DISCOVER THE LATEST CHAMBER NEWS & BUSINESS TOPICS!

A bad hiring decision can cost you 30% of the individual’s first-year potential earnings. 

Hiring top-talent is expensive, time-consuming and let’s be honest…a big, fat headache.

Hiring managers tell Sandler Training they have:

• Sourced too many candidates that are a poor-fit and unqualified
• Acted out of desperation to fill an empty position
• Hired someone who is likeable in the interview to find out they don’t perform once they hit payroll
• Need to find a better way, but don’t know where to start

If you find yourself in one of these situations, click to instantly download our hiring checklist to break the cycle.

Please Attend this Upcoming Event this January:

1-Day Hiring Workshop
1 Day workshop on January 24th for Hiring Managers, Business Owners or anyone looking to hire sales positions

Oak Brook Park District Foundation wants to hit a home run this year. We teamed together with Oak Brook Park District and Unlimited Play Playgrounds designed a playground that serves all community members, regardless of age or ability. It will be located in Oak Brook’s Central Park and will feature many innovative pieces of equipment including a dual track ride zip line, pour and play baseball diamond and two levels of play fully accessible through ramping. We anticipate breaking ground in the spring of 2018 with the project completed August 2018.

However, this project will not be possible without your support. Our goal is to raise $2,500 on November 28 to go towards the playground. This online event is one day only, so don’t miss your chance to make a difference in your own community!

What is #GivingTuesday? It is a global giving movement that has been built by individuals, families, organizations, businesses and communities in all 50 states and in counties around the world. Millions of people have come together to support and champion the causes they believe in and the communities in which they live. Join the movement today by giving back to your – our – community.

How do I donate? Visit www.UniversalPlayground.org or donate right through Facebook!

Oak Brook Park District Foundation is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization. So your donation could be tax deductible!

People Move from a Pad on the Floor to a Key in the Door!

Housing ends homelessness. Recently, DuPagePads received funding for 12 new Supportive Housing apartment units, providing the opportunity to transform the lives of 12 chronically homeless
individuals. These apartments not only give people a place to call “home,” but saves taxpayer dollars.

DuPagePads is recognized in DuPage County as the largest provider of Supportive Housing, now with 94 apartment units, for families and individuals who have been homeless for a year or longer and have a
documented disability such as mental illness, physical disability or substance abuse.

This housing not only provides safety and stability, but tenants also receive ongoing case management which keeps them focused on their life goals, improving their health, obtaining financially security and becoming productive members of their community.

Successful at ending homelessness, 89% of Supportive Housing tenants have been in their housing for a year or longer. With clients no longer cycling through emergency rooms, detox centers and prisons, a cost savings occurs for the medical, mental health, substance abuse and criminal justice systems, making communities healthier and safer. Calculations show that last year these units saved taxpayers over $2.5
million alone, all while improving participants’ health.

To help turn these apartments into homes, service clubs, congregations and local businesses came together to furnish the units.

The Assistance League of Chicagoland West supplied all 12 apartments with kitchen sets which included glassware, pots, pans, cooking utensils, cleaning supplies, a cookbook and small appliances like coffee pots and crockpots, all brand new. BMO Harris Bank donated $2,000 worth of bathroom supplies and accessories for the new apartments and Serta Simmons Bedding in Hoffman Estates, donated 12 new mattresses and 7 new box springs, providing a comfortable and relaxing place for clients to sleep.

Numerous congregations donated new and gently used furniture and household items:
• Bethel United Church of Christ in Elmhurst
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Naperville
• Congregation Etz Chaim in Lombard
• Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Carol Stream
• First Congregational United Churh of Christ in Downers Grove
• Holy Cross Lutheran in Wheaton
• Immaculate Conception Parish in Elmhurst
• Lutheran Church of the Master in Carol Stream
• St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Downers Grove
• St. John’s Lutheran Church in Lombard
• St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church of Chicago in Lombard
• Visitation Catholic Church in Elmhurst

“It is wonderful to have my own place and be able to rest when I need to. Being on dialysis multiple times a week, my health is much more stable now that I’m in housing,” Jacob, who recently moved into
one of the 12 new Supportive Housing units.

The Greater Oak Brook Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the application period for its 2018 Greater Oak Brook Chamber of Commerce Member Recognition Awards.  The Chamber will present the Model Workplace Award, Champion for Young Professionals Award, Exceptional Service Award and the Under 40 Leadership Recognition Award at its well-attended Annual Meeting and Awards Breakfast on March 20, 2018 at the Hyatt Lodge at McDonald’s Campus.  This year the Chamber will present two Model Workplace Awards, for organizations with Under 50 and Over 50 employees. All winning organizations will also receive an insignia designating their specific honor to utilize in their own email communications and on social media. Please submit your interest in applying as soon as possible, as nominations are due December 31, 2017.

Companies may apply for any or all of the following awards:

1. Exceptional Service Award: Nominate your company or organization’s customer service program, which provides an exceptional experience for your clients or customers and makes your business successful.

2. Under 40 Leadership Recognition Award: Nominate the young professionals in your company or organization who display leadership in innovation, project management, research, professional or employee development, or community impact.

3. Model Workplace Award for Smaller Businesses: Nominate your company or organization of 50 or fewer employees, which has created a dynamic and unique workplace culture that attracts and retains talent and develops future business leaders.

