Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce

  Exactly How Many Spudnuts Does Tadough’s Make a Day?   Feat: Tadough's Kitchen Managers Scott and Kevin Pekin, IL - By now you’ve seen the re-branding of our beloved Pekin classic: the spudnut. Taking place last March, the rebranding to “Tadough’s” sparked some big questions about Central Illinois’ favorite potato flour-based donut and the future of its legendary legacy.   Here’s when Jacqueline and Rick enter the spudnut story.   Last March Jacqueline saw opportunity when she heard the business was up for sale. An original Pekinite, Jacqueline and her father Rick are committed to maintaining the Pekin icon and want to bring a long-standing household name into the next generation of business development.   “We’ve more than doubled our production of donuts made daily,” says Jacqueline . While the business has historically been known to sell out as early as 6:00 and 7:00 a.m., Jacqueline and Rick aim to keep doors open until 10:00 a.m. Tuesday throug...

Over 15,500 Illinois Households Benefited from Illinois American Water’s  Customer Assistance Programs in 2020 and 2021 Approximately $4 million provided to assist customers and help prevent service interruption   Belleville, Ill.   (Jan. 28, 2022) – Over the last two years, Illinois American Water helped more than 15,500 residential customers receive financial assistance to help keep water service flowing. The support came through the Company’s customer assistance program, H 2 O Help to Others, as well as customer grants credited to qualifying accounts.     “We understand it can be hard to get back on track once an account falls behind. We want to help our customers receive the assistance they need and avoid service interruption,” said Beth Matthews, Vice President of Operations.   Illinois American Water’s H 2 O Help to Others program offers financial assistance to residential customers in need.   The program is administered by Salvati...

Pekin Native Eileen Bingham Celebrates  100 th Birthday Today   Pekin, IL- Pekin native Eileen Bingham celebrates her 100 th birthday this week in her residence at Cedarhurst Senior Living on S 14 th Street. She was born on January 26, 1922!   While she now spends her day-to-day eating “breakfast, lunch and dinner”, exercising and enjoy time outside, Eileen has led a rich life in the City of Pekin.   Eileen shared her family emigrated in the 1800s when her grandfather, as many Pekin settlers, came from Germany. Eileen reflected on her family’s German roots, reminiscing about her father’s extensive vegetable garden, as large, successful gardens were a hallmark of German emigrants in Pekin at the turn of the century.   Eileen was a Pekin Community High School graduate, Class of 1940. She reflects nearly running across the stage platform at the old West Campus to snatch up her diploma in anticipation of the after-party.   “We all did an...

Jody Summers Recognized as New Executive Director of the Hope Chest of Pekin After our Board of Directors interviewed several very capable candidates, Jody was selected and began his tenure with the Hope Chest on January 12th. Jody comes to the Hope Chest from the South Side Mission Thrift Stores, where he has been the manager since 2018. Prior to managing the two Peoria thrift stores, Jody gained valuable experience working and managing at The Fresh Market, Kroger, and Family Dollar. In just a few short days, Jody has already talked to the staff about the importance of the Hope Chest of Pekin, not just as a thrift store, but as a community resource that is here to H elp O ther P eople E xcel. We have been going through many changes at the Hope Chest of Pekin over the last six months and having Jody join as our leader is the next step. Bringing his thrift store experience and understanding of our mission, Jody is going to help affect valuable and lasting changes to the Hope Chest. We w...

Illinois Chamber President and CEO Todd Maisch discusses key legislation that the Illinois Business community should be tracking this spring session.

  Building Blocks of Success: IDOT announces February dates for DBE program workshops   The Illinois Department of Transportation is hosting free virtual workshops in February as part of its continuing Building Blocks of Success series for firms interested in participating in the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program, strengthening their skills and bidding on state construction projects. The workshop dates and topics are:   ·     Feb. 8, 10 a.m. to noon: Basic Math for Pay Items -1 ·     Feb. 9, 10 a.m. to noon: Basic Math for Pay Items - 2 ·     Feb. 10, 10 a.m. to noon: Basic Math for Pay Items - 3 ·     Feb. 14, 10 a.m. to noon: Meet the RE, Construction Supervisor and the Bureau Chief of Construction ·     Feb. 22, 10 a...

Do You Know the Story Behind  Pekin's Papa Murphy's?  Check out this #PekinRestaurantWeek Special Business Feature! Now, this is a story all about how Ray’s life got flipped- turned upside down. And I’d like to take a minute, just sit right there. I’ll tell you how Ray became… Pekin’s biggest pizza lover? Okay, there’s a not a great way to rhyme this, but Ray’s journey to Papa Murphy’s of Pekin really is amazing! In celebration of #PekinRestaurantWeek we’re deep diving into the history of our own Papa Murphy’s on Broadway. Pizza has been part of Ray’s life for years, dating back to his first ever job at … you guessed it: Papa Murphy’s. Back then however, Ray was nearly two thousand miles from the Heart of Illinois. 1,980 miles to be specific.   In sunny California prospect happens for Ray and his wife Kim, who together opened their first franchise store in the Sacramento area. As their entrepreneurial spirit continued to be nurtured in southern California, Ray and K...

