2014 July/August Commerce Connection

for p u b l i c at i o n

PAID

Presorted Standard US Postage

t ru s t e d

b u s i n e s s - to - b u s i n e s s

event recap and photos p. 3 and 5

Permit No. 29 Champaign, IL

C h a m pa i g n C o u n t y ’ s

Golf Outing & Come Wine Eat Greedily With Us Local dining options featured p. 13

JULY/AUGUST 2014

CONNECTION

Volume 21 | Number 4

C O M M E R C E

more

than

20

years

A PUBLICATION OF THE CHAMPAIGN COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

2014 GOLF OUTING | JUNE 5 @ STONE CREEK GOLF CLUB sponsored in part by:

THANK YOU! HOLE SPONSORS: Wells Fargo Advisors -

Schweighart Financial Group

Candlewood Suites AT & T (Hole-In-One) Eastland Suites and Conference Center Birkey’s Farm Store First State Bank Illinois American Water

RAFFLE DONATIONS:

First Place Team: Lindy Edmund, Wade Adams, Kyle Edmund, Kurt Lenschow

Midland States Bank Air Choice One First Bank - Savoy Firemark Paintball Merry Maids Applebee’s Old Time Meat and Deli Buffalo Wild Wings BJ Grand Salon BWW Savoy Stone Creek Golf Club Holiday Inn Central Illinois Produce Danville Gardens Brookhill Golf Course CityGirl Yogurt Blossom Basket Florist Candlewood Suites AT&T Country Financial

Spherion A & R Mechanical Hilton Garden Inn Holiday Inn and Conference Center Midland State Bank Hyatt Place First Bank DISH Passionate Cuisine Hilton Garden Inn Monicals Pizza Terminix Massage Envy Wireless Mike’s Biaggi’s Engelbrecht Grills Birkey’s Farm Store Longhorn Steakhouse Cassel Home Comfort Modern Nails

GOLFER PACKET DONORS: Prospect Bank Baran Marketing Country Financial Massage Envy All Things Illini

Thank you to Dish Passionate Cuisine for generously donating box lunches and dinner for all the golfers; to Orange & Blue Distributing for donating all the beverages on the course and to Country Financial who was our golf ball sponsor.

ww w.cha mp a igncounty.org

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

FY14 TOP INVESTORS TOP INVESTORS Busey Carle University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Bronze A & R Mechanical Contractors Amdocs BankChampaign, N.A. Christie Clinic First Mid-Illinois Bank & Trust Kraft Foods, Inc. Presence Covenant Medical Center Supervalu Inc. Champaign Distribution Center

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

Lynette Lykins Director of First Impressions LynetteL@champaigncounty.org

Karly Combest Director of Member Relations & Programming KarlyC@champaigncounty.org

Samantha Mathis Marketing & PR Director SamanthaM@champaigncounty.org

Caryn Isenhower Accounts Receivable & Office Administrator Caryni@champaigncounty.org

Mary Murphy Events & Programs Coordinator MaryM@champaigncounty.org

Michelle Luna Membership Sales Director MichelleL@champaigncounty.org

Ryan Roth Public Policy Director RyanR@champaigncounty.org

University of Illinois Employees Credit Union IN-KIND CONTRIBUTORS President’s Circle Illini Radio Group - MIX 94.5, WIXY 100.3, 92.5 The Chief, WYXY Classic 99.1, True Oldies 97.9, Extra 92.1, Hits 99.7 NewsTalk 1400 WDWS, Lite Rock 97.5 WHMS, Classic Hits 107.9 WKIO Stevie Jay Broadcasting’s - Q96-96.1FM, US105.9, Sunny 95.3 & ESPN 93.5 WCIA-TV / WCIX 49 Business Circle Fox 27 Illinois / WCCU-TV Shatterglass Studios WICD ABC NewsChannel 15 150 PERCENT CLUB Carmike 13 W.K. Cooper II Asset Management Corporation Hyatt Place

BOARD OF DIRECTORS BOARD OFFICERS Mike Billimack Carle

Mike DeLorenzo

University of Illinois

Stephen Flynn Attie’s Bar & Grill

Alan Gleghorn Christie Clinic

Perry Greene

Stone Creek Golf Club

Cindy Guthrie

Three Degrees of Change

Tabatha Helm

Advanced Filtration Systems, Inc.

Susan Jepsen

Rod Roberts

Kurt Lenschow

Jim Lyons First Vice Chair, Birkey’s Farm Store

Reynolds Towing Service, Inc.

State Farm

Chuck McReaken

Chair, Thunderstruck Design

Becky Von Holten

Tri Star Marketing, Inc.

Second Vice Chair, Midland States Bank

Dennis Riggs

Beth Auterman

Diane Ruedi

Michael Wozniak

Chris Shroyer

Laura Weis

FIX-IT, Sidney Dairy Barn

F.E. Moran Security Solutions

Busey

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.

