Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce

(PEKIN, IL --- July 31, 2020) – Hampton Inn & Suites – Pekin-Peoria Area is now open and welcoming guests. Located at 3445 Court Street in East Court Village II, the hotel is just off Illinois State Route 9 near the Avanti’s Dome. The 4-story hotel features 88 guest rooms and is 100% smoke-free. Amenities include free hot breakfast as well as complimentary Wi-Fi and on-site parking. In addition, the hotel provides a heated indoor pool and whirlpool, fitness center and meeting spaces, with the largest room setup totaling 702 SF. The pool will open to guests soon. “Hampton Inn & Suites adds much needed rooms to Pekin’s hospitality market brought by high traffic generated at East Court Village Shopping Center, the Avanti’s Dome, Pekin’s business community and other area attractions,” stated Kathleen Brill, VP and Director of Leasing for Cullinan Properties, Ltd. “This hotel is a wonderful addition to East Court Village and provides a great lodging choice for visitors.” “We’...

July 30, 2020 This morning, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis estimated a 32.9 decrease in the U.S. GDP for 2nd Quarter 2020. In response to this alarming contraction, the Chamber released the following public statement:  Illinois must respond to historic economic collapse "Today's announcement of a 32.9 percent drop in U.S. GDP, the largest on record, reiterates what the Chamber has been saying all along - that the government must address both the economic and public health crises simultaneously," said Illinois Chamber President and CEO Todd Maisch. "These dual crises necessitate that the administration weigh the priorities of job creators on equal footing with the dictates of scientists. While Illinois is releasing daily public health metrics, we cannot have state government considering economic metrics as an inconvenient afterthought. COVID-19 has created both crises, but we have to recognize that government...

The Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce that we will be hosting a Marigold Golf Outing on September 3, 2020.  The event will take place at Sunset Hills Golf Course, located at 1620 Summit Drive in Pekin. Check in will begin at 10:30 am and lunch will be served at 11 am. Tee Time will be at 12:30 pm. Entry is $300 per foursome, and includes lunch, greens fees, and cart fees.  Prizes will be awarded. We are happy to offer the opportunity to promote your business at our event through sponsorship. For more information, contact Amy McCoy, Executive Director, Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce at amy@pekinchamber.com or 309-346-2106.   Registration and payment for golf and sponsorship can be completed online at https://bit.ly/MarigoldGolf20 .

Federal Prosecutors Make Enormous Public Statement The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois announced an agreement with Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) to resolve an ongoing criminal investigation into corrupt lobbying practices. Of particular interest, the deferred prosecution agreement notes that the company was making payments to associates of Public Official A at the same time it was seeking his support for the Future Energy Jobs Act (FEJA).  For those of you who do not closely follow energy policy, FEJA was the predecessor of the Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA) currently being pushed for consideration in Springfield. The Chamber opposes CEJA and strongly believes today's news is yet another reason why CEJA is wrong for Illinois.  For more on this story read the Chicago Sun-Times groundbreaking article here. Governor Prtizker Announces New "Restore Illinois" Regions  On Wednesday, Gov. Pritzker announced that Illinois w...

               Peoria, IL – CEFCU is pleased to announce the Credit Union reported a record volume of consumer loan closings for the month of June. Throughout the month, over $194 million was loaned to members for their consumer, mortgage, and business loan needs. CEFCU is proud to be able to serve members, especially during times of difficulty and uncertainty.                CEFCU President/CEO, Mark Spenny, said, “Our long-term sustainable business practices have allowed us to continue assisting members, which is crucial during this challenging economic environment. Thank you to members for your continued trust, and to CEFCU staff for working diligently to help members with their financial needs.”                Members can apply for a loan in person at a Member Center...

Peoria, IL – July 6, 2020 – Goodwill of Central Illinois has been awarded the Community Impact Fund Grant from the Heart of Illinois United Way. The funding covers digital skills training, employment services, and youth mentoring. The goal of Goodwill’s free training and services is to afford everyone the pride that comes with employment. “Along with the sale of donated goods, we rely on agencies like the United Way to help fund these free programs. They have always been a gracious partner and we continue to rely on their generosity,” said Don Johnson, Goodwill’s president and CEO. Goodwill offers job placement assistance, contact with local employers, resume building, digital skills training, veterans’ support services, and operates a 15-bedroom veterans’ home. In addition, youth mentoring and youth services are available. Goodwill employs more than 300 people throughout Central Illinois. According to Lori Johnson, Goodwill’s director of program services, “Our employment servi...