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 Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce Business Brief
Advancing the Agricultural, Industrial and Civic Interest of the City of Hillsboro and the Greater Montgomery County
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Dear ,
It is July and we are in the full swing of summer. The Golden Grill challenge is past and was a huge success. There were more vendors and participants than ever before. We would like to improve on the event to make next year even bigger and better. If you have any ideas or comments, please pass them along to Susie Galer or Lesley.
The Farmer's Market continues each Thursday throught the summer. We have been gathering ideas for improving the market to bring in more vendors and increase customer participation. The key component would be, it seems, to move the market to a larger space in an area that is not quite so hot. Also, allowing more vendors with Illinois produced products as opposed to the ambiguous definition of "locally" grown would be beneficial.
We have placed a ballot in the paper to solicit nominations for different categories of the Business and Industry Awards. This will not be until September, but we need the nominations in place by our next meeting, July 16th. For your convenience, simply click the link on the left for a nomination ballot . Hope to see you at our next meeting, Friday, July 16 at 12:00 noon at the Hillsboro Country Club.
 Gene White, President
Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce
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 Golden Grille Challenge a Success!
Thanks to everyone who participated in or helped with this year's fifth annual Golden Grille Challenge, held June 19, on the Lincoln Plaza.
With 11 teams in the competition, it was our biggest challenge yet, and hundreds came by the Plaza to sample all the treats! Even Abe got into the action with his very own apron and chef's hat.
This year's winners included Rich and Susie Armbruster from the Church Street Pub for Judges' Choice, Adam McCammack and Matt Lentz for the Showmanship Award with their Redneck Cafe, and CJ and Jackie Liddell for People's Choice with 354 votes. Congrats to all our winners, and we hope to see everyone back for next year's event!
Special thanks to Angie Guthrie and Crossin' Over for the great live music and to the Chandler Brothers of Ice Cream Man for bringing their ice cream cart, much to the delight of all in attendance. All proceeds from the event went towards the Main Street Christmas light project.
Members of the 2000 and Beyond committee hope to get some local retailers involved next year with sidewalk sales or other specials to draw even more people to downtown Hillsboro. The committee meets on the first Friday of each month at noon at The Journal-News, and anyone interested in helping with next year's Golden Grille Challenge is invited to participate.
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July  Blood Drives
Please join us to donate blood and give what's in your heart for area patients! If you are healthy and eligible, please give blood now when you have time. Unfortunately, blood donations go down in the summer because people are busy with their summer vacations, and usage goes up at the same time due to an increase in travel-related accidents. Please help your neighbors to have a safe summer!
- Hillsboro Moose Lodge on Wednesday, July 12 from 12:00pm to 6:30 pm (Free T-Shirts for Donors!)--
- Raymond Knights of Columbus Hall on Tuesday, July 20 from 2:30pm to 6:30pm (Walk-ins Welcome!)
- Farmersville Knights of Columbus Hall on Thursday, July 29 from 2:00pm to 6:00pm (Walk-ins Welcome!)
Central Illinois Community Blood Center is the blood provider to area patients of 19 counties at 19 central and southwestern Illinois hospitals. We are the only provider of blood to Hillsboro Area Hospital, Pana Community Hospital, Taylorville Memorial Hospital, Memorial Medical Center and St. John's Hospital. Please join us for this life-saving event. If you have any questions about donating you can call 1-866-GIVE-BLD. Walk-ins are always welcome, but to schedule an appointment call Jessica at 1-866-GIVE-BLD x 118 or sign up online at www.cicbc.org |
 Thank You Pepsi!
Thank you to Refreshment Services Pepsi for their donation of Pepsi products to the Agribusiness Pork Patty Sale and to the Golden Grille Challenge. Both events were a success, in part due to their help. The Chamber thanks them for their donation and quality of product.
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 Membership Meeting, July 16
Please join us at the Chamber monthly membership meeting, Friday, July 16 at 12:00 noon at Hi llsboro Country Club. Guest speaker is Fred Rennow, CEO Taylorville Chamber of Commerce.
To ensure a speedy yet productive meeting, please order your lunch at the bar upon arrival.
If you have an item you would like placed on the agenda, please contact Lesley at 532-3711.
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 Downtown Historic Distric Emerges from Brainstorming
courtesy of The Journal-News
Pictures of Hillsboro's Main Street buildings provided by W.H.G.K., Inc., of Belleville in 1982 and architectural drawings of what the building facades could look like served as a backdrop for an informal meeting for citizens concerned about the appearance of downtown Hillsboro Thursday evening, July 1. The meeting, convened by city councilman Chris Sherer, drew 18 people despite relatively short notice.
