Rest assured. Know that deposits well into the millions are eligible for FDIC insurance protection. Because deposit accounts are not subject to floating net asset values, market volatility will not negatively impact principal.
Earn interest. Put cash balances to work in demand deposit accounts, money market deposit accounts, or CDs.
Keep it simple. Avoid opening multiple accounts with multiple institutions to protect your funds. Forego the need to use repo sweeps, track collateral on an ongoing basis, and manually consolidate statements and disbursements from multiple banks.*
Manage liquidity. Enjoy access to funds placed into demand deposit accounts. With CD placements, select from multiple terms to meet your liquidity needs.
TOP INVESTORS
SILVER Carle University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
BRONZE A & R Mechanical Contractors BankChampaign, N.A.
Christie Clinic
First Mid Bank & Trust
Fisher National Bank
Health Alliance
OSF HealthCare Heart of Mary Medical Center
Ramshaw Real Estate
IN-KIND CONTRIBUTORS
CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE
Illini Radio Group - MIX 94.5, WIXY 100.3, Rewind 92.5, WYXY Classic 99.1, True Oldies 97.9, Extra 92.1, Hits 99.7
Stevie Jay Broadcasting - Q96-96.1FM, US105.9, Christian FM 95.3 & ESPN 93.5
PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE NewsTalk 1400 WDWS, Lite Rock 97.5 WHMS, Classic Hits 107.9 WKIO
Laura Weis President & CEO LauraW@champaigncounty.org
Mindy Cain Director of Workforce Readiness MindyC@champaigncounty.org
Mary Fortune Bookkeeper / Office Administrator MaryF@champaigncounty.org
Rachel Coventry Curtis Orchard, Ltd.
Nathan Escue Hamilton Walker’s
Laura Heiser The Real Estate Group
Matt Carr First Mid Bank & Trust Dr. Pamela Lau Parkland College
Chad Schumacher Colorfil
Bud Windelborn Pavlov Media, Inc.
Corrinne Hillard H3 Manufacturing Group, LLC
Amie Smith BankChampaign N.A. Dr. Dalitso Sulamoyo Champaign County Regional Planning Commission
Bill Walter A & R Mechanical Contractors
Andrew Weintraub Health Alliance
Madeline Herrman Director of Public Policy
MadelineH@champaigncounty.org
Kelsie Woelfle Director of Marketing & Events KelsieW@champaigncounty.org
Kyle Emkes Chair, Maatuka Al-Heeti Emkes LLC
Dan Hurley First Chair, FedEx Ground
R.J. Hynds Second Chair, English Brothers Company
Dan Kirby Treasurer, CliftonLarsonAllen
Laura Weis Secretary, Champaign County Chamber of Commerce
Tonya Horn
Past Chair, Rogards
All information contained within this publication is property of the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce and cannot be reproduced without prior expressed or written consent. This publication contains paid advertising; the opinions expressed in those advertisements do not reflect the views of the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce. For advertising information, contact Kelsie Woelfle at KelsieW@champaigncounty.org.
108 S. Webber St.
Urbana, IL 61802
217.344.8279
www.campusms.org
Schools
At Campus Middle School for Girls, we combine high expectations with close attention to the learning needs of each student. We limit our class sizes to maximize the attention teachers can devote to students to ensure everyone is successful in the classroom. Students enjoy frequent hands-on learning activities and field trips to enhance the classroom experience. Being located close to campus, we use the University of Illinois museums, laboratories, and other facilities as an extended classroom. Girls leave CMS well-prepared for advanced classes in high school and college.
307 W. University Ave. Champaign, IL 61820
217.359.0125
www.cfeci.org
Foundations-Educational, Philanthropic, Research
The Community Foundation of East Central Illinois promotes philanthropy in an impartial, unbiased, ethical way, is committed to inclusiveness, and brings together people and resources to identify and address present and emerging community needs. Established in 1972, the Foundation has distributed more than $24 million in charitable grants to more than 500 non-profit organizations working to improve the quality of life in communities throughout the area. These charitable distributions include designated and undesignated gifts from endowments, field of interest funds, donor-advised funds and scholarships. The Foundation stewards more than 200 funds, and its total assets have grown from $1,300 in 1972 to nearly $30 million today. The Foundation distributes more than $1.5 million annually to non-profit organizations providing vital services and enrichment to residents living in east central Illinois. For more information about the Foundation, visit www.cfeci.org
4301 Nicklaus Dr. Champaign, IL 61822 217.337.6000
www.cupediatricdentists.com
Dentists-Pediatric Dentistry
At CU Pediatric Dentists, your children’s smiles are important to us. We keep kids happy and healthy by focusing on providing exceptional service to promote bigger, brighter smiles. We aim to provide a pleasant and positive experience for you and your children while focusing on your specific needs. We use only the latest evidence-based procedures to achieve long-lasting results. We encourage parents to promote a positive attitude towards dentistry and healthy dental habits for the whole family.
