith-based accreditation program in the United States and is managed by the United Methodist Association of Health and Welfare Ministries (UMA).

“Cunningham’s governing board, management and employees are to be commended for their commitment to excellence earning EAGLE reaccreditation,” said Emily Robbearts, director of EAGLE accreditation.

What is EAGLE and why is its accreditation important to Cunningham? EAGLE stands for Educational Assessment Guidelines Leading toward Excellence. The primary emphasis of EAGLE accreditation is on excellence in Christian ministry, with a focus on how applicant organizations incorporate their Christian mission, religious heritage, and values throughout the organization and its daily operations. Other areas of importance include focusing on results and outcomes, striving to improve, meeting legal and regulatory requirements and ensuring privacy, accuracy, accessibility and confidentiality of both client and staff data and information.

For Cunningham, this is official recognition that we’re doing things right and achieving our mission to nourish hope through effective solutions so children thrive and families

flourish, despite the changing child welfare environment while providing care and vital services in the midst of a pandemic.

EAGLE is based on a set of 10 principles that guide the operation and delivery of quality care and services and the accreditation process has three major components: self study – organizational excellence is best motivated by introspective self-assessment, peer review site visit – external verifications should be conducted by trained and experienced peer professionals and commission decision – organizations best respond to written assessment reports that clearly document commendations and opportunities for improvement.

O’SHEA BUILDERS O’Shea Builders welcomes Ryan Phipps, superintendent. Phipps is based out of the Champaign office.

joins the O’Shea team as a general foreman on the Champaign Unit 4 Central High School project. He resides in Mackinaw with his wife Breigh and their two children, Austin (9) and Harleigh (7).

O’Shea Builders is a leading commercial construction-services provider in Illinois with offices in Springfield, East Peoria, Champaign and Decatur. Founded in 1900, O’Shea provides General Contracting, Construction Management, Design Build, Civil Construction, and Building Maintenance services.

Have news to share with the local business community?

Tell us about it and get featured in the Chamber’s next Commerce Connection. Email Lindsay Quick with your news, LindsayQ@champaigncounty.org.

Phipps comes to O’Shea Builders with 16 years of experience as superintendent with Williams Brothers Construction Co., PJ. Hoerr and most recently CORE Construction. He is experienced with projects in K-12, higher education and commercial. Phipps currently resides in Bloomington.

O’Shea Builders also welcomes Luke Siliskie, general foreman. Siliskie is based out of the Champaign office.

Prior to O’Shea, Siliskie worked for several years at East Moline Glass as a union glazier. He now As of January 1, 2020 all employers in Illinois are required to provide sexual harassment prevention training to all employees each calendar year.

Don’t wait until the end of the year to comply with the state requirements for sexual harassment prevention training. The Chamber offers trainings on a monthly basis.

For more information vvisit: www.champaigncounty.org/events/calendar/ 15

Come Work With Us In Our New

Work Away from Home Program Working from home has its benefits, but it can also be lonely. Remote workers (or people who just need a change of scenery) and are seeking to reenergize in a new environment can now rent an office at the Chamber for a day, week or one month at a time. There are no long term commitments to leasing an office.

Included in the price: • Private office with, desk, phone and ergonomic chair • Complimentary WiFi • Use of either small & large conference rooms (scheduled with the Chamber and as available) • Printing capabilities (large print jobs of 30 pages or more subject to additional costs) • Free coffee, pop and water. Beverages for meetings in the conference room for guests are subject to an additional charge.

• Use of break room • Office sanitized between users Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:30 to 4:00 p.m. on Friday. We cannot accommodate weekend hours, and when the last chamber staff person leaves at the end of the day… you gotta go too. You must register for office space with 24-hours advance notice. We reserve the right to turn down requests based on possible interference with chamber events and activities.

We respectfully request that our Work Away From Home guests follow our house rules (don’t worry, the rules are pretty minimal).

To inquire about availability, email info@champaigncounty.org Daily Rate: $35 Weekly Rate: $125 Monthly Rate: $400 (four consecutive weeks of Monday through Friday) Space rental must be paid at the beginning of the day, week or month.

10-week Program • Held on Thursdays • Beginning September 9 Learn more or register at champaigncounty.org 16

Job Fair & Hiring Event Tuesday, September 21 • 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Hilton Garden Inn, 1501 S. Neil St., Champaign Sign-up to participate as an employer • Attend to connect with employers Learn more at www.champaigncounty.org According to the most recent CDC guidance, masks are recommended for all individuals while indoors. The Chamber encourages attendees to follow the CDC guidance. Please remember that people will have differing levels of comfort.

Handshaking and standing in close proximity may still make people uneasy, so, we ask that all participants be respectful of this. Bring your best fist bump, connect and enjoy.

LEADERSHIP We stand out.

With hundreds of years of combined experience from local owners, it’s hard not to.

