OCTOBER
The Monthly Business Publication for the Canton Area
cANTON aREA cHAMBER OF cOMMERCE
Executive Board
President: Chad Holloway - OSF HealthCare
Vice President: Maggie Connell - Edward Jones
Treasurer: Chad Murphy - Spoon River College
Secretary: Renee Lewis - Jim Maloof Realtor
Board of Directors
Whitney Parrish - Barnhart, Tinsman, & Parrish
Jay Valencia - Canton High School
Jason Gumbart - Apex Seed Co.
Lacey Neal - Rock Valley Physical Therapy
Diane Bell - Di’s Boutique
Alesia Shaw - Graham Health System
Jason Elwell - Eats on the Street
Jacque Nelson - MidAmerica National Bank
Emylee Bitner - Bank of Farmington
Chase Shawgo - Ipava State Bank
Owen Spahn - ‘24/’25 Student Representative
cbobell@cantonillinois.org
Executive Director Carla Bobell
What happens in downtown Canton in the fall and has lots of food, live music, but no crafts? I heard you say it! The Taste in Canton! This year marked the 8th year for the Taste in Canton and we are counting this one as a success! But I want you to know that an event like this does not just come together in a day…no, no, no. It takes months, and it also takes four key components.
FOOD VENDORS: We had 16 food vendors which included: Eats on the Street, Don & Nancy’s Café, Country Line Bar & Grill, Princess Creations, Bistro 101, Hy-Vee of Canton, Walnut Tree Baking Co., Big Cat’s Bowls, Official Time Out, Old Dog, Up in Smoke BBQ, Kaylee’s Country Cupcakes, The Wolves Den Pizzeria, J&S Catering, Monari’s Chili Dogs & More, and O’s Rolled Ice Cream.
SPONSORS: This family friendly community event is hosted by the Canton Area Chamber of Commerce, but we depend on local businesses and organizations to be sponsors for the event to help cover costs. This year we had Seven Major Sponsors and 22 Supporting Sponsors. Be sure to check out the list of sponsors on page 7.
ENTERTAINMENT: We had Monster Lane Band play all afternoon, inflatables for the kiddos from Space Walk of Central IL, sidewalk chalk, baggos, and of course the epic pie eating contest!
VOLUNTEERS: We also depend on volunteers to help the event run smoothly because at the Chamber office, we only employee 1 full time and 1 part time. This year we had 48 individuals and 11 businesses and organizations that helped out either before, during or after the event.
The ORGANIZATIONS that helped and how they helped are:
*The Boy Scout Troop #124 and Cub Scout Troop #124 helped gather garbage during the event.
*The CHS football players moved all the picnic tables into place the morning of the event and moved them back into the parking lot after the event.
*A couple of the CHS Building Trade students helped take down the flag pendants off the light poles downtown after the event.
*Residents from Courtyard Estates filled all the coin bags and we have over 5000 coins!
*Canton Youth Acres brought in picnic tables, as well as, the Canton Park District.
*The City of Canton and Canton Park District provided waste cans.
*Old Dog served wine for us this year and Official Time out served beer and seltzers.
The INDIVIDUALS who helped out, well, I don’t have room to fit all their names, but some of the jobs they did were putting signs together, prepare 50/50 tickets, helped hang the pendant flags and banners downtown the day before, helped with set up the morning of the event, welcomed and assisted food vendors and business booths, sold tokens/coins during the event, were judges, judge runners, coin runners, coin counters, pie eating contest helpers, and helped tear down after the event.
It truly takes a community to make an event like the Taste in Canton happen and it is a shining example of how when we all work together we raise our community up to be a wonderful place to live, work AND PLAY! See you next year!
Welcome New Member!
The Uplands
The Uplands is a special place nestled right on the borders of Canton, Farmington, and Norris, Illinois created for you to host your special events! The property started as a coal slurry washing station and was in peak operation in the 80’s. When the coal mine companies left town, it sat untouched as an industrial waste reservoir until the early 2000’s.
The Herman Family bought the property in 2003, reclamated the land, rehabbed the 30 acre lake, and used the property for friends, family, and many church camps over the years.
The property was then sold to Norris Outdoor Adventures in 2017, which was a business model that failed, and the place was trashed. The Herman family reacquired the property in 2023 and have started restoring and improving the property for large private events!
The Uplands hosted its first wedding on May 16, 2024 and haven’t looked back since. This summer was filled with picture perfect lakefront weddings, family reunions, church camps, and corporate retreats. Essentially, it’s a rental property with a private lake, 10 bedroom lodge, large event center, giant waterslide, and 500’ beach, ready to provide you with all that you need for whatever kind of gathering you are looking to host!
The Herman Family is super excited to help create lifelong lakefront memories at The Uplands! Whatever special event you are planning, give The Uplands a try. Reach out to them today!
Graham Health System
Expanding Our Patient-Centered, Quality Healthcare in Central and Western Illinois
Growth and Job Opportunities
With our continued growth in Fulton County, Mason, McDonough, Peoria and Knox Counties, Graham Health System is providing job opportunities not only for Canton but for all the communities we serve. We are hiring Physicians, Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, Physician Assistants, Physical & Occupational Therapists, Nurses, Laboratory & Radiology Techs and Revenue Cycle professionals daily, to work throughout the GHS System in five counties. We are proud to partner with Spoon River College, Carl Sandburg College and The University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria (UICOMP) to offer scholarships for their students. To date we have 190 current or future GHS employees receiving almost $7,500,000 in financial support from Graham.