136 W. Main St., Ste. B5
Urbana, IL 61801
618.549.1200
www.dri-inc.org
Legal Services Plans
Dispute Resolution Institute, Inc.’s mission is to help people in conflict find common ground, resolve disputes and reach an agreement. We envision a world where mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution are the first choices for people in conflict. DRI is a non-profit organization with Illinois offices in Champaign, Belleville and Carbondale. Since our founding in 2009, DRI has provided a broad range of high-quality mediation services and training. Locally, we partner with the court to mediate eviction and foreclosure cases. Additionally, DRI is a current recipient of the state’s Restore. Reinvest. Renew grant to create a pilot community mediation program in Champaign County. This program will provide free conflict resolution to community members, including youth, business owners and neighbors.
2108 W. Park Ct.
Champaign, IL 61821-1120
707.382.9791
Health Maintenance Organizations
No paragraph was available at press time.
1005 N. Cunningham Ave.
Urbana, IL 61802
217.607.0031
www.hongqiautomotive.com
Automobile Repair & Service
Hong Qi Automotive is a complete auto repair service. Our ASE-Certified technicians are serving customers in Champaign-Urbana with expert automotive repair. We’re committed to providing excellent service, affordable prices and trusted auto repair. This is the best option if you want to build a one-to-one relationship with someone working on your vehicle. We repair your car like a car lover, offer you the best price like a buddy and provide you the best service like you’re family. We are specialists in luxury cars, such as BMW, Ferrari, Jaguar, Lamborghini, Land Rover, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and other European vehicles. We provide services, including but not limited to diagnostics and inspection, engine/ transmission/brake/suspension, maintenance/tuneup, electrical/ecu/programming, tire/wheel/sensor, air condition/heater and complete auto care.
300 N. Goodwin Ave. Urbana, IL 61801
217.333.7300
www.will.illinois.edu
Radio Stations & Broadcasting Companies
Illinois Public Media’s mission is to educate, entertain, inspire and empower our listeners and viewers by airing the best of public television and public radio programs, producing great local content and by working with our partners to enrich our region. What began in 1922 as an AM radio broadcasting experiment conducted by engineers at the University of Illinois, has evolved into an irreplaceable community resource. As our region’s NPR and PBS member stations, we reach hundreds of thousands of households throughout central Illinois via WILL-TV, WILL-AM, WILL-FM, and our digital outlets. Our daily talk show, The 21st, is heard statewide. Our IL Student Newsroom trains the journalists of the future. We provide content designed to be educational in the best and broadest sense for a diverse audience of all ages. Illinois Public Media is licensed to the University of Illinois.
LI Parkside LP
1205 E. Florida Ave. Urbana, IL 61801
217.344.2072
www.m2regroup.com/properties/parkside Apartments
Parkside Apartments are located just west of the intersection of Philo Road and East Florida Avenue. This delightful area offers pleasant scenery in a quiet neighborhood. Nestled adjacent to the Sunnycrest Shopping Mall, banking facilities, and great dining establishments, Parkside Apartments are on the bus line and conveniently close to the University of Illinois campus and golfing at the Atkins Golf Club University of Illinois golf course.
Paul’s Machine & Welding Corp.
650 N. Sycamore St. Villa Grove, IL 61956 217.832.3311
www.paulsmachine.com
Machine Shops
We Build Solutions. We understand that each customer is unique. We can provide the solution if you need a machined component, metal fabrication, a custom-designed machine, millwright services, or complete grain system installation or repairs. Let us put our experience to work for you. Contact us at 800-642-2541 or 217-832-3311.
