Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce

Nighttime work will require lane closures The  Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that construction on Interstate 74 and Interstate 474 will begin Wednesday, June 6, at the following locations: I-74 from Main Street to Morton Avenue  I-74 from Pleasant Hill Road to Washington Street  I-74 from Sterling Avenue to the I-474 interchange  I-474 westbound ramp to westbound I-74  I-74 eastbound ramp to eastbound I-474 To complete the projects, lane closures will be necessary in the work zones. Work will be done at night between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. and is expected to be complete by the end of October, weather permitting. Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. To avoid the work area, when feasible, use of alternate routes should be considered. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to changed conditions and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits, refrain from using mobile devices and

The City of Pekin's Farmers Market opened today and with a ribbon cutting.  The market is located in the 300 block of Court Street, next to the Pekin Daily Times.  It will be open from 11 am to 2 pm on Wednesdays through October 17th.  You can see more pictures from the grand opening at: https://photos.app.goo.gl/zWu4VVe87wMGDWAF2

Goodwill of Central Illinois will host its annual job fair on Friday, June 1, 2018. The event will take place at Goodwill Commons, 2319 E. War Memorial Drive, Peoria. More than 40 employers are expected to attend, including: Caterpillar, OSF, State Farm, Walgreens and Kroger. For a complete list of attending employers, visit www.goodwillpeo.org. “We are proud to, again, host this job fair,” said Don Johnson, Goodwill of Central Illinois President and CEO. “Our free employment services are always available to the people of Central Illinois, but an event like this truly shows how beneficial Goodwill can be in assisting in someone’s job search.” Goodwill’s free programs are possible through the sale of your donated items. Goodwill Industries of Central Illinois serves 21 counties within Central Illinois. Goodwill offers employment services, veterans’ support services, operates a veterans’ home and employs more than 300 people. For more information visit Goodwill’s website at www.goodw

Splash into Summer Safely at HMC                Swimming lessons promote water safety, increase confidence for young swimmers, and teach elementary strokes in a non-competitive environment. In June, Hopedale Medical Complex is offering swim lessons at the Hopedale Wellness Center and the Atlanta Public Pool. All lessons are taught by certified instructors. Cost is $35 for HWC members and $45 for non-members. Register online at www.hopedalewc.com or by calling (309) 449-4500.  If these times do not work for your busy schedule, private lessons can be set up by contacting the Wellness Center.  Sample Skills Taught June 5-28 th , Tuesdays & Thursdays Parent and Tot ·                     Increase comfort in the water ·                     Front kicks ·                     Prone Glides ·                     Rolling over HMC Pool 5:30-6:00p Level 1 ·                     Increased comfort in t

                Parents should start shaping their children’s eating habits at a young age. Choosing the right foods has been found to be very beneficial in maintaining energy levels in both adults and children. On Thursday, June 7 from 5:00-6:00pm, HMC Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Sara Mathews will be conducting a demonstration at the Hopedale Wellness Center featuring healthy snacks for kids. Parents will learn how to prepare these snacks and methods to teach kids how to prepare them for themselves! Admission is free.                 With over 33 categories of food additives, it’s difficult to know what’s healthy and what’s not. So come learn from Sara about food preservatives during a Lunch and Learn on Wednesday, June 20 from 12:00-1:00pm at the Wellness Center. Cost is $3 and includes a delicious lunch. To reserve your spot at the table, register by June 6 th .                 Register by calling the Hopedale Wellness Center at (309) 449-4500 or online at www.hopedalewc

The Peoria Park District and Inked Entertainment are thrilled to announce that the Friday night line-up for the 2018 River City Soul Fest has been set! Friday night has been dubbed "Blues and Jazz Night" and will include performances by The Kinsey Report, Mississippi Heat, and Chicago R&B Kings! The 20th Annual Soul Fest will feature three nights of music, with each night having a different theme. As previously announced, Saturday night will be "R&B/Hip-Hop Night" and will feature Chingy, Ashanti, and Ja Rule. Sunday night will be "Gospel Night," with a musical line-up to be set at a later date. Be sure to watch the River City Soul Fest Facebook page for a full list of performers. 5/23/2018 For Immediate Release from the Peoria Park District https://ui.constantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_editor_preview.jsp?agent.uid=1130657532520&format=html&print=true 2/3 Tickets for the 2018 River City Soul Fest are on sale now and are pri

June 9, 2018 4th Annual George Jacob Gut Buster June 9, 2018 9:00 a.m. Gut Buster still needs volunteers! If you are willing to volunteer for this event, please follow the link to sign up! Use the following