HICKORYPOINTBANK.COM

MEMBER FDIC

202 WEST PARK AVENUE, CHAMPAIGN

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CHAMBER STORE - Your Marketing Partner MAILING LABELS

EVENT SPONSORSHIP

An exclusive benefit of Chamber membership, we sell mailing labels containing the names and addresses of Chamber member businesses for the purpose of member-to-member communication. Target the local business community. Two lists are available for purchase:

From monthly First Friday Coffee and Business After Hours to our annual Golf Outing, the Chamber hosts a number of events each month. By sponsoring a Chamber event, your business obtains great exposure not only at the event itself, but also within all promotional materials (emails, mailings, e-newsletters, Commerce Connection, website, etc.).

Here’s what’s coming up:

Long list (approx. 2,000 names and businesses): $175 Short list (approx. 900 names and businesses): $125 Contact Stephanie Smith-Jeffries at StephanieS@champaigncounty.org

Annual Meeting - ask about sponorship opportunities.

E-CONNECTION

COMMERCE CONNECTION

Our electronic newsletter is sent to nearly 2,000 businesses and businesspeople in Champaign County each week. Sponsor an e-Connection and get your business seen by thousands.

Header sponsorship (one week): $100 Contact Lindsay Quick for more information, LindsayQ@champaigncounty.org

WEBSITE MARKETING

With over 400 unique views PER DAY to the Chamber website, you’ll have the opportunity to reach thousands of customers each month. With pricing starting at just $300 this affordable and effective.Contact Lindsay Quick at LindsayQ@champaigncounty.org

EMAIL BLAST

For a great price, place an ad in every email that is sent out of the Chamber office. That’s an average of over 12,000 emails per week. The best part? Link the footer wherever you would like.

Contact Lindsay Quick for more information, LindsayQ@champaigncounty.org

Email Blast Advertisement: $500

COMPLIMENTARY SERVICES:

EMAIL FOOTER SPONSORSHIP

Footer (one week): $75

Do you have a new product, service or information you would like to share with our entire Chamber membership? Take advantage of this exclusive offer to send broadcast emails to our entire nearly 2,000 email list.

Contact Lindsay Quick for more information, LindsayQ@champaigncounty.org

This is a bi-monthly publication that is distributed to over 2,000 businesses and businesspeople in Champaign County. Content varies, but is always relevant to local business. There are a variety of ad sizes available. Ads start at only $90. Ask about the exclusive cover package that allows your business to gain exposure before the reader even opens the publication.

Contact Lindsay Quick for more information, LindsayQ@champaigncounty.org

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Rental of laptop computer; conference space and LCD projector; Certificate of Origin; Notary service; information, assistance and resources.

Reach thousands on a small budget.

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WEBSITE DIRECTORY ENHANCEMENTS

Enhance your listing on the Chamber’s online business directory.

The directory gets hundreds of thousands of views each day-turn your standard (complimentary) listing into an eye-catching, search engine optimized advertisement.

Basic Listing: included with membership Enhanced Listing: $79 / year Contact Lindsay Quick for more information, LindsayQ@champaigncounty.org

calendar of events

Fast Facts

5.8% Champaign County Unemployment Rate in June 2021

LEAD Champaign County: Kick-Off Event Thursday, September 9 4:00 - 5:30 p.m.

Papa Del’s 1201 S Neil St., Champaign

Get Hired Champaign County Job Fair Tuesday, September 21 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Hilton Garden Inn 1501 S. Neil St., Champaign

30 business licenses applied for in

First Friday Coffee* Friday, September 10 7:30 - 9:00 a.m.

Clark-Lindsey 101 W. Windsor Rd., Urbana

State Required Sexual Harassment Prevention Training* Wednesday, September 22 9:00 - 10:00 a.m.

June 2021 U of I Flash Index for Illinois

*Please note September’s First Friday Coffee will be held on the second Friday due to the Labor Day weekend.

Business Success Seminar: Professionalism in the Workplace: A Refresher Tuesday, September 21 9:00 - 10:00 a.m.

Chamber Office 303 W. Kirby Ave., Champaign

Via Zoom *Trainings will be held monthly throughout 2021

Ribbon Cutting: Pavlov Media Wednesday, September 22 3:30 - 4:00 p.m.

601 Country Fair Dr., Champaign For more information or to register for an event, visit www.champaigncounty.org/ events/calendar/

The Chamber office will be open Monday through Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. and Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m..

PLEASE NOTE: The most recent CDC guidance, states that masks are recommended for all individuals while indoors.

The Chamber encourages our members to follow the CDC guidance.

Please remember that people will have differing levels of comfort as we return to in-person events. Handshaking and standing in close proximity may still make people uneasy. So, as we return to inperson events, we ask that all participants be respectful of this.

Bring your best fist bump, reconnect and enjoy.

Champaign County in July 2021

105.8

255,633

rides were taken on CUMTD in July 2021

6,941 visits to the Chamber’s website, champaigncounty.org in July 2021

4,016 number of unique searches on the

Champaign County Chamber of Commerce Online Business Directory in July 2021

2014 The year that the Champaign County

Chamber of Commerce was named the Illinois Outstanding Chamber of the Year

303 West Kirby Avenue Champaign, IL 61820 P 217.359.1791 | F 217.359.1809 www.champaigncounty.org 19

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