Route 66 Solar
1807 S. Neil St., Ste. 3 Champaign, IL 61820
217.652-6533
www.route66solar.com
Alternative Energy Suppliers
Most homeowners reach out to solar roof companies with the primary goal of reducing their monthly utility bills. However, those contracting Route 66 Solar quickly discover other fantastic benefits of adding solar photovoltaic (PV) panels to their homes—including energy independence, carbon footprint reductions, property value increases and protection from grid outages. Better still, claiming these benefits could not be easier. In addition to $0 down solar financing, we help you qualify for various incentives — from the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) to solar rebates to net energy metering. Moreover, we are a 100 percent local PV installation company that works exclusively with American-based solar panel
suppliers. Most importantly, we provide 24/7 monitoring to ensure your PV installation deliver the benefits you deserve.
1749 W. Kirby Ave.
Champaign, IL 61821
217.377.8064
Office Furniture & Equipment-Dealers
We offer one of the largest showrooms of valuepriced furniture in the Midwest. Our office chair store is open to the public with no appointment necessary. Visit to see the broad and ever-changing selection of quality furniture we offer. Premium name-brand, preowned furniture for office/home spaces. Exceptional furniture is priced at a fraction of retail prices. Items at Seating and More are up to 70 percent lower than list prices. Our staff is office furnishings experts waiting to answer your questions. If you are ready to find affordable alternatives to traditional office furnishings, visit our showroom. We offer a vast inventory of premium office furniture, space planning and workstation design services and local delivery.
707 N. Lumber St. Bloomington, IL 61701
618.578.5944
www.trusttiger.com
Plumbing Contractors
Tiger Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning & Electrical Services takes pride in being your preferred local plumber, electrician and HVAC contractor. As a result, more homeowners in the east and central Illinois communities we serve say they would call us again before any other electrical, plumbing, heating or air conditioning service. We take special pride that when you hire us for your plumbing, electrical or HVAC work, our entire company works hard to ensure a hassle-free and enjoyable experience. Our prices are determined by the job, not by the hour. When we tell you a price--that is the price. Your satisfaction is guaranteed. If you are not happy with the work we’ve done for you, we will make it right for you. We tell customers exactly what they can expect upfront. We back this with our exclusive guarantee--when you choose TIGER Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning & Electrical Services, your satisfaction is 100 percent guaranteed.
Tyner Roofing, PLLC
919 W. Kirby Ave., Ste. 2E Champaign, IL 61821
217.418.0411
www.tynerroofing.com
Roofing Contractors
Tyner Roofing is a family-owned leading roofing contractor serving Champaign, Urbana, Danville, Tuscola, Gibson City, Charleston, Mattoon and surrounding areas since 2020. We offer residential, commercial and industrial roofing, siding, windows and gutters. For all your roofing needs, contact Tyner Roofing in Champaign. Available by appointment only.
Yellow and Co.
604 E. Main St., Ste. C Mahomet, IL 61853
217.454.3011
www.shopyellowandcompany.com
www.yellowandcoevents.com
Gift Shops
Yellow & Co. is a carefully curated gift shop in Mahomet, IL. Shoppers can find a gift for any occasion in our modern-day mercantile feel with eight departments. The shop is filled with eye candy merchandise, displays and multiple selfie spots. The adjoining event space next door offers national touring comedy, listening room music experiences, workshops, fitness classes and more. It’s ‘retailtainment’! Our event space is available for rental for private events as well.
>> held between Februay 1 and March 10, 2023
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, Central Illinois Realtors celebrated a ribbon cutting on February 2.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, Central Illinois REALTORS® is a local real estate brokerage with a big brand name and large network. Berkshire agents are members of this community and know the real estate market inside and out. Whether you are looking to buy, sell, build or invest, Berkshire can help.
Raising Cane’s celebrated a ribbon cutting on February 28.
Our concept is simple and unique—we only have ONE LOVE—quality chicken finger meals. At Raising Cane’s®, you get an exceptionally high-quality product served quickly and conveniently. We can do this because of our limited menu. The specialized systems developed by Raising Cane’s® allow us to maintain a level of quality unmatched in the industry. Our commitment to this concept will not allow us to compromise our quality, cut corners or clutter our menu with new products that do not fit our core menu offering.
Governor Pritzker recently signed the Paid Leave for All Workers Act, which will require Illinois employers to provide their employees up to 40 hours of paid leave. This legislation will have a far-reaching impact on the business community across Illinois.
The legislation goes into effect on January 1, 2024. Employers have until then to prepare their policies and procedures for compliance. Read on for general information on how this law may impact your business.