4. Model Workplace Award for Larger Businesses: Nominate your company or organization of 50 or more employees, which has created a dynamic and unique workplace culture that attracts and retains talent and develops future business leaders.

5. Champion for Young Professionals Award: Nominate your company or organization’s model leadership and achievements in attracting and retaining talented young professionals.

Please complete this quick Survey to indicate if your company will be submitting an application for one or all of the 2018 Awards or simply “reply” to this email if you have interest in learning more about any of these awards. We will follow up with our online application for you to complete. You are welcome to apply for multiple awards if applicable. The awards are a wonderful way to recognize your organization’s innovative culture and to celebrate your employees’ accomplishments.

The Chamber will formally present the awards at its Annual Meeting and Awards Breakfast on March 20, 2018 at the Hyatt Lodge at McDonald’s Campus.

If you have any questions regarding these awards, please contact Tamryn Hennessy at 708-557-8676 or [email protected]

Dream Big. Shop Small. As a small business owner, you need to wear many hats. But it’s tough to be an expert in everything, and that’s why partners can be a valuable asset. Comcast Business has assembled a collection of articles on a special Resource Center that offers tips and advice from a wide range of experts to help you build, run, and grow your business effectively.

Illinois businesses and residents affected by the severe storms and flooding on July 11-27, 2017 can apply for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA Administrator Linda McMahon announced today.

Administrator McMahon made the loans available in response to a letter from Gov. Bruce Rauner on Nov. 9, 2017, requesting a disaster declaration by the SBA.  The declaration covers Lake County and the adjacent counties of Cook and McHenry in Illinois; and Kenosha in Wisconsin.

“The SBA is strongly committed to providing the people of Illinois with the most effective and customer-focused response possible to assist businesses of all sizes, homeowners and renters with federal disaster loans,” said Administrator McMahon. “Getting our businesses and communities up and running after a disaster is our highest priority at SBA.”

SBA Customer Service Representatives will be at the Disaster Loan Outreach Center to issue loan applications, answer questions and help individuals complete their applications.

The Center is located in the following community and is open as indicated:

Lake County

Lake County Emergency Operations Center

1303 N. Milwaukee Ave.

Libertyville, IL 60048

Opening:         Thursday, Nov. 16, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Hours:             Weekdays, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 18, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. (closed Sunday)

Closes:            Tuesday, Nov. 21, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

“Businesses and nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets,” said  SBA Illinois District Director Robert S. Steiner.

For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small aquaculture businesses and private nonprofit organizations, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster.  EIDL assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage.

“Loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace disaster damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for loans up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property,” said Frank Skaggs, director of SBA’s Disaster Field Operations Center East in Atlanta.

Applicants may be eligible for a loan amount increase up to 20 percent of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements may now include a safe room or storm shelter to help protect property and occupants from future damage caused by a similar disaster.

Interest rates are as low as 3.215 percent for businesses, 2.500 percent for nonprofit organizations, and 1.938  percent for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years.  Loan amount and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.

Survivors may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

Businesses and individuals may also obtain information and loan applications by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing), or by emailing [email protected]. Loan applications can also be downloaded at www.sba.gov/disaster. Completed applications should be returned to the center or mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.

The filing deadline to submit applications for physical property damage is Jan. 12, 2018.  The deadline for economic injury applications is Aug. 13, 2018.

Chamber member Krusinski Construction Company (KCC) completes the second renovation to Sedgebrook, Senior Care Development, LLC located in Lincolnshire, Illinois. The newest renovation includes a salon space with new finishes, equipment and a custom millwork entryway located on the first floor of the community clubhouse.  The first renovation, completed earlier in the year, consists of a community clubhouse and dining room facelift located on the second floor.  The community room, formal dining entryway, adjacent corridors and refurbished fireplace is complete and open for Sedgebrook residents to enjoy.  Work was done in multiple phases to reduce disruption to existing tenants and staff.  ARCH Consultants Ltd. is the owner’s representative along with BLDD Architects, Inc. 2010 Engineering Group, LLC is the MEP engineer. The KCC project team is Vice President, Jennifer Patton; Project Superintendents, Russ Kanikula and Dan DeLucio and Project Manager, Ryan Lehman.  For more information regarding Sedgebrook Retirement Community please visit www.welcometosedgebrook.com

Giving Tuesday is the global day of giving that follows Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

This is a chance to share why your business supports Easter Seals DuPage & Fox Valley and help your customers understand the impact that your generosity is making on infants and children with developmental delays and disabilities.

Join the Greater Oak Brook community in helping us reach our $55,000 goal on November 28:

Contact Kelly Moreland to learn more or to sign on as a Giving Tuesday partner at [email protected] or 630.282.2029.

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month

From November 12 through November 19, 2017, eBay for Charity is featuring the American Lung Association as their exclusive Give at Checkout charity, inviting customers to help fight lung cancer by donating at checkout. Start early and show your support for our mission by selecting the American Lung Association as your favorite charity on eBay and make a donation whenever you sell and checkout. One hundred percent of donations made through eBay will go to the American Lung Association’s LUNG FORCE.

Your dedication has helped make the American Lung Association’s LUNG FORCE a powerful national movement, bringing lung cancer out of the shadows and into the light.