The Illinois Central College Guest Artists Series presents a pair of shows featuring tributes to legendary music groups to close the 2017-18 season. Catch a Wave, a Beach Boys tribute, performs June 1 at 7:30 pm. Paperback Writer, a Beatles experience, takes the stage in a bonus show June 2 at 7:30 pm. Both performances take place in the ICC Performing Arts Center, located on the East Peoria Campus. Tickets are required to each event. Tickets for each individual show cost $25 for the general public and $15 for students. The June 2 bonus show is not part of the ICC Guest Artists Series and is not included with the purchase of standard season ticket packages. The June 1 performance by Catch a Wave will feature performers in the iconic Beach Boys-style striped shirts, emulating the look and the unique sound of the California harmonic surf pop music. The group captures the essence of the Beach Boys of the 1960s, so much so that Catch a Wave was invited to perform for the actu

Employers can be reimbursed for up to 100% of the costs of training for current employees.  What is Incumbent Worker Training (IWT)? IWT programs help local employers develop and implement training programs for current employees who need new or upgraded skills in order to retain employment.   Up to 100% of the costs of training can be reimbursed through the program. The Employer Gains: ·          A new, capable employee ·          Partial payment for training costs The Employee Gains: ·          Valuable training ·          The opportunity to become a productive member of your team ·          Upgraded skills How it Works: Interested employers must meet certain criteria in order to participate. Employers must be in a targeted industry, which are defined locally. Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) workforce representatives can assist the employers in determining if their industry qualifies under local guidelines as an eligible targ

PAL Health Technologies celebrated the new ownership of Aaron Rossi, MD and Gerald Paul, DPM with a ribbon cutting on May 23.  Family, friends, and employees joined representatives from the City of Pekin and the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce for the celebration. Since 1976, PAL has been known as a national leader in manufacturing custom, prescription foot orthoses. Today PAL has a comprehensive catalog of corrective foot devices including custom functional orthoses, diabetic and accomodative inserts and ankle braces. You can see more pictures from this event at:   https://photos.app.goo.gl/AVC69ljRlMfBYlar1

Belleville, Ill. (May 24, 2017) – With temperatures expected to rise across the region, reaching into the 90s this weekend and next week, Illinois American Water is reminding customers to use water wisely. “From keeping hydrated to playing in water sprinklers, as well as running air conditioning and watering lawns, water plays an important role in warm-weather fun and responsibilities. We are proud of the service we provide and want to be sure folks are using water wisely,” said Mike Smyth, vice president of operations. The following tips from Illinois American Water can help consumers use water more efficiently, plus identify and prevent leaks, a significant source of water waste. Water your lawn only when it needs it. An easy way to tell is to simply walk across the grass. If it springs back you don't need to water, but if you leave footprints, it’s time to water. Set your lawn mower one notch higher to make your lawn more drought-tolerant. Consider using drip irrigat

S & S Signs, Lighting and Electrical celebrated an anniversary with a ribbon cutting with representatives from the Chambers of Commerce from Pekin, East Peoria and Peoria. S&S offers quality signage and competitive prices designed for local businesses in the region. They specialize in sign fabrication, installation, and repair, electrical contracting work, and lighting installation and maintenance. They have a qualified team that provides fast, detailed service.  You can see more pictures from this event at:   https://photos.app.goo.gl/tJKbSZ11wlo0AdS73

The Illinois Department of Transportation announces that a bridge repair project will begin Monday, June 4, on Interstate 474 at Kickapoo Creek, Kickapoo Creek Road and Illinois 29 east of Bartonville in Peoria County. Traffic will be reduced to the inside lanes in both directions of I-474 to perform shoulder work for the first two days. When this is complete, traffic will be shifted to the outside lanes in both directions for the repair of bridge joints on all bridges. Motorists can expect traffic to stay in this pattern until November. Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. To avoid the work area, when feasible, use of alternate routes should be considered. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to changed conditions and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits, refrain from using mobile devices and be alert for workers and equipment. For IDOT District 4 updates, follow us on Twitter at @IDOTDistrict4 or

Pekin Insurance is proud to announce that construction of an additional building at the Home Office complex will begin in the near future. The new building will add 50,500 square feet to their  Home Office. The structure will connect near their current Café and will house additional office space and conference rooms, along with a new Café and kitchen, a tech-savvy training center, and new warehouse space. The added office space will allow for future growth for new employees in all departments by reorienting floor plans throughout the Home Office. Through their vision for the future, Pekin Insurance is dedicated to going Beyond the expected® for their employees, policyholders, agents, and community.

