Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce

Cool Off!!!  New session of evening swim lessons will be starting Monday, July 12th at Dragonland for all ages 3 months and up.  Have the Pekin Park Districts trained staff teach your little one the skills to swim like a fish.  We offer daytime classes and evening classes to fit every one's busy schedule.  New sessions of daytime classes begin Monday, July 5th. We also have a new night class for adults to burn off some of those winter calories.  For more information call 347-7275. Register now, in the Recreation Office in the Memorial Arena.  Office hours are Monday-Friday 8am till 6pm.

Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce welcomes another new member, Hamm's Furniture Inc., 347 Court St, Pekin ; 309-346-0875; Hamm'sFurniture @ grics .net ; Russ Hamm , Owner; Charlene Harbers , Secretary/Sales; Jesse Workman, Sales; Aaron Workman Delivery/Sales.  Store hours are: Monday - Thursday & Saturday 9am - 5pm, Friday 9am - 6pm, Sunday 12 - 3pm.  They offer new furniture, a full line of name brand furnishings and mattresses.  Free local delivery, set up, and removal of old furniture or bedding.

In an effort to improve the health of central Illinois, Pekin Hospital will offer a free skin cancer screening on Thursday, July 15 from 4 – 6 p.m. at the Family Health Center of Pekin located at 19 Olt Avenue. The free screening is open to men and women. Early detection is the best treatment for skin cancer. Full-body skin checks will be provided to participants, in addition to education on the early warning signs of skin cancer. As a reminder to participants, screenings are not intended to take the place of regular physical examinations, but are offered as an opportunity for individuals to learn more about their own health. No appointment is necessary. First come, first served.

Members of the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce recently congratulated 5 Star Car Wash on their grand opening. Located at 1401 N. 8th Street, 5 Star Car Wash is open 24 hours a day with 3 self-serve bays and 1 touchless automatic bay. Owner Brad Harn installed all new equipment and completely renovated the facility after last year's fire. As part of the grand opening, all car washes will be half-price during the month of July, and free during an 8-hour period on July 16th and 17th.  You can see pictures from this and other chamber events at:  http://picasaweb.google.com/PekinChamber

Join us for Business After Hours! July 1st, 4:30 - 6:30 pm University of Illinois Extension Tazewell County. 1505 Valle Vista Pleae RSVP to the Chamber: 346-2106 or Chamber@Pekin.net

The State of Illinois is seeking individuals interested in submitting a proposal to the State for office space within Tazewell and Peoria Counties. If you are interested in receiving a proposal package you’ll need to log on to the State of Illinois Purchasing Website and register. The website can be reached by clicking on the following link: http://www.purchase.state.il.us./ If you have questions you can contact Rick Green, Transaction & Property Administration, at 217-782-5585.

Thank you to the following businesses and organizations that recently renewed their membership with the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce: Ace Liquors ~ Adams Outdoor Advertising ~ C.R. AlexanderAnytime Fitness ~ Bremer Jewelry ~ Good Shepherd Lutheran SchoolFarnsworth Group ~ Illinois Central College ~ Moods by MichaelDr. Michele Moul ~ NTS Telephone CompanyPapa Murphy’s Take N Bake Pizza ~ Pekin First Church of the NazarenePhillips Tax Service ~ Schnucks ~ Seico Security SystemsSt. Joseph Catholic Church ~ State Senator Dave Koehler Tazewell County Farm Bureau ~ USCO Gas Stations

Are you thinking about starting a business, or do you know someone who is? The Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce has joined with other Peoria-area organizations to award $5,000 to the best business concept. More information is available at www.launchnewbiz.com.

Why Our Community Needs To Grow While we don't yet know the results of the 2010 census, we do know that Pekin's population has not changed significantly in the past 40 years. Some people are happy with that. They don't want our community to grow and they prefer we remain a small town. However, Pekin is not a small town. We are the second largest city in the largest downstate metropolitan market. By definition, if you're not growing you are either stagnant or declining and those can't be viewed as positive attributes for our community. If we look around our community with a critical eye, we can see how our lack of residential growth has been a contributing factor to the negative changes. How does residential growth help a community? There are several economic benefits, including: Commercial Development - An increase in residents means increased demand for retail, service, entertainment and recreation. As a result, a larger quantity and variety of businesses ...

Goodwill Industries of Central Illinois has been awarded a $200,000 grant from the Department of Labor to continue its Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP). The central Illinois agency is one of only 10 Goodwill agencies to receive grant money for this program. This is the second consecutive year Goodwill of Central Illinois has been awarded the grant, which allows veterans to access occupational, classroom and on-the-job training, as well as job search and placement assistance. Goodwill Industries International VP of Mission Advancement Wendi Copeland says, “These 10 Goodwills will advance our knowledge and enhance our brand as a national go-to in this growing field.” “We are proud to be a part of this select group of agencies, and we truly understand how important it is to provide assistance to these men and women,” says Patty Fuchs, President and CEO of Goodwill of Central Illinois. “These are experienced and skilled individuals and we want employers in central Illinoi...

The Holiday Inn Express in Pekin Illinois is proud to announce that we are now taking reservations for November 2010! We have taken this opportunity to add more features to better serve your needs and to make your stay more comfortable, including extended stay suites, additional meeting spaces and board room, and in all of our suites we will be offering new Smart Room Technology, the ability to stream netflix movies, look up and print directions or send them to your smart phone, full access to the internet, and much, much more! If you have any questions, or need to book reservations please feel free to email or call!   Holiday Inn Express & Suites Pekin, Illinois Ph: 309-353-3305

After a series of meetings over the past month, the City of Pekin is pleased to announce that a tentative agreement has been reached for the purchase of the Dome Complex. The prospective buyer, Avanti’s Dome LLC intends to close on the acquisition June 29. The purchase includes a total of  33.12 acres of property located on the city’s east side. “This agreement for a new owner to take over the Dome operations and outdoor sports facilities is the result of a number of very positive discussions with Avanti’s owner, Albert Zellar and his team,” said Pekin Mayor Rusty Dunn. “We couldn’t be more pleased that Albert is committed to taking the Dome to a level of success that we think it can reach.” “We believe in the Dome and its potential, and we know it is an asset to the Pekin community as well as the region,” said Albert Zellar, CEO of Avanti’s LLC. “With the right people in the right place to manage and market it along with working closely with the City, I’m confident the Dome is...

July 8th Trivia Night- Girl Scouts Association Girl Scouts Association Time: 6:30 Place: Knights of Columbus in Washington Menu: Cheeseburgers and Pork Chops plus other menu items July 22nd Trivia Night- Children's Memorial Hospital/ KISSES FOR KENZER/ CMH Marathon Team Kisses-for-Kenzer-Benefit-to-help-save-baby-s-life Time: 6:30 Place: Knights of Columbus in Washington Menu: TBA Please RSVP to  firstgradelover@yahoo.com

PEKIN IL, June 24—The Dirksen Congressional Center’s Endowment Fund membership elected new members and officers to the Board of Directors at its recent annual meeting. Joining the Board are Dr. Michael D. Danner, dentist; Barbara Drake, writer and editor; Lincoln C. Hobson, owner of Home Instead Senior Care; and Gregg Ratliff, newspaper publisher. Jim McConoughey, President and CEO of the Heartland Partnership, and James S. Wolf, Certified Public Accountant and Personal Financial Specialist, were elected to a second term. The following Directors were elected as officers: President, Brian Lee, Vice President/Administration, Pekin Life Insurance Company; Vice President, Drew Leman, Vice President, Leman Property Management Company; Secretary, William T. Fleming, Executive Director, Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce; Treasurer, Jim Wolf. Three individuals retired from the Board: John F. Gilligan, President Emeritus, Fayette Companies; D. Neale “Buster” Hanley, Funeral Director, Preston-H...

Brentwood, Tenn. (June 17, 2009) – Quorum Health Resources (QHR), the nation’s largest hospital management company and the seventh largest healthcare consulting firm in the United States, recently announced Kevin Andrews, CEO of Pekin Hospital, as the recipient of its top honor: CEO of the Year. The award was given as part of QHR’s 2010 Excellence in Leadership awards. “Kevin Andrews and the management team at Pekin Hospital are being celebrated for having guided their hospital through a very difficult time: In 2009, Central Illinois’ major employer downsized, driving unemployment in Pekin from 6.5 percent to 16 percent,” said QHR President and CEO James L. Horrar. “Despite these challenges, the hospital’s income statement and balance sheet remained strong – in large part because Kevin and his team instituted an expense reduction plan to accommodate the changing market dynamics.” “Kevin is a very strategic thinker,” added QHR Regional Vice President over Pekin Hospital, Gerald Part...

Bobbi Reddix will present a portrayal of Elizabeth Keckley, a former slave who became a successful seamstress and dressmaker to Mrs. Jefferson Davis, Mrs. Lee and Mary Todd Lincoln. Elizabeth earned her freedom with her sewing talents and business savvy and went on to write Behind the Scenes, Or, Thirty Years a Slave and Four Years in the White House. Bobbi Reddix is a librarian at the Lincoln Public Library and resides in Lincoln, IL The meeting, which is open to the general public, will be held on Tuesday July 13, 2010 at the Society’s Erlicher Library, located at 719 N Eleventh St, Pekin, IL. The program will begin promptly at 7:00 PM, with a business meeting immediately following. The building is handicapped accessible with ample parking available.

Savant Capital Management, Inc.; 7535 N Knoxville Ave, Suite C, Peoria IL 61614; Office phone 309-693-0300; Office fax 309-693-3470; www.S avantCapital .com ; Jim Foley, Director of Advisory and Business Development, 815-227-0300.  Business hours: 8:00am - 5:00pm.  Savant Capital Management, Inc. offers investment management, financial planning, and family office services to financially established individuals, Trust Funds, Retirement Plans and Non-Profit Organizations.  Savant is regularly recognized among the top wealth managers in the United States.

The third O’Brien Field concert in June will feature Contemporary Christian Artist Big Daddy Weave on Saturday, June 26 for the annual Faith & Family night presented by Hoerr’s Berean Bookstore and Family Friendly radio 91.5 WCIC. Again the game will feature a post-game fireworks show with a 6:30 p.m. start as the Chiefs host the Cedar Rapids Kernels with ticket prices of $16 for Club Box Seats and $12 for Lawn Seating. The members of Big Daddy Weave met at the University of Mobile and headlined the What Life Would Be Like Tour in 2009 with guest musician Josh Wilson. Some of Big Daddy Weave’s most popular songs are: “Every Time I Breathe”, “Audience of One”, “In Christ”, “Fields of Grace”, “Without You”, and “What Life Would Be Like”. Big Daddy Weave has three awards to the band’s name, they were honored two years in a row at ASCAPS’s 2003 and 2004 Christian Music Awards, and in 2002 they received the Dove Award Nomination, “New Artist of the Year”. Aside from awards the band ha...

Bill Fleming, Executive Director of the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce, recently presented a chamber membership plaque to Rich Farden, owner of Farden's Pest Control, and officially welcomed him to the chamber. Farden's Pest Control offers commercial and residential pest inspections and treatment. With over 21 years experience, Rich promises low rates and quick service. The Pekin business can be reached at 208-5672.

The Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce officially opened The Paintball Park At Pekin with a ribbon cutting on June 15th. Chamber President Althea Geiser assisted owners Mike and Amanda McKinley with the ribbon cutting. Family, friends and other representatives from the chamber also joined in the ribbon cutting. The Paintball Park At Pekin is located at 14444 Towerline Road. It is the newest paintball park in central Illinois and offers five scenario fields and one PSP regulation size speedball field complete with 18,000 sq ft of astroturf! The Pro Shop is open Tuesdays & Thursdays from 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The field hours are Saturdays & Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information contact The Paintball Park At Pekin at 346-7000 or on the web at http://www.pekinpaintballpark.com/   You can see more pictures from this and other chamber events at http://picasaweb.google.com/PekinChamber