Ambassador Spotlight: Alexis Kessler
Alexis Kessler recently moved to Kankakee County from Castalia, Ohio, a small town near Cedar Point Amusement Park. Alexis joined the Chamber soon after she moved to the area. In 2021, Alexis graduated from Tiffin University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a minor in Sociology. Alexis is currently a realtor at McColly Bennett…
Business Basics
The Paid Leave For All Workers Act (PLAWA) went into effect in Illinois on January 1, 2024. Click below to learn more. Click Here to Learn More! The DOL: Times – They Are A Changing! Click the photo above to view a presentation from Amundsen Davis about the new DOL changes regarding salary thresholds, effective…
Independence Day celebrations, KVSO performances and fireworks show July 2 at KCC
The tradition of celebrating Independence Day with live music followed by fireworks will continue on Saturday, July 2 along the south banks of the Kankakee River. The fundraising event will include three live music performances. Kankakee Community College gates open at 4 p.m., and admission is $20 per carload. All proceeds benefit the Kankakee Valley…
Bourbonnais Friendship Festival Returns
Bourbonnais, IL – The Bourbonnais Friendship Festival returns for its 47th year Wednesday, June 22 through Sunday, June 26, at Goselin Park on the Bourbonnais Municipal Center grounds 700 Main St. NW. In preparation for the five-day festival, the following will undergo temporary closures: Effective Tuesday, June 14, the Event and Skate Plaza is closed.…
Inclusive Backing Grants for Small Businesses
The fourth grant cycle will provide grants to small business owners who identify as Native or Indigenous, Hispanic or Latinx, LGBTQ+ or as immigrants, refugees or forcibly displaced. Membership in Main Street America is not required to be eligible for the Program, but businesses must have a “brick-and-mortar” location and operate in an older or…
Early Childhood Education Collaboration Funding Opportunity
OPPORTUNITY DETAILS: To further increase equity in funding across the State, Birth to Five Illinois is issuing grant funds to local early childhood collaborations to deepen their work and to jumpstart the creation of new local collaborations focused on strengthening ECEC systems. For further information and the application link go to: http://www.birthtofiveil.com/grants Birth to…
ComEd EV Rally $2,000 Scholarship Opportunity
After a two year COVID hiatus, we are bringing back our big summer STEM event! This year, we are evolving the Icebox Derby to become the EV Rally. Much like Icebox Derby, six teams of young women will work with ComEd mentors to build an EV race cart over four build nights. The event will…
Active Shooter Preparedness
The Active Shooter / Armed Intruder Planning For…Responding To…Recovering From the Unthinkable© Last week’s shooting at the school in Uvalde, TX has once again left our nation shocked, appalled, and numb with grief and disbelief. And once again, we find businesses and organizations of all types pushing active shooter preparedness to the top…
Spotlight: Dondi Maricle, Ambassador
Dondi Maricle is a very active member of the community. She volunteers at several organizations including the Lions Club, Woman’s Club, and Hippocrates Medical Clinic. This is also her first year at a Chamber serving as an ambassador; however, she has been involved with the chamber for five years. She loves meeting new people and…
Spotlight: Mary Posing, Board Member
Dean of Kankakee Community College (KCC), Mary Posing has been a Chamber Board Member for 15 years. She started in 1997. She is a firm believer in the Chamber, and in recent years joined the Chamber Board. “I choose to be involved in the Chamber because of all the good things that it does in…