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Welcome to The West Ridge Chamber of Commerce
Greetings!
The West Ridge Chamber of Commerce is a City of Chicago delegate agency here to service the businesses located within our community. We offer events and seminars throughout the year that can assist you with many of your business needs. Please feel free to contact us at anytime if you need business assistance. Get a FREE Trial of Constant Contact!  As a THANK YOU for being a supporter of our Chamber, please enjoy a FREE trial of Constant! Just click below to sign up! Sign up for your FREE trial
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Community Behavioral Healthcare Association of Illinois Honors C4 Chief Executive Tony Kopera With Lifetime Achievement Award
Dr. Anthony Kopera, President & CEO of Community Counseling Centers of Chicago (C4) has been honored by the Community Behavioral Healthcare Association of Illinois with its 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr. Kopera will retire from C4 on March 1, 2012 after a 32-year tenure.
The award recognizes Dr. Kopera's "meritorious service and demonstrated commitment to consumers, families, the field, and the behavioral healthcare community in Illinois, Chicago and across the country, as well as his years of nationally recognized leadership" at C4.
Congratulations, Tony!
Join Community Counseling Centers of Chicago-C4 on Thursday, February 9, 2012 for a gala event honoring CEO Tony Kopera, who is retiring after 32 years' service. The event, which raises funds for the agency's endowment, will take place at the Sofitel Chicago Water Tower, 20 East Chestnut, Chicago from 6-9 pm. Event-goers will enjoy buffet statins, an open bar and a silent auction. Individual tickets are $150; organization sponsorships are also available. Tickets can be purchased on line at c4chicago.org. For more information, contact events@c4chicago.org or phone Marta Bailey at 773.765.0809.
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SBIF Money is Available for Touhy & Western Businesses
The Small Business Improvement Fund uses TIF dollars to provide grants up to $150,000 to businesses located within the TIF district. Currently, the Touhy/Western TIF is accepting applications.
The grants do not have to be repaid!
Eligible Expenses For a SBIF Grant include, but are not limited to:
- New windows, floors or roof
- Sign removal and replacement
- Tuck pointing
- New heating, ventilation and air conditioning
- Improvements to accommodate disabled patrons or workers
- Purchase of adjacent property for building expansion or parking
To obtain your application, please go to Somercor 504 or contact the West Ridge Chamber. |
Office Depot Saves You Money!
The West Ridge Chamber of Commerce has partnered with Office Depot stores to bring you discounts on the most frequently purchased office supplies.
We encourage all local businesses to sign up for this unique program.
Discounts can be used at any Office Depot store or online. Deals can be up to 40% off items such as paper, toner and ink. Even office furniture and printing are included. Please contact the Chamber to sign up!
Find Out More Here!
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Manage the Evidence
I heard the story about a CPA dressed in a dark blue suit, white shirt and a "Power Tie" who interviewed a similarly dressed graphic designer. After the interview, the CPA told his partner, "We can't hire this designer. One look at how he was dressed and you know that he can't be very creative."
This is a good example of managing the evidence. Had the designer been more flamboyantly dressed, he might have been hired. While the CPA had dressed to project the image he wanted for himself, that same image did not work for the designer.
On a more personal note, for many years I was located in an office on Peterson Avenue that took on a "tired" appearance as time went on. Recently, I moved into a completely new office a block away--still on Peterson Avenue--which projects a much more professional image. Soon after moving, people I had known for years offered me opportunities they had not offered in the past. My new, more professional office enhanced their confidence in my abilities.
Managing the evidence is particularly important for a service business. The quality of medical and dental care, accounting and legal services, and a plethora of other services is intangible. So how does a consumer form an opinion about one of these services? From tangible evidence, that's how. This could be the quality of the organization's printed materials, the cleanliness and modernity of the location, visible evidence of degrees and certifications, and a host of other tangibles. What tangible evidence are you providing to influence consumer perceptions about your business?
Asif Vadaria, TaxCutters, Inc.
www.taxcutters.com
773-728-1500 |
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Energy Market Exchange 
Would you like to save money on your electricity bill? Free you Business from Rising Energy Costs with a Guaranteed plan. Just a few minutes with our Energy Experts can save you money. Save up to 30% on your commercial Electricity.
Ready to get Started? Here's how it Works....
1. We Gather information (provide us with a copy of you energy bill.) 2. We Analyze your Energy Bill (We perform a no cost, no obligation analysis to determine if you qualify for a better rate and program.
3. You start Saving Money (We present your options. You decide to ACTIVATE your savings. No cost to switch providers, Assurance of the same energy, same delivery company, same poles and wires.