  For Immediate Release: January 21, 2022 Media Contact: Brittney Hogue Communications Coordinator Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce 309-642-7029 brittney@pekinchamber.com   Pekin Fire Department Welcomes New Fire Engine and Radios The City of Pekin has authorized the purchase of a new fire engine for the City’s southside through a HUD funding program, as well as new radios through a FEMA grant.   Pekin, IL- The City of Pekin recently approved the purchase of a new fire engine and radios for the Pekin Fire Department. These purchases were made possible through Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program and Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program. Pekin Fire Department received approval for federal funding totaling $136,363 through the 2020 FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program for the purchase of radio equipment to be used with the county-wide radio system being implemented in Tazewell County. The new equipment comes as part of a greater county in...

        Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce Joins New  All In  Initiative   The Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce joins over fifty Chambers across the state in urging the Illinois Legislature to provide additional economic and regulatory relief for businesses.   Pekin, IL- The Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce joins the initiative  Chambers All In for Economic Recovery.   Chambers All In for Economic Recovery  is a collaboration of chambers across Illinois. The coalition calls on the Illinois Legislature to prioritize economic and regulatory relief for Illinois' businesses. It is the mission of all chambers to support our respective business communities and help ensure that businesses can thrive for years to come.    Last spring,  Chambers All In for Economic Recovery  launched its inaugural platform. The coalition releases its updated platform for 2022.     If enacted, the coalition h...

  OSF Occupational Health   News from your Peoria clinics OSF Occupational Health is pleased to welcome Stephanie Gillott, RN, as a new clinic supervisor. Stephanie will oversee the clinics at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center and our Sheridan Road location. ​​​​​Lisa Flynn RN, BSN, (formerly Kreps) will now be located at our Kumpf Boulevard location. Contact information for both are below. Stephanie Gillott, RN Supervisor Stephanie.N.Gillott@osfhealthcare.org (309) 624-2613 Lisa Flynn, RN, BSN (formerly Kreps) Occupational Health Manager Lisa.M.Flynn@osfhealthcare.org (309) 624-8628

‘Great Attrition’ or ‘Great Attraction’? The choice is yours A record number of employees are quitting or thinking about doing so. Organizations that take the time to learn why—and act thoughtfully—will have an edge in attracting and retaining talent.   More than 19 million US workers—and counting—have quit their jobs since April 2021, a record pace disrupting businesses everywhere. Companies are struggling to address the problem, and many will continue to struggle for one simple reason: they don’t really understand why their employees are leaving in the first place. Rather than take the time to investigate the true causes of attrition, many companies are jumping to well-intentioned quick fixes that fall flat: for example, they’re bumping up pay or financial perks, like offering “thank you” bonuses without making any effort to strengthen the relational ties people have with their colleagues and their employers. The result? Rather than sensing appreciation, employees sense a tra...

Illinois Department of Public Health Centralizing COVID-19 Contact Tracing News – Tuesday, December 28, 2021 PRINT EMAIL COVID-19 cases will receive a text message from IDPH SPRINGFIELD  –As we head into 2022, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is working to centralize COVID-19 contact tracing efforts in order to get information about isolation and identifying close contacts to infected individuals as soon as possible during times when cases are surging, and to decrease the burden on local health departments across the state.  Beginning today, December 28, 2021, all positive cases entered into the State’s data systems associated with a cell phone number will receive an automated text message from IDPH.  The initial outgoing text will read: IDPH COVID: There is important info for you. Call 312-777-1999 or click:  https://dph.illinois.gov/covid19/community-guidance/confirmed-or-possible-covid-19.html “Our response to the COVID-19 pandemic c...

            Offices Nationwide www.hanson-inc.com NEWS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Darrel Berry , Corporate Communications Manager Hanson Professional Services Inc. (217) 747-9291 Note to media: This news release and corresponding photo(s) are available by request or may be downloaded directly from our website at:  https://bit.ly/3rmlo5a. Peckham celebrates 30 years at Hanson’s Peoria office   PEORIA, Ill. — Chris Peckham, a technician at Hanson Professional Services Inc.’s Peoria office, recently celebrated 30 years of service with the firm. Peckham joined the company in 1992. He has provided computer-aided design and drafting and has conducted surveying for projects, including the Interstate 74 reconstruction in Peoria; OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center radiation therapy addition and renovations in Rockford; Alaska Railroad Corp.’...