Treasurer, CliftonLarsonAllen

Past Chair, Livingston, Barger, Brandt & Schroeder

Secretary, Champaign County Chamber of Commerce

FINANCIAL SERVICES Provided by CliftonLarsonAllen

Come Wine With Us brought to you by the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce Agribusiness Committee and

THANK YOU!

BOOTH SPONSORS: BankChampaign, N.A. Parkland College The Anderson’s Farm Credit Services Illini Farm Safety for Just Kids Carle Center for Rural Health & Farm Safety The Atkins Group Illini FS Birkey’s Farm Store Champaign County Farm Bureau Fix It Wood Shop Wells Fargo Advisors CliftonLarsonAllen WIXY Classic Villas of Holly Brook

FOOD VENDORS:

Sidney Dairy Barn Great Harvest Bread Holiday Inn and Conference Center Attie’s JT Walker’s Hickory River Smokehouse Dish Passionate Cuisine

The weather cooperated and it was another successful event. Over 200 people were in attendance for an event that aims to spotlight the local agribusiness industry. Thank you to our title sponsor BankChampaign, NA; our venue sponsor Birkey’s; all of our exhibitors -- including Carle and Illini Radio Group (providing extra tents); Orange & Blue for providing the beverages; Sun Singer for hand selecting and co-sponsoring our wine raffle; all of our food vendors for the fabulous food; the Illini Radio Group for providing equipment and music and all of those that attended. We look forward to seeing you all next year. Congratulations to Sherry of Martin, Hood, Friese & Associates who was the winner of the 60 bottles of wine raffle.

WELCOME TO THE CHAMBER >> members who joined between May and June 2014 American Heart Association 2524 Farragut Dr. Ste. A Springfield, IL 62704 309.824.9853 www.heart.org Social Service Organizations

Applebee’s

2121 N. Prospect Ave. Champaign, IL 61822 217.359.8178 www.applebees.com Restaurant The first Applebee’s opened in November 1980 in Georgia. Featuring a popular adult menu with convenient, quick service in a casual, relaxed atmosphere, they offer customers an alternative to traditional full service restaurants. The concept revolves around the restaurant’s image as a neighborhood-gathering place, catering to the needs of 18 to 56 years old customers who grew up on traditional fast food but seek an adult ambiance and varied menu selection. They take pride in providing a welcoming environment where everyone can enjoy the dining experience.

Avenue Mortgage 2913 W. Kirby Ave. Champaign, IL 61821 217.693.4301 Mortgages

Avenue Mortgage, a division of CIBM Bank,

Willowbrook Memory Care Residences held a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate their plans to build on the corner of Prospect & Curtis in Savoy.

specializes in high quality residential loans. Founded 24 years ago, the assets of Avenue Mortgage were acquired by CIBM Bank in the fall of 2013. Avenue Mortgage and CIBM Bank serve communities in Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana. CIBM Bank operates under the name “Central Illinois Bank” in its full service banking offices located throughout central Illinois. The 3 P’s of Avenue Mortgage - Price: They are a “best price lender.” They always want to be a price leader with the most competitive rates in our industry to attract the highest quality loans.

Professional: They are an extension of those who refer business and strive to provide unmatched service resulting in outstanding customer satisfaction. Personal Service: Customers will find an advocate dedicated to developing an ongoing relationship with you. Their commitment to their clients carries on well past the day their loan closes.

Career Coaching 4 Kidz

Champaign, IL 61821 617.637.3439 www.cc4kidz.net Career & Vocational Counseling Career Coaching 4 Kidz (CC4Kidz) is a mobile, green, student-career coaching social enterprise that believes every 8th-12th grader deserves to learn the pragmatic skills to be successful at the workplace and in life. They do this by empowering those children in group or one-on-one settings on professional etiquette and career/workforce development through 20 highly interactive and customized 1.5 hour workshops by collaborating

Gander Mountain celebrated the grand opening of their new location in Champaign on May 27, 2014.

Consolidated Call Center Services 3001 Research Rd. Ste. B Champaign, IL 61822 888.472.8382 www.consolidatedccs.com Telephone Answering Service

Dr. G’s Brainworks: The Brain Fitness Store

Carriage Crossing held a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction of their new assisted living and memory care community, which will be located at 1619 Congressional Way in Champaign on May 29, 2014.

610 Marketplace Mall 2000 N. Neil St. Champaign, IL 61820 217.398.8888 www.drgsbrainworks.com Educational-Retail

Elegant Nails Lounge 2202 S. Neil St. Champaign, IL 61820 217.398.8888 Nail Salons

Elegant Nails Lounge is a professional nail salon that offers a wide variety of nail care services ranging from manicures and pedicures to artificial nails and waxing.

More importantly, Elegant Nails Lounge is a great place to get your nail care done and be pampered by our highly experienced staff with years of experience.