Data from the U.S. Postal service showed that 98% of people check their mail daily.  So, don’t forget to incorporate a basic marketing tool to reach new and existing customers—direct mail. During this webinar, we will talk about how to integrate direct mail in your marketing mix to get the best bang for your buck! You’ll learn:  Why mail is still an effective advertising medium  The myths of using mail How to create an effective mail campaign How to integrate physical postal mail into your digital marketing strategies FREE innovative automation tools to simplify your direct mail marketing Register Here

Employers can be reimbursed for up to 75% of on the job training wages. OJT is a concept that has been in existence since the early 1970’s.   Eligible individuals are hired by the company, provided the training detailed in a contract and the company is reimbursed on a percentage of the basic, straight time beginning wage for a specific training period.   The training time is adjusted according to the nature of the job and the skills and knowledge that the trainee brings to the position. It is important that no one be hired before a contract is in place. The occupation being trained for must be on a State of Illinois list of high growth jobs and pay at least $11.44 per hour. The reimbursement rate changes according to the size of the employer’s workforce as follows: 1)       50% for employers with more than 150 employees; 2)       65% for employers with 51 to 150 employees; and 3)       75%, for employers with 1-50 employees. Responsibilities of the emplo

Hopedale Medical Complex recently learned that its patient satisfaction ranking is in the top 20 of over 1,000 Critical Access Hospitals nationwide.  Critical Access Hospitals (like Hopedale Hospital) are those with 25 inpatient beds or less, and hold a special rural designation from Medicare (CMS). The Top 20 Critical Access Hospitals were scored by The Chartis Center for Rural Health based on “best practices” for hospitals which have achieved success in one of two key areas, including a Patient perspective index which is a rating of a hospital’s performance based on two Hospital Compare (HCAHPS) measures (“Overall Rating” and “Highly Recommended)”.  Surveys are mailed to patients at the time of discharge by an independent company, and the questions are the same for all hospitals surveyed nationwide.  The National Rural Health Association will present the Top 20 award to HMC at the NRHA national conference in Kansas City in late September.  Kirby Medical Center in Monticello, Il

Are you missing out on potential online customers? You need to understand the digital marketing funnel, also known as the customer buying journey, from awareness to conversion.   Deluxe’s Brad Keys will work through the marketing funnel, from the top down, to optimize every step and ensure that you are reaching your potential customers at the right time and place.   You’ll learn tips and strategy at each point in the funnel, including: Display advertising, SEO and content marketing Facebook and Instagram advertising Search (Google AdWords & Bing) Retargeting, email remarketing, organic social posts and reviews   Register Here

For athletes, summer is the most common off-season for competitive sports, but at Hopedale Wellness Center there is “No Off Season.” Young athletes train throughout the summer to help improve their athletic performance at the beautiful modern Wellness Center. Staffed by Certified Athletic Trainers and Corrective Exercise Specialists, athletes receive high level athletic training based on science and research to help them meet their personal goals. Summer is the perfect time for students to increase strength, agility, speed, and explosive power. Strength and conditioning can decrease the risk of overuse injuries, which are a common cause of adolescent sports-related injuries. According to the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, sports with the most overuse injuries include fall sports, such as volleyball and cross-country. No Off Season training is a personalized workout plan in a group setting. This summer there will be three separate sessions, Youth Athletes (6 th -8 th gr

            Hopedale Wellness Center is sponsoring the annual Major Reid Nannen Memorial 5K and 1 Mile Run/Walk on July 4, 2018 at 7:30am. A brand new course is featured this year. The race will now start and finish at the Hopedale Area Veterans’ Memorial located in the 200 block of Grove St. next to the Hospital’s main front entrance. The race still features monetary awards for the overall top three 5K finishers in the Male and Female division and awards for 5K top age division finishers. Refreshments will be available afterwards in the Nannen hospitality tent located in the parking lot next to the Hopedale Wellness Center, and the Wellness Center will provide locker rooms and showers from 7-10am.  All proceeds from the race will go towards the upkeep of the Memorial. The Hopedale Area Veterans’ Memorial was dedicated on Memorial Day, 2017 as a living memorial for veterans connected to Hopedale, IL. The Memorial honors members of the Armed Forces connected to Hopedale from Civil W

June 9, 2018 4th Annual George Jacob Gut Buster June 9, 2018 9:00 a.m. Use the following coupon code to receive $10 off your registration! LOYALRUNNER10