Dear Members:

Happy Fourth of July week!!!  If you’re driving for this holiday weekend, be aware that the State of Illinois doubled its motor fuel tax from 19 cents to 38 cents per gallon, effective today, to help fund $45 billion in transportation infrastructure projects.  The state gas tax now will increase automatically based on the rate of inflation.

Transportation infrastructure projects also will be funded from higher taxes on vehicle registrations, cigarettes, parking and more.  The annual vehicle registration fee will increase by $50, while buses, trailers and oversized vehicles will pay $100 more.

Supported by the Illinois Chamber of Commerce supported, the gas tax increase is projected to generate $1.2 billion—split  almost evenly between the state ($560 million) and local governments ($650 million)—with the average driver paying an estimated $100 more in the first year.

As part of the legislation, Chicago can increase its local gas tax by three cents per gallon, both Lake and Will counties can impose a gas tax of up to eight cents per gallon, and DuPage, Kane and McHenry counties can double their per-gallon tax on gas from the current four cents to eight cents.

The City of Elmhurst and other home-rule communities also charge a local tax on gas.

As a result of increased vehicle fuel efficiency and the dawn of hybrid/electric vehicles, even the federal government is struggling to fund transportation-related initiatives as the revenue generated from the 1993-imposed gas tax of 18.4 cents per gallon is less than adequate to cover current-dollar costs.

If driving is becoming too expensive, you might consider opting to bicycling instead.  Speak of which…

Seventh Annual Elmhurst Cycling Classic
With gift-in-kind sponsorship from the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the Seventh Annual Superior Elmhurst Cycling Classic returns to the streets around the Elmhurst College campus and Wilder Park on Friday, July 26, starting at 9:45 a.m.

Organized by the DuPage Cycling Foundation, the Classic is part of the Intelligentsia Cup, a “tour” of bike races in cities around Chicagoland, similar to the Tour de France, which moves in stages from town to town.  The racing schedule will conclude with the 80-minute men’s professional race pedaling off at 6:55 p.m.

Thousands of fans and cyclists enjoyed the 2018 event, which can be viewed on-line, and Elmhurst Our Kind of Town will videotape this year’s racing for cable TV rebroadcast starting in July.

Homeowners on Elm Park Avenue, Grave Avenue and Alexander Boulevard along the 1.2-mile course host watch parties for their neighbors and friends.

Elmhurst College and Elmhurst Park District provide support, as does the City of Elmhurst via an Explore Elmhurst community grant.

Superior Air-Ground Ambulance is the titled sponsor, with Edward-Elmhurst Health and Storino, Ramello & Durkin among the presenting sponsors.  Classic sponsors include fellow Chamber members Elmhurst BMW, Elmhurst College, Pints, Olympia Chiropractic & Physical Therapy, Mehta Motors, L.W. Reedy Real Estate and Kilwins.

W. Reedy and DuPage Cycling Foundation are sponsoring the 11:30 a.m. Masters 35+ 3/4 and 3 p.m. Cat 2/3, 5:05 p.m., respectively.
At 5 p.m., family members of all ages can leisurely pedal the course during the Olympia Chiropractic Family Fun Ride Parade.

Proceeds have benefitted District 205 Foundation, Elmhurst Children’s Assistance Foundation (ECAF), Elmhurst College, Elmhurst Walk In Assistance Network, Elmhurst-Yorkfield Food Pantry, People’s Resource Center, Spirito! Singers, United Community Concerns Association (UCCA) and many more.

Happy Anniversaries
Eight members are celebrating milestone Chamber anniversaries in July as follows: 20 yearsFitz’s Pub; 15 yearsCitizen Advocacy Center, Delta RMS, Kordik Law Firm, Prairie Display/Chicago and White Pines Golf Club; and 5 yearsHeritage Architecture Studio and Money Mailer.

New Members
The Chamber welcomed five new members in June as follows:  American Advisors Group (AAG), Four Your K9, Maxine, Waxing The City Elmhurst and Weiss-Kunz & Oliver, LLC.

No Longer Members
The Chamber said goodbye to the following seven members in June:  21 East Gallery, CyberOptik Wed Development, Edward Jones Financial Advisor (Jeff McGinnis), HPN WorldWide, Life Education Center, Merlak Tax Advisory Group and RE/MAX Action (Dennis Sluga).