In addition, Elegant Nails Lounge’s friendly staff will accommodate large parties and special events such as weddings and birthday parties. For that reason, rest assure that everyone will be cared for with the highest standard of care and treated as family.

Iroquois Federal celebrated the grand opening of their new location in Savoy on June 2, 2014 with a ribbon cutting.

with parents, high schools, non-profits that serve this population in any capacity and for-profits that provide paid or unpaid internships and jobs throughout the calendar year.

Carriage Crossing Senior Living

Mattis & Curtis Rd at Liberty on the Lake Savoy, IL 61874 217.202.2091 www.carriagecrossingsl.com Assisted Living Facilities

Cheese & Crackers

1715 W. Kirby Ave. Champaign, IL 61821 217.615.8531 www.crackerscheese.com Delicatessens

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El Toro Bravo Mexican Restaurant 2561 W. Springfield Ave. Champaign, IL 61821 217.351.7024 www.eltororestaurante.com Restaurants-Mexican

El Toro Mexican Restaurant II 723 S. Neil St. Champaign, IL 61820 217.378.7807 www.eltororestaurante.com Restaurants-Mexican

El Toro Restaurant

703 Eastwood Dr. Mahomet, IL 61853 217.590.0501 www.eltororestaurante.com Restaurants-Mexican

El Toro Mexican Restaurant 1668 E. Grove Ave. Rantoul, IL 61866

217.893.0100 www.eltororestaurante.com Restaurants-Mexican

Friends Fore Life

P.O. Box 12 St. Joseph, IL 61873 661.645.5161 www.friendsforelife.com Youth Organizations & Centers Friends Fore Life is a not-for-profit charitable organization developed to raise awareness and funds in the support of children and their families residing in the Central Illinois area who are fighting life threatening illnesses. They are a group of fathers who have been blessed with very healthy children and a deep awareness of those who are less fortunate.

Friends Fore Life will be conducting a series of annual fundraisers along with the support of donors through social media sites. All donations will be strictly managed and quickly distributed in the form of a monetary love offering (check) to families of children who are hospitalized due to illness. Monthly board meetings provide leads of needy children in the area and the board will make nominations and unanimously approve all recipients.

People, Product, Service. Where people come first, Product is always best, Service is complete. 43 years of construction John Kramer is the owner of Home Care Construction. Jobs range from windows to additions, tile to painting.

Illinois Small Business Development Center

1817 S. Neil St. Ste. 100 Champaign, IL 61820 217.378.8535 www.champaigncountyedc.org Business Consultants

Kone Elevators & Escalators 704 W. Killarney St. Urbana, IL 61801 217.384.3070 www.kone.us Elevators-Sale & Service

LeadWise Solutions

3711 Blairwood Dr. High Point, NC. 27265 888.959.2480 www.mobilewisemedia.com Marketing Programs & Services

Helia Healthcare Center of Champaign

Martin One Source

Home Care Construction

In recognition of the additional product lines that their company is now able to provide to their clients, Champaign based Martin Graphics and Printing, is pleased to announce the name transformation to Martin One Source. While continuing to provide

1915 S. Mattis Ave. Champaign, IL 61821 217.352.0516 www.heliahealthcare.com Nursing Homes

2401 Carrisbrooke Dr. Apt. 8 Champaign, IL 61820 217.751.2330 Home Improvements

CV Lloyde held a ribbon cutting on Wednesday, June 4, 2014 to celebrate their recent move to a new location in Urbana.

808 N. Country Fair Dr. Champaign, IL 61821 217.398.5000 www.martinonesource.com Printers

On June 10, 2014, High Caliber Training Center & Indoor Range held a ribbon cutting to celebrate the opening of their location in Urbana.

their clients with the quality printing they have come to expect, Martin One Source shares a renewed commitment to office products & furnishings, janitorial & breakroom supplies and distribution/fulfillment services as a result of the acquisition of Bloomington, IL based WM Putnam Company. Dave Moravec has been named the new President and brings over 30 years of printing, distribution and managerial experience. Chuck Martin will continue his involvement in the business on a daily basis and serve as CEO. His leadership, local relationships and sales abilities will be invaluable as we continue to emerge as the One Source leader in Central Illinois.

Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt

512 E. Green St. Champaign, IL 61820 309.531.5237 www.orangeleafyogurt.com Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts-Retail Orange Leaf is the fastest growing frozen yogurt chain in the USA and has a track record of opening very successful stores. With exceptional interior designing and highest product quality as factors that attract customers of all ages, the franchise’s business will expand rapidly in this downturn economy. Orange Leaf is opening an average of five franchises every month across the US, and has many more under construction, such as the one planned for Champaign.

Orange Leaf is one of the most demanded brands in the frozen yogurt industry because of the superior taste and texture of the product and the family-oriented, visually uplifting environment. These characteristics combined create a fun and enriching destination for friends and family.