Expansion and New Offerings
Graham Medical Group – Phase 1 of our new 30,000 square foot outpatient campus at the corner of Carl Sandburg Drive and North Seminary in Galesburg opened in early August. Volumes there are very strong and continue to grow. Services include an Endoscopy Center, and Imaging Center (X-Ray, Ultrasound, Mammography, Dexa Scans) a 7 day a week, 12 hour per day Convenient Care Clinic, along with both Primary and Specialty Care clinics.
Phase 2 of the project is underway, with plans to open on or about April 1, 2025. This addition will house further imaging modalities (Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)). With these new services, we will also increase the number of Primary and Specialty Care providers and clinics. Phase 3 – An Ambulatory Surgery Center, will open in approximately 18 months on the same campus. Graham is continuing its expansion within the Galesburg market by opening a Primary Care and Convenient Care Clinic on the Southside this October 14th. The East Third and Seminary Street location will address the historically underserved healthcare needs on the Southside of town.
Positive Impact on Canton
The expansion of Graham Health System outside of Canton (Macomb, Galesburg, Glasford, Williamsfield & Elmwood) has allowed for growth within Canton itself. Visits and care at our satellite facilities have resulted in significant growth in our Canton-based Surgery, Imaging, Lab, and Inpatient Services. This expansion also allows consumers to take advantage of the shops, restaurants, coffee shops, gas stations, grocery stores, and other retailers that Canton has to offer. The more patients we care for regionally, the more patients coming to Canton for additional medical services. This drives not only medical revenue here in Canton, but also brings additional spending that follows.
Reaching New Patients and Opening New Patient Care Opportunities
Since opening our doors in Macomb, around 2 years ago, we have cared for patients from 264 distinct zip codes. In Galesburg, over the past 2 years, patients from 261 distinct zip codes, in Elmwood, 157 distinct zip codes and in Williamsfield, from 81 zip codes. These patients receive primary and specialty outpatient care in those markets, reducing long wait times and unnecessary travel, then come into Canton for more specialized care, and hospitalization. A true WIN/WIN for all patients and communities.
Fulton Mason Crisis Service
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM): Join Us in Taking Action!
#Every1KnowsSome1 impacted by domestic violence—whether it's a friend, family member, or colleague. The harsh reality is that domestic violence doesn’t discriminate. Every minute, 20 people across the country experience abuse at the hands of an intimate partner. That's 10 million people each year! Alarming, isn’t it? According to the CDC, about 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men will face severe physical violence from a partner during their lifetime. Domestic violence can take many forms: physical, emotional, financial, verbal, sexual, and more.
This year’s theme, #Every1KnowsSome1 #DVAM, highlights that we all have a part to play in ending this cycle. The Fulton-Mason Crisis Service (FMCS) has an action-packed month planned, and we need your help to spread awareness!
Here’s how you can get involved during the first week, October 1st – 5th:
Wear a purple ribbon
Paint your pumpkins purple
Dress your pet in purple
Snap pictures and share them on social media with #Every1KnowsSome1 and #DVAM to show your support! This is just the start of our exciting awareness campaign.
For updates throughout the month, follow our FMCS Facebook page where we’ll feature weekly themes:
· October 6th – 12th: Focus on Financial Abuse
· October 13th – 19th: Spotlight on Technology Abuse
· October 20th – 26th: Prioritizing Safety
· October 27th – 31st: Celebrating Healthy Relationships
Save the date: October 17th is WEAR PURPLE DAY! Encourage your team to join in, snap group photos, and share them on your social media. It’s a great way to sh support and raise in our community.
FMCS is here to provide free, confidential services to those in need, including a 24-hour hotline, crisis counseling, emergency shelter, legal advocacy, and much more. Let’s stand together this October and make a difference!
#Every1KnowsSome1 #DVAM
Taste in Canton Sponsors
We Thank you!!!
Taste in Canton
150% club
Scott Miller
Phil Miller
Tony Rolando
Kevin
Kevin & Debbie Stephenson
John Clark
Harriet Ellis
Harold Jump
Otto Stephenitch
Meade
Our Chamber ambassadors
Samantha Braden Rhoades Real Estate
Bobby Brown - Flat Branch Home Loans
Joe Christian - MidAmerica National Bank
Stephen Clark - Town and Country Insurance
Brandy Cozad - Jack’s Bar
Kiley Davis-Crouse - Line-X of Canton
Tama Duhs - Bank of Farmington
Sherri Delost - Jim Maloof Realtor
Madison Embry - Bank of Farmington
Jake Green - Graham Health System
Jeromie Hale - Bistro 101
Elli Hummel - Jack’s Bar
Amanda Ketcham - Spoon River College
Seth Klinedinst - Crawford’s Home Furnishings
John Lemon - Rise Canton
Dave Lewis - Dave Lewis Studio, Ltd.
Taryn Mellert - Spoon River Electric
Amanda Reed - MidAmerica National Bank
Codi Swibold - Hy-Vee Food Stores
Dr. AJ Thum - Associates in Dentistry
Missy Towery - Mid Century Fiber
Bryce Vaughn - CEFCU of Canton
Nick Wright - Country Financial
Dr Jacob Standard was born and raised in Canton, Illinois and is a graduate of Canton High School. After high school, he attended the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in animal sciences with minors in chemistry and integrative biology. After his undergraduate degree, he attended the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine and received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 2020. Dr. Standard moved back to Canton after graduating from vet school and is currently employed at Spoon River Animal Clinic in Canton. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling, boating, fishing, and playing with Doc, his 7-year-old golden retriever. Dr. Standard is an active member of the Canton Area Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals and is excited for the opportunity to now serve on the Canton Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Club.
5:30-8:30pm
CHAMBER CHAMPIONS
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