Sherer hoped for a consensus from the group as a grass roots movement to present the city council with an ordinance designating the downtown as an historic district. City employee and historian Jim May suggested the district include the original 20 acres upon which Hillsboro was located. That would involve Mechanic Street (south) to Brailley Street (north) and Broad Street (east) to Hamilton (west).
Richard Small volunteered to call a meeting of the Hillsboro Planning Commission to gain support for the ordinance.
A wide range of concern was brought forth by the group. Business/building owner John DalPozzo called for immediate action on unsightly properties downtown, specifically the Chances Building and the Sherman Building.
"Board them up," he said. "Slap a lien on them, or fine the owners until something positive happens."
Others, including Barb Adams, said, "We need to enforce the ordinances we have, or follow state laws to tear down derelect properties. Taylor Springs did that after The Squire burned; Hillsboro should do it too."
Parking downtown was mentioned. Those who work downtown too often park in front of places they work rather in the east parking lot. "The city needs to enforce the two-hour ban no matter who the violator is," was a common complaint.
DalPozzo mentioned the need for up-scale loft apartments downtown. Ken Meade, local photographer, said he can no longer use the back streets and alleys as settings for his portraits because of the deterioration present.
Other concerns involved weeds, the condition of curbs, the need for more than once a week trash collection from the downtown containers, and the need for the street sweeper to be back in service.
Terri Miller, Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation chairperson, pointed out the need for the public and private sectors to combine to work on the problems mentioned. The city needs an identity to promote; the boom period of 1890-1920 was suggested by Adams. The need for a plan so the improvements aren't hodge podge, patchwork, and thus not blended was emphasized.
Based on comments made during the meeting, Sherer will present the ordinance to declare Hillsboro a historic district at the council meeting on Tuesday, July 13. For full funding and to propose project, the window closes Aug. 31.
Another brainstorming session for anyone who wants to attend will be at city hall on Wednesday, July 7, at 7 p.m.
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 Chamber Office ClosedThe Chamber office will be closed Wednesday, July 14 - Friday, July 16 as Lesley will be on vacation and will not have access to phone or email. If you need immediate assistance, please contact Gene at 532-2653. |
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No matter what your need, National Bank has a loan product for you! Plus, new loans with monthly payments receive a discount on the rate if the payment is set up as an auto debit from a NB checking account. Discount only applies to new loans with monthly payments that close before September 1st, 2010.
Call us at 1-800-717-3991 for more information. Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender |
 Farmer's Market
The Farmer's Market is in full swing. Vendors set up on the Lincoln Plaza every Thursday from 4:00-7:00 pm loaded with fresh sweet corn, eggplant, green beans, onions, peppers, cantaloupe and more! John Vitale from Gianni's will perform on site cooking demonstrations using fresh produce the first and last Thursday's of each month.
The on site cooking demonstrations and live entertainment are only a couple of the new exciting things happening at the market.
The Chamber is focusing on making the market one of the best in the area. If you have a craft, recipe, are a grower/producer or if you have entertainment ideas please contact the Chamber office. |
 Membership Renewals
The Chamber appreciates your membership and we hope you are taking advantage of the value the Chamber has to offer.
Chris Sherer Dollar General
Hillsboro Area Hospital
Knodle, LTD. McDonald's
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Member Announcements  Pre-Paid Legal. Is your current job taking you nowhere? As a Pre-Paid legal Independent Associate, you can set your own hours and be your own boss because you're in business for yourself but not by yourself. To learn more about this amazing business opportunity call Melvin Mollett Independent Associate at 217-556-3530
No matter what kind of legal situation you face you can depend on your Pre-Paid Legal membership to save you money and worry. No other legal service plan available today is more compreheansive than a pre-Paid legal membership. Call your Independent Associate Melvin Mollett at 217-556-3530 for more information.
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Save the date!
The Chamber's Annual Business & Industry Awards Banquet is set for Thursday, September 16, at the Hillsboro Moose Lodge. Committee members are needed to help plan the event. Contact the Chamber office for more details. |
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Chamber Calendar of Events | Sunday, July 11 Second Sunday Concerts (Lincoln Plaza)
6:00 - 8:00 pm Scrap Iron & Gold
Thursday, July 15 Farmer's Market
4:00 -7:00 pm
Friday, July 16 Chamber Monthly Meeting
12:00 noon Hillsboro Country Club
Thursday, July 22 Farmer's Market
4:00-7:00 pm
Thursday, July 22 Prairie Rose, Summer Concert reschedule
6:00-8:00 pm Lincoln Plaza
Thursday, July 29 Farmer's Market
4:00-7:00 pm John Vitale from Gianni's on-site cooking demonstration |
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