Flooring Surfaces Factory Outlet celebrated the grand opening of their new location in Savoy with a ribbon cutting on June 19, 2014.

Hans Family Dental held a ribbon cutting June 25, 2014 to celebrate their new location! They are located 2918 Crossing Ct. Suite A Champaign.

Russell Cellular (Premium Verizon Retailer) 1300 S. Neil St. Champaign, IL 61820 217.369.5870 www.russellcellular.com Cellular Telephone Service

Sensibly Clean Services 130 N. Poplar St. Ludlow, IL 60949 217.841.1097 www.sensiblyclean.net Carpet & Rug Cleaners

SJB Promotions, Inc.

308 N. Broadway St. Fisher, IL 61843 217.897.1055 www.sjbpromotions.com Promotional Products & Screen Printing

Animal Hospital at the Crossing held a ribbon cutting on June 26, 2014 to celebrate their new location for grooming, which is next door to their current location.

Their mission at SJB Promotions, Inc. is to help businesses, organizations, clubs, etc. create longlasting relationships with clients, supporters, fans, etc. through the power of promotional products.

Promotional products is a 17 Billion dollar industry

and they have over 3,000 suppliers available to them with unlimited options tailored to your needs to offer you! Promotional products provide a better cost per impression for advertisers than almost every major marketing effort like television, magazines, or the internet.

The Pop Stop

803 S. Mattis Ave. Champaign, IL 61821 217.714.0587 www.thepopstopinc.com Food Truck-Dessert

UScore Financial Services, Inc. P.O. Box 3834 Champaign, IL 61826 217.355.7886 www.uscoremore.com Credit Repair Service

UScore Financial Service, Inc. provides credit related service to individuals and small businesses. They have coaches who help business owners access the

cash and credit they need to grow their businesses.

These advisors commonly have two decades or more experience in helping business owners obtain capital and build credit. UScore has recently released a first of its find cash and credit access system which provides business owners easy access to financing options of all kinds.

Wedge Tequila Bar and Grill 415 N. Neil St. Champaign, IL 61820 217.398.2869 www.wedgebar.com Restaurants-Mexican

From commercial properties to residential projects, F.E. Moran, Inc. Fire Protection has the experience and expertise to perform on time and under budget.

24-Hour Emergency Service Installation, Inspection and Repair Offices in Champaign, Carterville and Griffith, IN also DBA Prevention Fire Protection in Morton, IL 3001 Research Road Suite A • Champaign, IL 61822 Phone (217) 356-0700 • Fax (217) 356-0777

www.femoranfp.com

To celebrate their recent opening, The Pop Stop, Inc. held a ribbon cutting on June 26.

The Elliott Counseling Group held a ribbon cutting on June 27, 2014 to celebrate their new location.

champaigncounty.org/11

PUBLIC POLICY UPDATE In late June, several court cases that affected Chamber initiatives and business owners occured. On June 27, Judge Mary Mikva ruled the redistricting amendment proposed by the YES! for Independent Maps Campaign was unconstitutional. Judge Mikva stated that a redistricting amendment was indeed eligible to be added to the Illinois Constitution, but as drafted, this amendment was not. The major sticking point appeared to be the prohibition of commission members from running for office for 10 years.

Earlier the Illinois State Board of Elections, based on a sample of signatures, found that the amendment did not have enough valid signatures to appear on the ballot in November. The YES! Campaign then sought to rehabilitate those signatures. Following the ruling, YES! announced they would not appeal the ruling and would suspend operations ending the campaign. Organizers noted that a similar effort in California took three attempts before it was successfully implemented. We would like to thank all of the businesses and volunteers who assisted in this effort.

The U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS), in a 5-4 ruling, sided with Hobby Lobby saying that closely held corporations do not have to provide contraception coverage to employees if it violates their religious beliefs. This ruling applies only to corporations that are owned by a small number of individuals and where there is no discernable difference between the company and the owners.

Reports differ on how many businesses will be affected by this ruling. Before making any decisions based on this ruling, consult your legal professional.

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Eat Greedily.

Enjoy the large local, diverse restaurant scene.

W

$22.4 B in sales

Illinois’s restaurants are projected to register in 2014 One dollar spent in Illinois restaurants generates an additional

$1.23 in sales

for the state economy

515,600 Illinoisans

are employed by a restaurant (9 percent of employment in the state). By 2024, Illinois restaurants are projected to employ

549,200

Source: National Restaurant Association

hether you are looking to support the local economy or start your day off with a warm, fluffy omelet made with local ingredients from a neighborhood bakery or relax at a downtown bar/restaurant, the local dining scene is sure to serve something up for everyone. The restaurant industry makes up six percent of the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce membership base. With the majority of the University of Illinois students gone for the summer and residents and visitors wanting to be out and about, it is the perfect opportunity to spotlight the diversified collection of restaurants in the area. The local dining experience is enhanced by the many friendly food service workers as well as the atmospheres of the restaurants exclusive to Champaign County.

