Dear ECCI Members,
This month, we also welcomed newly elected and returning ECCI Board Members along with the 2025–26 Executive Committee. Their leadership will help guide our work in the year ahead as we focus on strengthening member engagement, expanding programs, and elevating the visibility of Elmhurst’s business community. I am grateful for their commitment and excited for all that’s ahead.
As you plan your holiday gatherings and prepare your gift lists, I encourage you to shop small and support our local businesses. Every purchase big or small helps sustain the entrepreneurs, storefronts, nonprofits and service providers who make Elmhurst such a special place. When you shop local, you’re not just buying a product or service; you’re investing in people, dreams, and the future of our community. Elmhurst continues to show economic resilience, with a commercial and industrial vacancy rate around two percent, among the lowest in DuPage County.
Please make sure to join us for our Holiday Business After Hours, hosted by Community Bank of Elmhurst. We will be collecting PB&J to support fellow Chamber members: Elmhurst-Yorkfield Food Pantry, York Township and United Community Concerns Association (UCCA).
On behalf of the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce and Industry, thank you for your support, partnership and trust throughout the year. It is an honor to serve as your President and CEO, and I look forward to continuing our work together in 2026.
Wishing you a joyful holiday season filled with peace, gratitude and time with the people who matter most. I look forward to all we will accomplish together in the year ahead.
Kind Regards,
Jennifer Veremis
President and CEO
Giving Tuesday ECCI Centennial Celebration NFP
This Giving Tuesday and through January 2026 you’re invited to join Chamber members and the community in making a tax-deductible gift to the ECCI Centennial Celebration NFP. Your donation can support any of the following initiatives:
Civic Hall of Fame Public Memorial Fund
Created during the Chamber’s 100th Anniversary in 2018, the interactive, touch-screen Civic Hall of Fame Public Memorial is now on display in the lobby of Community Bank of Elmhurst’s downtown location. Established in 1992, the Civic HOF honors outstanding civic leaders who have shaped Elmhurst.
Click HERE to explore the Civic Hall of Fame website.
Second Century Fund
The Second Century Fund has allowed our Chamber to educate Elmhurst businesses and our community on a variety of socio-economic initiatives. In 2025, the fund collected nearly $30,000 for York Community High School’s Memorial to the Fallen, honoring 114 alumni who gave their lives in service to our country. It also supports our annual Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205 New Teachers Luncheon and key community projects, including the City of Elmhurst’s First Responder Memorial adjacent to Fire Station #2.
Ralph P. Pechanio Student Internship Endowment Fund
With an initial $100,000 donation and ongoing annual gifts from long-time ECCI Board Treasurer Ralph Pechanio, the Student Internship Endowment at Elmhurst University has grown to more than double its $150,000 goal. This ensures sustainable funding for paid internships for Elmhurst University students who support the work of the Chamber. Gifts to the Endowment Fund also can be made directly to Elmhurst University.
Holiday Events Around Town:
Hometown Holiday Family Fun Day
Join holiday-goers in the City Centre Plaza on Saturday, December 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a Hometown Holiday Family Fun Day with Santa, “Frozen” characters, the Elmhurst City Centre Penguin, music, kids’ activities, treats, and free hot chocolate and coffee, in partnership with the Elmhurst History Museum.
Spring Road Winterfest
Stop by the Spring Road Winterfest at the Gazebo on Saturday, December 13, from 1 to 4 p.m. for Santa, sleigh rides, treats, characters and live choirs, as sponsored by the Spring Road Business Association. Learn more HERE.
Explore Elmhurst Holly Trolley
Celebrate the season by riding the complimentary Explore Elmhurst Holly Trolley! It runs Saturdays from November 29 to December 27, operating noon to midnight.
Happy Anniversary
Four members are celebrating their Chamber anniversaries in December: 25 years—Tree Town Cooperative Nursery School and Val-Matic Valve and Manufacturing Corp.
New Members
Please give a warm welcome to our newest Chamber member as follows: AMF Companies.
Dropped Members
The Chamber dropped six businesses in November as follows: ABC Communications, Head Designer, JB Painting, Millenia Investments, SMG Security Holdings and Warehouse Direct
Please visit our website and explore the community calendar and Hot Deals pages. You’ll find member-exclusive discounts, events and more.
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