- This act establishes a minimum standard for employers. Employers offering 40 hours of paid leave annually are already in compliance so long as their policy allows employees to take paid leave for any reason at the employee’s discretion. Exemptions include railroads and airlines governed under federal law. Park districts, school districts, college student workers and short-term employees for institutions of higher education who work for less than two consecutive quarters are exempted.
- This legislation will apply to employers regardless of size.
- Employees will earn one (1) hour of paid leave for every 40 hours worked up to a maximum of 40 earned paid leave hours per year.
- Exempt employees are generally considered to have worked 40 hours a week.
- Employees can access the leave earned after 90 days of employment or sooner if an employer allows, but leave accrual begins at the start of employment.
- An employer may provide paid leave in a lump sum to an employee on the first day of employment (or the first day of the 12-month period) rather than utilizing an accrual process.
- An employee’s paid leave will carry over annually, but employers are not required to provide more than 40 hours in a calendar year.
- Employers may set a reasonable minimum increment for paid leave that shall not exceed 2 hours.
- Employers will not be required to pay out unused leave upon the employee’s end of employment, whether voluntarily or involuntarily.
- However, if employers credit the paid leave to a vacation account, any unused leave shall be paid out. An employer’s policy will help determine this.
- Employees may utilize their paid leave for any reason and are not required to provide employers with an explanation. Employees may choose to use this state-mandated paid leave before using any other paid leave that may be available from the employer. Employees may not be required to find a replacement to cover those hours.
- Employees shall provide written or oral requests to use the paid time off. Employers may require an employee to provide seven (7) calendar days’ notice if paid leave is reasonably foreseeable. Unforeseeable use of paid leave may require the employee to provide notice as soon as possible.
- Employers must provide written notice to employees about their paid leave notification requirements. Notices shall be posted in a public space and may be requested in languages other than English.
- Employers shall keep records for at least three years.
- Employers who do not comply may be subject to fines from the Illinois Department of Labor. Penalties can be $2,500 for each separate offense.
As you examine your current policies and create new policies for compliance, the Chamber is here to help answer your questions on the law and connect you with solutions. Please contact Director of Public Policy Madeline Herrman at madelineh@champaigncounty.org.
Blain’s Farm & Fleet has been named by Forbes magazine as one of “America’s Best Mid-Size Employers” for the fifth year in a row. This year, Blain’s Farm & Fleet was ranked as the #1 Wisconsin based Retail and Wholesale company. This title reinforces Blain’s reputation on a national level as a company that provides excellent employment opportunities. Being honored for a fifth year in a row places Blain’s Farm & Fleet in an elite group of companies that consistently demonstrate excellence in their commitment to their employees.
ClarkLindsey is proud to announce the addition of three directors to the organization’s leadership team. Congratulations to Vickie Wilson in her new role as the director of administrative services, Sabrina Akers who moved from her role as assistant director of nursing to the director of nursing and Jeff Pence as its new director of opperations.
The Champaign Urbana Schools Foundation (CUSF) announces the 2023 Distinguished Alumni Honorees. These awards recognize Unit 4 and District 116 graduates whose achievements, strength of character and citizenship serve as role models to inspire and challenge today’s youth. Awards will be presented to Distinguished Alumni from each public high school, as well as the Local Hero and Local Business Community Impact Honorees. The 2023 Distinguished Alumni honorees are Nichole Millage, Centennial High School class of 1995; Avra Jain and Anna Jain Bakst, Central High School class of 1979; and Dr. Kendrith Rowland Urbana High School class of 1972.
On January 27, 2023, the board of directors of Clark Dietz voted to confirm Wes Christmas, PE, ENV SP as its new chief executive officer and president. Christmas is an experienced engineer, completing his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at Purdue University in 2000. He has dedicated his entire career to Clark Dietz, serving the firm for over 22 years, starting as a project engineer and resident project representative for the planning, design and construction of roadway and trail improvements, enhancements, stormwater, water/wastewater collection and distribution projects throughout the midwest.
Fehr Graham, a leading Midwest engineering and environmental firm, announced the promotion of Naren Patel, PE., PMP to project manager. Patel, who works in the firm’s Champaign, Illinois, office, manages civil, environmental, water and wastewater engineering projects for municipal clients in central and northern Illinois. He also specializes in sewer and water rate studies and agency grant and loan applications. Patel is passionate about helping clients solve complex problems and finding grants, low-interest loans and other funding. He serves as a client liaison, maintaining relationships, and attends municipal meetings to keep communities informed. He also builds client relationships to develop business and projects to increase opportunities
We want to help you share your company’s accomplishments, recent hires and good news. Email it to KelsieW@champaigncounty.org. Then look for it on our website AND in our bi-monthly publication. There is no fee to do so it’s an added feature of your membership.