According to data pulled from the 2010 Census, Champaign County has more than 53.2 restaurants per 10,000 households. This figure is higher than cities such as San Francisco, California and Farifield County, Connecticut with 39.2 and 27.6 restaurants per 10,000 households, respectively. With numbers like that, the local cuisine will satisfy nearly any craving. Keep things interesting and take the time to experience the wide array of bars and restaurants that are right here in your own town; variety is the spice of life. The following pages highlight many of the area’s unique dining options and snack spots you must check out for yourself.

cultural

Italian - extensive selection Indian - offer regional of house-made and specialties some hot & imported pastas, soups, spicy, some mild and some salads and more. (Champaign) with curried sauce; buffet Ambar India available. (Champaign) Italian cuisine - best Traditional tasting Mexican known for breadsticks and cuisine brought directly salads, they also serve from La Piedad, Michoacan, pastas and steak. (Champaign) Mexico. (Multiple locations) Mexican - 100+ Tequilas, hand-made corn tortillas, Located in the heart of a variety of tasty tacos campustown, Sitara’s will and salsas; enjoy a provide its diners with sophisticated vibe. (Champaign) authentic Indian food and flavors at affordable prices.

(Urbana)

champaigncounty.org/13

OUTDOOR Enjoy their bar area & a robust menu of American pub-style food highlighting local ingredients, including fruit and vegetables from local farms; experience their fantastic views. (Urbana) Try their specialty tacos, dips and quesadillas while enjoying live music with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating Thursday - Saturday; other activities Sunday - Wednesday. (Champaign)

SEATING

A local favorite spot to stop by before/after Illini games. Burgers, salads, surf and turf all in one place at the Crossing.

Enjoy the 22 TVs or the night time air on the outdoor patio. (Champaign) Microbrewery known for award winning gastrobrewpubs and their fusion of craft beer and artisan foods; Full-flavored dishes from America’s melting pot using local ingredients. (Champaign)

Guido’s - Locally owned bar and grill centered around sports; the only one in downtown Champaign. They offer a wide variety of menu choices and plenty of space indoor and out.

Variety of food choices from traditional bar food to specialty entrées. Enjoy their specialty, craft beer--serving more than 100 varieties. (Mahomet)

Seven Saints - enjoy sliders including their freshly seasoned and hand-pattied beef; they also have one of the broadest on-premise selections of spirits in the area. (Champaign)

Combined retail, wine bar cafe and gourmet deli, they offer 30+ wines from around the world along with a full service bar with an array of liquors, import and craft beers. (Champaign)

BAR/TAVERNS Bentley’s is a traditional Irish pub located downtown with daily drink specials and live entertainment. (Champaign) Since 1975, great food and over fifty beers and ales. Try their famous homemade pineapple tequila. (Champaign) Located on the UIUC campus with a well known reputation.

Enjoy drink specials and the friendly locals.

(Champaign) Murphy’s Pub has been serving the UIUC Campus since 1969.

They have daily drink specials and food special of a burger/ sandwich and fries. (Champaign)

PIA’S

A local sports bar that offers tasty sports bar specialties, including their famous “Slugger” burger and neverending nachos. (Champaign)

DELI’S

Cheese & Crackers

Famous for their twiced baked potaotes; they also offer steaks, turkeys (around Thanksgiving) and cold cuts.

(Champaign)

Buy the finest meats, cheeses and chocolates from local artisan producers, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, England and elsewhere.

(Champaign)

RESTAURANTS IN HOTELS

The Great American Grill - a quaint, intimate setting great for business meetings and meals with friends and family. (Champaign)

Houlihan’s - They offer a variety of lunch, dinner and drink options and specials; including organic and gluten free meals.

(Champaign)

Serving both breakfast and dinner; enjoy made-toorder omlets or their signature French toast. Limited hours.

(Urbana)

STEAKHOUSES PIZZA Select your own steak from the locker, cook it your own special way over a live charcoal grill or have it cooked for you. (Champaign)

Australian-themed steakhouse. All meats are heavily seasoned; there is a 17 spice blend for the steaks themselves.

(Champaign) Owned and operated

by Darden Restaurants, Inc.; best known for steaks and their Texas Tonion.

(Champaign) Enjoy specials like Steak for Two on Sunday and Monday nights. They’re also know for their large salad bar.

(Champaign)

Chicago style deep dish pizza known for the sauce on the top.

