Chamber news—Congratulations scholarship winners

Batavia Chamber Breakfast Club is back in person

The Batavia Chamber listens, and they hear their members! Zoom networking worked great during the pandemic to keep in touch with each other. However, many members said that they missed inperson relationship building. The good news is that the networking events have returned to “normal.”

Evening networking events are a great way to make connections and build relationships, but evenings aren’t always the best time for everyone. Please join the chamber for morning networking and a hot buffet breakfast. Benefit from building professional relationships and gain access to new opportunities. Attendees will be asked to present a two-minute selfintroduction and will be given business cards of all those in attendance for ongoing networking. Advanced registration is recommended. Walk-ins are welcome. $10 advanced registration, $15 at the door.

Batavia Chamber Breakfast Club is always held on the second Wednesday of each month at the Geneva Comfort Inn and Suites. Mark your calendar now!

Wed., July 14, 8–9am Wed., Aug. 11, 8–9am

Congratulations to our scholarship winners!

Four members of the 2021 graduating class of Batavia Public School District 101 are winners of Inspire Scholarships. The four scholarship categories are motivated by the makeup of the Batavia Chamber of Commerce membership. The financial award of $500 will be paid directly to the institute the recipient will be attending. Congratulations!

Applications will open to 2022 seniors of BPS 101 in January 2022 for the Inspire Scholarships. Donations to this fund are always welcome, contact the chamber office at 630-879-7134 for more information.

• Inspiring

Entrepreneurship:

Sasha Nahorski,

Iowa State University • Inspiring Women in

Business:

Grace Krohse,

Belmont University

• Inspiring Career & Technical Achievers: Ellie Ditchman, Ferris State University Upcoming Events

• Inspiring Contributors to a Chamber Business:

Evelyn Schmitz,

Ball State University

Rebuild & Reenergize Series: The Art of Pivoting: Strategies for Developing a Flexible Business Model for the Future*

Wed., July 14, 9am—Virtual

Net-Working-It! Wed., July 21, 4:30pm

Gammon Coach House—in person

Batavia Women in Business Luncheon* Annual Progressive Networking Luncheon Tues., Aug. 10, 11:30am

Enticing Cuisine Banquets—in person

Rebuild & Reenergize Series: Sales and Marketing to Help you Dominate your Market* Wed., Aug. 18, 9am—Virtual

*Registration required, please visit bataviachamber.org.

Welcome New Chamber Members

The Batavia Chamber of Commerce would like to welcome our newest members! •Affordable Party Tent Rentals •American Technologies, Inc. •Bethany Lutheran Church •First Student •GreenSeed Contract Packaging •Hightails Hideaway, Inc. •HK Mobile Notary LLC •R & S Liquors and Wine •Rejoice Lutheran Church •She Soars Digital •Strategica IT Solutions •Toys N Hobbies 4 All •Transformative Growth, LLC

An eclectic collection of what’s happening in Batavia

It was an early morning for Batavia Boardwalk Shop owners on Fri., June 18 as they welcomed Ana Belaval and her WGN morning crew. First, at 7am, Batavia Chamber of Commerce conducted a ribbon cutting ceremony to welcome the 2021 class of Boardwalk Shops. The ten new shops are Black Angel Designs, Cortney Kinzler; Bumblebee Cottage Apothecary, Sarah Stupegia; CatTalpa Manor, Abbey Estes; EV Creative, Emily Velazquez; Farmdog Flowers, Gerrit Husar; Fox Valley Gallery of Wood, John Dillon, Rich Nye, Rich HallReppen and Andy Kuby; MoJo Re-Creations, Maria Pensinger; New Moon Vegan, Jo Colagiacomi; Pretty Pages, Meli Bernas; and Wanderin’ Barefoot Farm, Jillae Dalmolin. Following the ceremony, Ms. Belaval interviewed several owners live on the morning show for the popular “Around Town” segment. Also interviewed was Jamie Saam, manager of the Boardwalk Shops. Regular hours for the Batavia Boardwalk Shops are Friday, 10am–7pm; Saturday, 9am–4pm; and Sunday, 12pm–4pm through Dec. 19. Find out the latest, including special hours or popup shops, by following their Facebook page, facebook.com/ bataviaboardwalkshops.