A banner ad on our website means that your company name, logo, product or service is seen by 150K unique visitors annually. With pricing starting at just $300, where else can you find this affordable and effective exposure for your business?
Is there a new product, service or information about your business that you would like the entire Chamber membership to learn about or utilize? Through our email blast program, we’ll send an email on your behalf to our 4,000 email contacts for just $500. We’ll even throw it on our Facebook page at no additional cost.
*Only ONE email blast will be sold per month on a first contact, first sold basis.
Every Monday, without fail, over 4,000 decision-makers receive our e-newsletter. People want to know what’s going on, we are a trusted source of information, so they open our e-Newsletter. That is what you want as an advertiser. Purchasing a banner ad to be placed at the top of the e-Connection gets you exposure to thousands for just $100 per week.
Our website directory gets hundreds of views each day. We are like the modernday version of 411 for people trying to find a business, resource or service. An enhanced listing makes you stand out against your competitors. Turn your standard listing into an eye-catching, search engine optimized marketing tool for just $79 annually.
Do you know what happens when you add magazine print to your marketing strategy? According to Magazine Networks, you get the multiplier effect. They say, “people are 3.2 times more likely to identify the brand as one they wanted to find out more about and a 43 percent increase in their likelihood to purchase.” Our bi-monthly publication, Commerce Connection, gets mailed to all chamber members (and then some). Those chamber members employ an estimated 59,000 people. Imagine 59,000 people looking at an ad for your competitor? The Commerce Connection is not only your B2B best bet; it is also a strong force for B2C marketing.
Do you really want to be seen? There are a variety of ad sizes available starting at just $120. Member businesses can also purchase the magazine’s cover. You get exposure before readers even open the publication.
Sometimes, when you are trying to break through the internet noise, it pays to go ‘old-school’ with good old snail mail. We have names, and we will sell them. An exclusive benefit of Chamber membership allows you to purchase mailing lists containing names and physical addresses of Chamber member businesses to enhance your B2B marketing. Two lists are available for purchase:
Long list (approx. 1,700 contacts): $195
We can help you maximize your business- tobusiness marketing strategies. We can put your company in front of consumers. Most importantly, we can do it in the most affordable way to meet your budget.
Let’s do this. Contact Kelsie Woelfle at Kelsiew@champaigncounty.org or 217.359.1791.
BSS Spring 2023 Series: Maximize Your Social Media Platforms
Tuesday, April 18
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Chamber Office
Business After Hours
Thursday, April 20
4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Hosted by i3 Broadband
808 Dennison Dr. Champaign, IL
BSS Spring 2023 Series: Prioritize Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Tuesday, May 16 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Chamber Office
Sexual Harassment Prevention Training
Wednesday, May 10 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Webinar
First Friday Coffee
Friday, May 5
7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Hosted by First State Bank
101 Windsor Rd. Champaign, IL
Business After Hours
Thursday, May 18
4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Hosted by GTPS Insurance Agency
1311 S. Neil St. Champaign, IL
Featured: 2023 Golf Outing
Presented by: Barcom Security Registration Deadline
Friday, May 26
Linconshire Fields Country Club
2000 Byrnebruk Dr.Champaign
The Chamber’s 2023 Golf Outing will be held Thursday, June 1 at Lincolnshire Fields Country Club in Champaign. Those interested in golfing may sign up as a foursome or as an individual.
For more information or to register for an event, go to www.champaigncounty.org/events/calendar/
3.4% Champaign County Unemployment Rate in January 2023
14 business licenses applied for in Champaign County in February 2023
103.4
February 2023 U of I Flash Index for Illinois
5,163
visits to the Chamber’s website, champaigncounty.org in February 2023
3,870 number of unique searches on the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce Online Business Directory in February 2023
The years that the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce was named the Illinois Outstanding Chamber of the Year
The Chamber office is open Monday through Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. and Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
PLEASE NOTE: The Chamber complies with the state mandate and asks that members follow the CDC guidelines and/or state mandate at Chamber functions. While masking is now optional, please remember that people will have different comfort levels as we return to in-person events. Handshaking and standing close may still make people uneasy. So, we ask that all participants be respectful of this. Bring your best fist bump, reconnect and enjoy.