Customers can also order & ship pizza elsewhere. (Champaign)

Famous for their signature deep-dish square pizza - more corner pieces. (Champaign)

Choose from a wide array of specialty pizzas or create your own. The menu includes more than just pizza and also many drink options. (Champaign) $5 HOT-N-Ready Classic pizza every day; pizza, crazy bread, wings and more. (Champaign & Urbana) Known for its thin crust pizza, which many dip into the famous Monical’s Sweet and Tart French dressing. (Multiple locations) Specializes in Chicago-style thin crust & double-dough crust; also offers other Italian dishes. (Urbana) Famous for their original sweet sauce on their thin & crispy, hand-tossed or deep dish crusts. (Champaign)

QUICK

BREAKFAST & BAKERIES Offers a variety of coffee and specialty drinks. Features a variety of items and has seasonal features. (Champaign)

Casual dining restaurant and sports bar franchise that is known for their buffalo wings.

(Multiple locations) Known for their signature ButterBurgers and Fresh Frozen Custard.

(Champaign)

Tasty, fresh-baked bagels and breads, then stuffed, wrapped, topped and shmeared in ways never-before imagined. (Urbana & Champaign)

Dedicated to the art and craft of Texas BBQ cooking; served-up with their special-recipe sauce and famous sides. (Urbana)

Fresh artisan whole grain breads; Breads, muffins, scones, cinnamon rolls, cookies, sandwiches, coffee and amazing gift ideas. (Champaign)

Famous for their freaky fast delivery and bread, baked in-house everyday and served fresh. Meat and veggies are sliced fresh in-house everyday. (Multiple locations)

Bakery-café fast casual restaurant with an array of pastries, hot breakfast sandwiches & artisan breads. (Champaign) Classic American food; breakfast served anytime, including fresh baked cinnamon rolls, muffins, and cookies. Daily lunch/dinner specials. (Champaign)

IC E

Their signature items include the Apple Pancake, Dutch Baby, unique omelets, gourmet crepes and coffee.

(Champaign)

R C

Known for their classic Italian food – fresh, fast, fun. They also feature a wide selection of specialty coffee and teas.

(Champaign)

M A E

&

Traditional European bakery, featuring artisan, made-fromscratch breads, pastries, cakes, coffees, and more.

(Champaign)

They offer international and American noodle dishes, as well as soups, salads, pasta and sandwiches. (Champaign)

A premium ice cream shop that uses a frozen slab for blending gourmet ingredients into ice cream. Each batch of ice cream is homemade using the finest ingredients in the world! (Savoy)

Home of the “World’s Best Ice Cream” and the Moo Mobile.

Whether at the Farmer’s Market or their location in Sidney, enjoy some homemade sweet treats (Sidney).

E D

RT S E S S

Variety of frozen treats, such as soft serve ice cream, drinks and foods off the Orange Julius menu, ice cream cakes and of course DQ blizzards! (Urbana and St. Joseph) Selfserve, choose-your-own toppings frozen treats; unique flavor recipes are prepared daily with fat free milk and mixed up in proprietary serving machines that make for a richer, creamier treat. (Champaign) Smoothie food retailer that caters blended fruitbased drinks; formulated the world’s first nutritional smoothie in his kitchen, to serve as a healthier, dairy-free alternative to popular ice cream-based drinks. (Champaign)

CASUAL Mainstream American dishes such as salads, shrimp, chicken, pasta, and “riblets” (their signature dish).

(Champaign) Menu includes hamburgers, sandwiches, steaks, seafood entrées and the restaurant’s specialty, chicken wings.

(Champaign) Specializes in most seafood, including lobster, shrimp, fish and squid; also known for their Cheddar bay biscuits. (Champaign) Large menu with an emphasis on alcoholic beverages. Part of the menu is dedicated to the “Jack Daniel’s Grill”, a selection of items with a special Jack Daniel’s-branded sauce.

(Champaign) Smoked meats and BBQ, tasty sides, excellent craft beers and much more. (Urbana - second location opening in Champaign)

Self-serve soft-serve frozen yogurt shop offering over 12 flavors and over 40 toppings every day! (Urbana) Opened in 1983 with their private recipe. A full service soda fountain, desserts only destination; sundaes, snowstorms, shakes, malts, ice cream pies and more!

(Champaign) A mobile food vendor that boasts specialty popsicles, Hawaiian ice-sicles, Chicago style pop corn and soda. The trailer unit can be found on the U of I campus or at the Urbana Farmers Market.

(The Country’s Best Yogurt) Soft and self-serve frozen yogurt; choose from a variety of yogurt flavors, add your own mix of fruit or candy toppings and pay by the ounce. (Champaign)

MEMBERSHIP NEWS First Mid-Illinois Bank and Trust recently announced the promotion of Elisha Walters to Regional Deposit Manager for the Decatur region. Elisha will be responsible for overseeing deposit services for all First Mid locations in Decatur, Champaign, Urbana, Mahomet and Bloomington.