Eric Finkelstein
START SAVING NOW !!!
FAX A COPY OF YOUR ELECTRICITY BILL TO FAX # 847 674 2523 |
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| Upcoming Events
January 17, 2012
SSA #43 Meeting
4pm
January 25, 2012
Chamber Board Meeting
9am
May 6, 2012
Paper Shredding & Electronics Recycling
9am - noon
For a complete list of Chamber event info and details on these events, please go to our website.
Visit our site now!
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Volunteers Needed-
Chicago Military Families
THE WEST RIDGE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS WORKING ON A PROGRAM DESIGNED TO LOCATE MILITARY FAMILIES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND OFFER THEM THE OPPORTUNITY OF OBTAINING A BLUE STAR BANNER FOR DISPLAY IN THEIR WINDOW OR ANOTHER SUITABLE LOCATION.
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO LIVE WITHIN THE WEST RIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD TO APPLY. THROUGH OUR ALLIANCE WITH CHICAGOLAND MILITARY FAMILIES, ANYONE INTERESTED IN ASSUMING SUCH DUTIES IS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BLUE STAR PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE METROPOLITAN CHICAGO AREA.
THE BLUE STAR BANNER TRADITION WAS ESTABLISHED ALMOST 100 YEARS AGO TO HONOR THOSE SERVING OUR COUNTRY AND THEIR FAMILIES AND THUS ACKNOWLEDGING THEIR SACRIFICES AND THOSE OF THEIR LOVED ONES ON THE HOMEFRONT. A BLUE STAR BANNER DISPLAYED IN A WINDOW MEANS THAT A MEMBER OF THE HOUSEHOLD IS SERVING IN THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES
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December Chamber Members
New & Renewing
National Republic Bank
\We thank you for your support!
Need to pay your 2012 dues?
PAY HERE |
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Recycling Options
The Chamber sponsors two locations for you to recycle paper 24/7/365 Devon Bank 6445 N. Western Avenue High Ridge YMCA
2424 W. Touhy Avenue You can drop off business or school papers, magazines, newspapers or soft covered books at either location at anytime day or night. All papers are used to make recycled newsprint. Plus, the Chamber uses this program as a way to raise funds for our programs. We collect a small monetary amount per ton of paper we collect each month. Save the earth & support your local Chamber. The West Ridge Chamber of Commerce was the proud winner of the 2011 City of Chicago Neighborhood Paper Drive! |
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SSA #43 Devon Avenue
The West Ridge Chamber of Commerce is the Service Provider for the Devon Avenue Special Service Area.
Winter 2012 Services Include:
sidewalk sweeping and trash can emptying 6 days a week
Servicing of the 24 Big Belly Solar cans
Landscaping of 28 planters
Snow removal services when a snowfall 2 inches or more falls.
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Available Properties
The Devon Bank Building has office space for rent. Please contact Irv Loundy at 773-423-2424 for details!!
Condo for Rent
Large 2 Bedroom Condo, available immediately for rent. Location address is 7402 N Sheridan Road, at the corner of Sheridan and Jarvis.
The condo has 2 large bedrooms, full bath, separate dining room, huge kitchen and spacious living room. Total size is approx 1015 sq feet. This is a 3rd floor unit, with hardwood floors, across the street from the lake, close to Loyola. Laundry and storage locker available in building. Rent is $1200/month, and includes all utilities except electric. Recently renovated and in move in condition.
Contact Afzal @ 630-664-6048. |
LISC/Morgan Stanley Small Business Loan Fund
LISC/Chicago and the LISC New Markets Support Corporation invite you to
a special presentation and discussion to learn about a new financing tool for
small businesses in your community
LISC/Morgan Stanley Small Business Loan Fund
Friday January 13, 2012
12:00 PM to 1:30 PM
135 S. LaSalle, 43rd Floor
Small business loans can be difficult to come by in this economic climate. The
National Equity Fund (NEF) and LISC, in cooperation with Morgan Stanley, have
developed a small business loan fund to address this challenge.
The LISC/Morgan Stanley Small Business Loan Fund provides small businesses in
New Market Tax Credit (NMTC) eligible communities with long-term, fixed-rate
financing to acquire or improve fixed assets.
By leveraging the NMTC program with the SBA 504 Program, the LISC NewMarkets Support Corporation and Morgan Stanley, this loan pool can be used by
small businesses to:
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Purchase land, including existing buildings
* Make site improvements, including grading, street improvements,
utilities, parking lots and landscaping
* Modernize, renovate or convert existing facilities
Speakers
Kevin Boes, