Thank you! Special thanks to our members who generously took part in this year’s Festival of Lights on Saturday!!

Free carriage rides around the square were sponsored by Pate Funeral Hone.

Stockings were put together for children in Capitol Park and over 60 families met with Old St. Nick. Thank you to Simpson Photography for taking great family photos with Santa and his friends! Special thanks to the following members for helping to make the stockings a reality and fund the event. Benton Rotary Club, Benton Super Lube, BonzFire Grill, Changing Seasons Ace Hardware, Dunagan’s Collision, Flowers By Dave, Hometown Customs, Kimmel Chaplain Pharmacy, Peoples National Bank, Rend City Tattoo, Tequila’s, The Drew Law Group, The Weeping Willow, and US Bank.

Thank you to Benton KOA and People’s National Bank for putting together activity booths and Bonzfire Grill and Geo’s for providing food to attendees. The Benton Police Department had a great fundraiser for Shop with a Cop!! Rend Lake Tourism took some great footage that will help promote our great community!

Recognition as well to the City of Benton for hosting the event and their staff and event volunteers for organizing it. Thank you to the Benton Student Chamber and Bob Haggerman’s Shop class for checking the wreaths and garlands. Last but not least, thank you to the Street Department for putting the wreath and garlands up and the Benton & West City Fire Departments for decorating the square. Everyone involved did an amazing job!!

“Commercial navigation and our inland waterways are unsung assets of our transportation networks. This report identifies not only that they are a significant source of employment for Illinoisans across the state with over $102 billion in annual wages but that with additional investment, these benefits can grow,” Benjamin Brockschmidt, executive director of the chamber’s Infrastructure Council, said. 

The study, called “Final Report: An Economic Impact and Cluster Analysis of Illinois River Lock and Dam Facilities for Beneficial Users” was prepared by the Economic Development Research Group Inc. along with the Center for Transportation Research at the University of Tennessee.

“According to a recent U.S. Department of Agriculture analysis, more than half of U.S. soybeans are destined for export markets, and around half of those soybean and soybean co-product exports are moved by barges on the inland waterways,” Illinois Soybean Association Director Paul Rasmussen said. “This groundbreaking research helps quantify the critical importance of the Illinois River. Its natural and man-made systems of the Illinois River support our communities in many ways.”

Rasmussen said the Illinois River passes through or touches 22 counties, and nearly 2 million jobs in the state are tied to the smooth operations of the river.

“The economic information gleaned from the study clearly shows the importance of our inland waterway transportation system to Illinois and surrounding states,” Tom Mueller of the Illinois Corn Marketing Board.said. “This will prove to be invaluable as we continue to advocate for future investments.”
The report highlights the contribution of the Illinois River and Chicago Waterway System to the state’s chemical industry.

“Our industry is a robust provider of over 45,000 jobs in Illinois with an average annual wage of above $112,000,” Mark Biel, executive director of the Chemical Industry Council of Illinois, said. “These great jobs depend on the open and continuous movement of goods on Illinois’ waterways.” Read more: Illinois Business Daily

Benton, Illinois – September 6 2016 – Join automotive enthusiasts from across the area at this year’s Rend Lake Car Show on the Benton Public Square this Saturday.  This year marks the 26th Anniversary of the event.

The Benton Public Square will be closed to non-participant traffic starting at 4pm.  Attendees are encouraged to park in the public lots around the square and view vehicles spanning over 90 years of automotive history.  Businesses and restaurants will be open around the square for attendees to browse and enjoy.  Participants were encouraged to pre-register, however show registration will be available on the courthouse grounds prior to the event.  Awards will be given at 8pm and include Dealer’s Choice, Mayor’s Choice, Best Paint, Best Interior, Best Engine, and Best in Show.

The Benton / West City Area Chamber of Commerce will be presenting the event with major support provided by Jack Russell Fish Company and Weeks in Benton.  Additional sponsorship provided by All Stars N Stitches, Auto Credit of Southern Illinois, Hometown Customs, Peoples National Bank, State Bank of Whittington, State Representative John Bradley, V8 Speed & Resto Shop and other Hot Rod and Classic Car Sponsors. Changing Seasons Ace Hardware will be sponsoring YETI prize packages for pre-registration entrees.

For more information or to register, call the Chamber of Commerce at 618-438-2121 or email chamber@bentonwestcity.com.

Contact:
Karen Mullins, Executive Director
Benton / West City Area Chamber of Commerce
211 North Main
PO Box 574
Benton, IL 62812

Contact:  Les O’Dell, Carbondale Chamber of Commerce
Phone:  618-549-2146

A program designed to urge area residents to complete their holiday shopping in Southern Illinois has garnered national recognition.

Shop Southern Illinois, a cooperative effort of 17 area chambers of commerce, placed second in the third annual national Chamber Innovation Award Competition, a program which celebrates and shares inventive ideas from chambers across the nation. Nearly 100 entries were received from Chamber organizations across the nation. Awards were announced at the annual conference of the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives held this week in Savannah, Ga.Shop Southern Illinois featured a website where area residents could learn some of the reasons why it is important for Southern Illinoisans to shop locally and where they could take an online pledge to do most of their own holiday shopping in the region. By making the pledge, participants were entered in weekly drawings to win prizes which were donated by businesses.

A full marketing plan supported the program. Local and regional media ran promotions as public service announcements free of charge. The campaign included television and radio commercials featuring Southern Illinois University Men’s Basketball Head Coach Barry Hinson, who urged area residents: “Don’t cross the river and don’t go online. Do your holiday shopping right here, where we all win.”

Southern Illinois Chambers cooperating for the effort included Benton/West City, Carbondale, Carmi, Carterville, Chester, DuQuoin, Hamilton County, Herrin, Jefferson County, Marion, Metropolis, Murphysboro, Nashville, Pinckneyville, Saline County, Union County, and West Frankfort.

“It’s very exciting to have our Shop Southern Illinois program recognized on a national scale,” said Les O’Dell, executive director of the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce. “The effort is the ultimate in regional cooperation — 17 chambers and businesses all over the region all working together with one goal: making area residents mindful of the importance of supporting our own communities and region.”

Area Chamber leaders plan to continue the two-year-old program in 2016 and are pledging to use the $500 cash prize from the competition as prize money for this year’s Shop Southern Illinois campaign.

The contest was sponsored by Minnesota-based ChamberMaster, a company that provides membership database software to Chambers of Commerce.

September 20th will be a Southern Illinois Regional Chamber Luncheon.  The guest speaker is Cory Jobe (Director of the Illinois Office of Tourism).  If you would like to attend, please RSVP to the Chamber Office by September 15.  Please make your payment out to the Benton / West City Area Chamber of Commerce, and we will pay for everyone as a group.

Located at 109 N. Central St., the new store offers guests the ultimate experience in interactivity while shopping for wireless devices, accessories and home solutions, and is designed as a destination for guests to get hands-on with the latest wireless devices.

On Friday, Aug. 12, TCC will hold a grand opening event for the Benton community with a ribbon cutting ceremony at noon. In celebration of the new store, TCC will donate $500 to the following local charities:
Ministerial Alliance, Crosswalk Community Action and The Nights Shield.

“We are excited to open a brand new store for existing and new Benton shoppers,” said Scott Moorehead, CEO of TCC. “We want our Benton customers to enjoy their experience at TCC while learning about the latest devices, gadgets and accessories from our staff.”

Founded in 1991, TCC is a company guided by its Virtuous Circle of Success, a belief that employees, customers and communities matter equally. Through the nationally-recognized Culture of Good movement, TCC gives back to nonprofit organizations in each community where it does business. In addition to contributing monetary donations, employees volunteer their time to help address the greatest needs of local organizations.
To learn more about the company, visit www.TCCRocks.com. Consumers can connect with TCC on social media at http://www.facebook.com/tcctalk and @TCCTalk on Twitter.

Southern Illinois Chambers of Commerce

Seeking Protection Against Electricity Plant Closures
<Mt. Vernon, IL >  Seeking protection against seemingly inevitable future electricity price increases, Southern Illinois Chambers of Commerce are taking a proactive approach to help secure long-term rates for their members.

Just a few short months ago, announcements of coal-fired electric generation plant closures in Newton and two in Baldwin, IL were announced.  Following that announcement came the news that a nuclear power plant in Clinton, IL would also be closing.  All closures came with formal dates for the closures after Illinois legislators failed to bring up proposed legislation seeking a legislative response or “subsidy” to keep these plants operating at profit levels viable to the companies who own them.

“Given the two scenarios, it appears an increase in electric supply rates is inevitable.  If somehow there is a legislative response, that will undoubtedly come in the form of some type of subsidy imposed on the residents and commercial users of electricity.  Absent a legislative response, four plant closures in a year is all but certainly going to lead to less supply and subsequently an increase in electricity prices in the market” said Jeff Haarmann, Managing Partner of AGE, the coordinator of the Southern Illinois Chamber of Commerce Electricity Buying Group.  “These short-term changes have nothing to do with the federally mandated EPA regulations for cleaner energy, which could have an even further devastating impact on prices.”

Chambers such as Benton/West City, Marion, Carbondale, Jefferson County, Herrin, Lawrence County and others throughout Southern Illinois are seeking rate protection by enrolling members in their collective buying group now, negotiating long-term rates now while the relative price of electricity is still low.

“We are advocates for our members.  Having the ability to save our members potentially tens of thousands of dollars is just as important as driving additional revenue to our communities.  The dollars we are able to save our members are dollars that go straight to their bottom line.  Those dollars saved stay in our community and allow our members to re-invest in their businesses and people.  The dollars continue to be spent several times over in our local economies.  That benefits everyone.” said Karen Mullins, Executive Director of the Benton / West City Area Chamber of Commerce.

Negotiations are currently taking place for chamber members who are already participating in the Southern Illinois Chamber of Commerce Bulk Electricity Buying Group.  Those negotiations are seeking to extend rates well into the future by securing rates now while markets are still favorable.

The Southern Illinois Chamber of Commerce Bulk Buying Group including the Benton / West City Area is holding an open enrollment period for members who are not currently enrolled in the Electricity Buying Group.  Beginning July 25th, chamber members who have not made a choice of electricity supplier and are still on Ameren’s default rates, or chamber members who have a current supply contract that expires in the next twelve months, can contact their respective chamber for enrollment details.  Upon closure of the enrollment period on August 12, the collective group of new enrollees will be competitively bid to multiple suppliers seeking to serve the collective commercial aggregate with long-term rate security.

The Benton / West City Area Chamber of Commerce will be holding an informational event with AGE at Jack Russell Fish Company on August 4 at 5pm.  Businesses are encouraged to come and learn about the program and the potential value to their business.

A selection committee is comprised of community leaders and bank staff.  The award winner will demonstrate personal character that mirrors the core values of MidCountry Bank:

• Compassion
• Honest
• Integrity
• Excellence
• Fairness
  

The student selected to receive the award will be presented a check for $500 to be used toward future education or career aspirations.  The 2016 Core Value Award Nomination Form is attached and it can be emailed to  Theresa.Hampton@MidCountryBank.com or it can be mailed to or dropped off at the Benton Branch at 605 W. Main St. Benton.

<Mt. Vernon> Benton/West City Area Chamber of Commerce members will now be able to join chamber members from 14 other Southern Illinois chambers in securing bulk electricity and natural gas rates for the commercial electric and natural gas accounts. Benton/West City Area Chamber of Commerce joins the existing purchasing group comprised of Jefferson County, Marion, West Frankfort, Carbondale, Carterville, Centralia, Salem, Herrin, Murphysboro and others.