“We’re excited to have Elisha step up as the Decatur Regional Deposit Manager,” stated Clay Dean, Senior Vice President and Chief Deposit Services Officer. “With 14 years of experience and a versatile background in both deposits and loans, Elisha brings a great deal of banking knowledge to the position.” Elisha began her career with First Mid in 2000 initially employed as Teller Supervisor and Customer Service Representative. In 2008, she transitioned to the role of Retail Lending Officer. Elisha serves on the board of the Mahomet Area Chamber of Commerce and mentors in the Mahomet-Seymour School District.

Spherion Staffing Services, a local recruiting, staffing and workforce solutions provider backed by the resources of a $2 billion global workforce leader, announced recently that Cindy Somers, franchise owner of the Champaign and Decatur offices, is the recipient of the 2014 President’s Award. The President’s Award is given to six owners and franchisees that have created consistent revenue and gross profit growth over the past three years. The award was based on the following categories: hours, bill rate, gross profit dollars and sales and revenue. “Cindy is a great example of the success that results from partnering with our clients, knowing our local communities and providing excellent customer service. She personifies the discipline and drive for consistent and profitable growth in today’s marketplace and is actively involved in every phase of her business operations,” said Sandy Mazur, division president of Spherion. “Cindy is a leader who continues to take the right steps to build a successful operation that is focused on providing top-notch service to its clients.”

Danielle Niebrugge recently joined First Mid-Illinois Bank & Trust (First Mid) as Senior Vice President, Director of Human Resources. Danielle brings 18 years of experience in Human Resources to the First Mid organization. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville with an emphasis in Employee Relations and minor in business. She became certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) in January 2011. Niebrugge will be responsible for managing all aspects of Human Resources including: salary, wage, and benefit administration; state and federal reporting; and the hiring and recruiting process. In addition, she will play a key role in the company’s overall employee strategy relating to ongoing training, development and overall employee engagement initiatives. Joe Dively, Chairman and CEO stated, “Danielle will make a great addition to First Mid and we are pleased to have her join our team of professionals. With her experience, she will play a critical role in the ongoing emphasis we place on employee engagement and development.”

Green Purpose is on a mission to be the world’s greenest eco-minded enterprise that provides businesses and individuals with cutting edge solutions for eliminating society’s growing waste problem. They have been growing rapidly since our inception and could not have done this without the support of the community. As a byproduct of their consistent growth, we have outgrown our current facility and will be moving into a new 15,000 square foot facility during the next few months. They would like to offer businesses and members of the community an opportunity to be a part of their exciting initiative to keep waste out of landfills. To show appreciation towards the efforts of participating companies, they will promote each company’s green purpose through a variety of outlets. For information about various items and supplies they are interested in utilizing to furnish their new facility, contact them at info@ mygreenpurpose.com or call 217.954.1450. iHotel and Conference Center was recently ranked seventh out of more than 290,000 hotels around the world

by Expedia.com. Judging was based on guest reviews and in-house experts.

Have news to share with the local business community?

Tell us about it and get featured in the Chamber’s next Commerce Connection. Send an email with your news to Samantha Mathis, SamanthaM@champaigncounty.org.

s s e n i s u B r u o Y n I

To learn more about area businesses; how the Chamber can help; and to better promote our members to other members, the Chamber staff and ambassadors have been touring member businesses. For more details and photos from the tour, visit www.champaigncounty.org.

McCABE BROTHERS, INC.: McCabe Brothers, Inc. has been supporting the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce since 1964 and has been open for business since 1963. Sandra McCabe and her mother Betty McCabe currently run the family business. They have been locally owned and operated since the beginning and serve a variety of people. Their customer base is mainly residential/individuals doing handywork themselves, but Sandra says some of their business comes from commercial and industrial contractors. They rent a variety of tools including heavy equipment such as backhoes, forklifts, skid steers and mini excavators. Power, lawn and garden tools, as well as carpet cleaners and chain saws can also be rented from McCabe Brothers. They also offer delivery and pick up. Hourly, daily and weekly rental increments are available, starting from as little as $40 and up to $250. With their diverse selection and affordable rates, you’re sure to find the right tool rental for your construction project.

Contact them at www.mccequiprental.com or call 217.352.5620.

Chamber Store Mailing Labels

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. Two lists are available for purchase: Long list (approx. 2,500 names and businesses).................................. $175 Short list (approx. 1,000 names and businesses)..................................$125

Commerce Connection Advertisement The Commerce Connection is a bi-monthly publication that gets sent out to more than 3,000 businesses and businesspeople in Champaign County. Content always relevant to local business, the publication is fullcolor, full-gloss and all around awesome. Ads start at only $90.

Contact Samantha Mathis for more information, SamanthaM@ champaigncounty.org or 217.359.1791.

Website Sponsorship

Contact Caryn Isenhower to place your order, Caryni@champaigncounty.org or 217.359.1791.

E-Connection

Recently redesigned, our electronic newsletter gets sent out to more than 4,000 businesses and businesspeople in Champaign County each week.