Grants and EIDL loans are still available. The Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program is still accepting applications. Check out the Small Business Administration (SBA) sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/ covid-19-relief-options/shuttered-venue-operators-grant for program details and application portal.

Additionally, the SBA is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses and non-profit organizations that are suffering substantial economic injury as a result of COVID-19. The Economic Injury Disaster Loan program (EIDL) may be used to pay debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact, and that are not already covered by a Paycheck Protection Program loan. The interest rate is 3.75% for small businesses and 2.75% for non-profits. The deadline to apply for this program has been extended to Dec. 31. More information and an application are available on the SBA's website.

After a yearlong wait, the Batavia Chamber of Commerce celebrated the new ownership of the historic Batavia Popcorn Depot with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thurs., June 3. Dating from 1929, the shop was purchased in spring 2020 by Batavian Talitha Mueller. Special guests were Robert-George Merrill, a member of Batavia Boy Scout Troop 6 who organized and built planter boxes for the Batavia Popcorn Depot as an Eagle Scout project. Located currently at

1 N. Water St., the Batavia Popcorn Depot was opened in 1929 by two 12-year-old Batavians, Buddy Anderson and Normie Freedlund, who with the help of their fathers built the stand. Through the years, the stand’s owners, location, and name has changed, but the one thing that remains constant is Batavia’s love of popcorn and the historic stand. Menu choices include the original white corn, caramel corn, cheese corn, a mix of caramel and cheese corn, or the “BOB” caramel and white mix.

Summer hours for the Batavia Popcorn Depot are Wednesday–Sunday from 5–9pm. Catering and private orders are available upon request and other popup hours are likely. Find out the latest, including special musical events, by following their Facebook page, facebook.com/Batavia-Popcorn-Depot-112596733735385.

Miscella Real Estate/ABEI Company finally was able to celebrate their move to 150 First St., Suite A, Batavia with a ribbon cutting ceremony on May 25. The Geneva Chamber of Commerce joined the ceremony. Miscella is an independent residential brokerage serving the greater Fox River Valley area, bringing an individual, personalized focus to real estate that centers on client care. BEI moved Miscella Real Estate to the current location in February 2020, shortly before the pandemic shutdown. miscella.com, 630-232-1570.

Encore Batavia, an initiative of the Batavia Parks Foundation has launched a volunteer project, Engage Batavia Volunteers, a centralized location for Batavia area volunteer opportunities. A custom deck of 68 information cards, funded by a Batavia Rotary Club grant, features Batavia area non-profits and places to volunteer organized by category. Categories include: Arts, Civic, Community Service, Education, Environment, Service Organizations and Social Services. New Batavia residents will receive a postcard inviting them to participate through Welcome Home Batavia. Cards are also available for public use at the Eastside Community Center, the Civic Center, Batavia Public Library and Limestone Coffeet & Tea. For more information about the project visit bataviaparksfoundation.org.

On June 10, Margaret Perreault, president and CEO of the Batavia Chamber of Commerce, introduced the new state representative to local downtown business owners. During the walking tour, the owners shared their concerns with Rep. Maura Hirschauer; including staffing difficulties and what they need as a business to recover post COVID.

Those businesses visited were Deluxe Cleaners, Beardsgaard Barbers, Red Hive Market, Limestone Coffee & Tea, The Tea Tree, The Sidecar Supper Club & Beer Garden and Briana’s Pancake House Restaurant. Rep. Hirschauer can be reached through her website maurahirschauer.com.

Batavia Mayor Jeffery Schielke presided over the celebration, along with Batavia Enterprises CEO Austin Dempsey. Miscella managing broker/realtor Debbie Gurley, along with fellow brokers Shauna Wiet and Julia Ziller.