Mt. Vernon based Affordable Gas & Electric is the coordinator of the Southern Illinois Chamber of Commerce Electric & Natural Gas Buying Group and has guided over 500 participating commercial chamber members in securing lower, long-term rate certainty and protection in the face of pending regulatory changes that are expected to increase overall electricity prices in the next few years. Participating members in the existing group range from city and county government buildings to schools, to larger industrial manufactures who all benefit from the larger group purchasing power. Additionally, small business owners who are the core of most chambers, benefit by combining themselves with these larger entities insuring “big box store type pricing” even for the smallest of businesses.

“Benton/West City business owners will now be able to join our group purchasing power. AGE currently manages over 450,000,000 kwhs of electricity on behalf of our participating members. Even the largest of electricity users benefits by participating in our buying group, but we are especially excited when small business owners are able to gain significant economies of scale that simply aren’t possible when negotiating on their own” said Jeff Haarmann, Managing Partner of AGE. “Chamber members can rest assured that their chamber membership is providing exceptional value by delivering sound energy strategies to its members and allowing the business owners to do what they do best; run their business and take care of their customers.”

To introduce the program to the membership, the Benton/West City Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Business After Hours event on Tuesday, December 8th from 4-7 PM at the Benton Elks. The event is sponsored by AGE who will be on hand to answer questions about the buying group. The Business After Hours will also feature a food and toy drive for the Ministerial Alliance. Guests are asked to bring canned food or a toy for children ages 8-15 to the event.

For more information, contact Karen Mullins at the Benton/West City Area Chamber of Commerce at 438-2121.

Festival of Lights Return to Benton Square
Benton, Illinois – November 30, 2015 – Sleigh bells ring, are you listenin’? In the lane, snow is glistenin.’
A beautiful site, we’re happy tonight, walking round at the 2015 Festival of Lights. The Festival of Lights will be returning to the Benton Public Square on December 4th and 5th.

The event is co-hosted by the City of Benton and the Benton – West City Area Chamber of Commerce with support from the Franklin County Board Members & Officials, Garden Gate Garden Club, Town and Country Gardeners, BCHS Student Chamber, Local Individuals and Businesses, and private donations.

Festivities will kick off Friday the 4th at 5:30 p.m. with holiday music from a Christmas choir in Capital Park and Mayor Fred Kondritz. The Lights will be turned on at 6 p.m. and Santa will arrive in grand style on a firetruck provided by the Benton Fire Department. Afterwards, Santa will greet the crowds from 6 to 7 p.m. Attendees are invited to enjoy the lights in Malkovich and Capital Parks and wander the square to stop in at many of the businesses which will be open until 7 p.m. Curves and Fliptastics will be hosting open house events, and many Chamber Member businesses will be part of the ‘Chamber Winter Wonderland’ in Capital Park.

Kevin Edwards, chairman for the Festival of Lights, would like to thank everyone for their donations and hard work to make this event a huge success. ‘It’s great to see the community come together to bring back an event that recalls so many great holiday memories.’

Amid the twinkling lights, there will be music and food to enjoy. Stop by the 1st United Methodist Church from 4 – 6 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. to Noon on Saturday for their Cookie and Candy Stroll to purchase your favorite holiday goodies. The BCHS Football Parents will be hosting a porkchop sandwich dinner in Capital Park Friday night from 6 – 8 p.m. Taylor Kearney will be performing during the dinner and again on Saturday from 1 – 3 pm. 33AD will be performing from 5 – 8 p.m. on Saturday and the Fish Company will be hosting the All Star Band at 7 p.m. as part of their 13th Anniversary Celebration.

And don’t forget about the man in red! Santa will be walking around greeting attendees from 6 -7 p.m. on Friday and 1 – 2 p.m. on Saturday.

For additional Information, check out the City of Benton Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/BentonCityHall/ or call the Benton City Clerk at 439-6131/Chamber of Commerce at 438-2121.