Dear Members:
The City of Elmhurst ranks first of five Illinois municipalities ranked among the Top 100 “Best Small Cities in America,” according to a WalletHub study of affordability, safety, local economy, health care and other factors ranging from local restaurants to schools.
Sammamish, Washington, scored the No. 1 ranking overall, while Elmhurst ranked 45th, followed by Highland Park (50th), Wheaton (59th), Park Ridge (61st) and Glen Ellyn (64th).
Federal Relief Not Inflationary
The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of March 2021 and previous federally-funded Coronavirus (COVID-19) relief packages have little impact on the annual rate of inflation, according to a Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco report released in October.
Estimates suggest that while temporarily raising the vacancy-to- unemployment ratio, ARP will increase the rate of inflation by about 0.3 percentage point per year through 2022.
Small Business Saturday
Holiday shoppers alienated with the traditional bedlam of Black Friday should support Small Business Saturday by shopping locally on November 27—whether done in person or online. You can find an amazing mix of unique gifts and exceptional services to purchase for family and friends, while contributing to the well-being of your community’s economy.
Since its 2010 inception by American Express, Small Business Saturday has generated an estimated $133 billion in consumer spending. In 2020—the program’s 11th Anniversary year—an estimated 110 million consumers shopped and/or dined on Small Business Saturday, generating a record $19.8 billion in spending, an increase of $200 million from 2019, according to the Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey.
Survey responses for 2020 indicated that 97 percent of consumers who shopped or dined on Small Business Saturday agree that small businesses are essential to their community. Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic, a record 56 percent of consumers reported shopping online with small businesses on that day. Some 43 percent of consumers shopped at small businesses offering specials or promotions.
Today, small businesses account for some 31.7 million U.S. businesses (one million minority-owned and 1.1 million women owned), which employ 47.1 percent of those working in the private sector and create two out of every three new jobs. For many communities, sales taxes account for a municipality’s largest source of budget revenue, often offsetting any need for a property tax increase. Home-rule municipalities like Elmhurst benefit even more from local taxes on food and beverage, retail, motor fuel, etc. More importantly, 68% of every $1 spent at a local small business stays in the community, as compared to 44% from a big box retailer.
So there are numerous benefits to shopping “small” this holiday season—and all year ‘round.
Second Nashville Songwriter Fundraiser
Thanks in part to City of Elmhurst Explore Elmhurst Community Grant funding support, our Chamber and American Legion THB Post 187 co-hosted the Second Annual Nashville Songwriter Fundraiser in the Normandy Room on October 16, raising some $15K to benefit the our hometown veterans organization.
The Nashville Songwriter event featured the return of country singer/songwriter Jason Sever, a native Texan who has worked the past 20 years in Music City U.S.A, as a headlining solo artist, studio musician and ensemble performer, along with acclaimed singers, songwriters and record producers Frank Myers and Anthony Smith.
Click HERE to view Elmhurst TV coverage or watch on Comcast Channel 6 and AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 in November on Saturdays at 7 p.m.
Multi-Chamber Danube River Cruise
Our Chamber is among a dozen West Suburban Chamber of Commerce Executives (WSCCE) members partnering to host an Amazing Danube River Cruise aboard the 5-star MS Amadeus from October 12-21, 2022, along with an optional pre-cruise, three-night stay in Prague.
102nd Annual Awards Gala
You can watch Elmhurst TV coverage of our Chamber’s 102nd Annual Awards Gala staged in the Normandy Banquet Room at American Legion THB Post 187 on September 8 through November on Thursdays at 6 p.m. on Comcast Channel 6 and AT&T U-Verse Channel 99, or click HERE to view online.
New Members
Our Chamber welcomed three new members in October as follows: La Jolie MLN Boutique, Runningboards Marketing DuPage and The Sandlot Sports Cards & Collectibles.
Happy Anniversary
One member is celebrating a Chamber anniversary in November as follows: 25 years—Yorky’s Fast Food.
Dropped Members
The Chamber said goodbye to the following seven members in October: Elm Graphics, Elmhurst Orthopaedics, Hyatt House Chicago Oak Brook, J.P.’s Landscaping, Koirzenowski Design, Stray Hen Cafe and Uptown Eatery.