Sponsor an e-Connection and get your business seen by THOUSANDS. Header sponsorship (one week)............................................................$100

The Chamber redesign of our website is complete. There are multiple opportunities for businesses to sponsor pages, host banners and showcase themselves on the Chamber site. If you would like more information, please contact Samantha Mathis at SamanthaM@ champaigncounty.org.

Online Business Directory Enhancements

Enhance your listing on the Chamber’s online business directory. The directory gets hundreds of THOUSANDS of hits each day--turn your standard (free) listing into an eye-catching, search engine optimized advertisement.

Contact Samantha Mathis for more information, SamanthaM@champaigncounty.org or 217.359.1791.

Email footer sponsorship

For only $75, your business can place a banner on every email that gets sent out of the Chamber office. That’s an average of over 12,000 emails per week. You can’t get better (or cheaper) exposure!

Basic upgrade...................................................................................................$40 Value upgrade..................................................................................................$60 Deluxe upgrade...............................................................................................$90

Email footer (one week).................................................................................$75 Add email footer to the Chamber’s e-Connection..........Additional $50

Contact Samantha Mathis for more information, SamanthaM@ champaigncounty.org or 217.359.1791.

Contact Samantha Mathis for more information, SamanthaM@champaigncounty.org or 217.359.1791.

Event Sponsorship

Email Blast Advertisement

Do you have a new product, service or information you would like to share with our entire Chamber membership list? We are now offering an exclusive offer to send broadcast emails to our entire 4,100+ email list.

Email Blast Advertisement .....................................................................$500 Contact Samantha Mathis for more information, SamanthaM@ champaigncounty.org.

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

We have numerous opportunities throughout the year, here’s what’s coming up: Breakfast Series sponsorship (includes table of 8)........$1000 Annual Meeting sponsorship...............................................$400 - 2750 Additional sponsorship information for events such as the Annual Meeting, Business Success Seminars and the ATHENA Award® Ceremony is available upon request. Contact Karly Combest at KarlyC@champaigncounty.org or 217.359.1791 with any event sponsorship inquiries.

Some things you get complimentary:

LAPTOP COMPUTER

RENTAL

LCD ROOM CONFERENCE

PROJECTOR

RENTAL

RENTAL

ORIGIN &

INFO

S E R V I C E

ASSISTANCE

CERTIFICATE OF

NOTARY

- - A N D - -

For more information on any of these services, contact the Chamber at 217.359.1791. Services are available free to all Chamber members.

calendar of events First Friday Coffee

Friday, August 1 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.

Champaign County Economic Development Corporation 1817 S. Neil St. Ste. 100, Champaign

Ribbon Cutting Champaign Urbana Nursing & Rehab Wenesday, August 6 1:00 p.m.

302 Burwash Ave. Savoy

Business Success & Solutions Seminar - Telephone & Email Etiquette presented by Express Employment

Thursday, August 7 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

Champaign County Chamber of Commerce 303 W. Kirby Ave., Champaign

Financing a Small Business an event hosted by ECI SCORE Thursday, August 7 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Champaign County Chamber of Commerce 303 W. Kirby Ave., Champaign

Ribbon Cutting Express Employment Professionals

Thursday, August 14 3:00 p.m.

2117 W. Park Ct., Champaign

Non-Profit Organization Workshop an event hosted by ECI SCORE

Thursday, August 14 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Champaign County Chamber of Commerce 303 W. Kirby Ave., Champaign

Starting a Small Business an event hosted by ECI SCORE Saturday, August 16 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Champaign County Chamber of Commerce 303 W. Kirby Ave., Champaign

Connect @ Lunch

Monday, August 18 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Location TBD

Writing a Business Plan

an event hosted by ECI SCORE Thursday, August 21, 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Champaign County Chamber of Commerce 303 W. Kirby Ave., Champaign

Business After Hours Farnsworth Group Thursday, August 21 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Location TBD

Business Success & Solutions Seminar - Productive Communication presented by

Fast Facts

6.3% Champaign County Unemployment Rate in May 2014

24 business licenses applied for in Champaign County in June 2014

106.2 May 2014 U of I Flash Index for Champaign County

1,487,050 rides were taken on CUMTD in April 2014

7,153 visits to the Chamber’s page, champaigncounty.org in June 2014

11,727 average amount of referrals PER DAY the

Champaign County Chamber of Commerce Online Business Directory received via search engines and online sources in June 2014.

Envision Innovation

Thursday, August 28 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Champaign County Chamber of Commerce 303 W. Kirby Ave., Champaign

ACE Leadership Program Kick Off Event Thursday, August 28 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Location TBD

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

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let A&r hAndle the heAt. mAximize their performAnce.

• plumbing • heAting • cooling • mAintenAnce contrActs

www.ar-mech.com 217-819-5188

• 24-hour emergency service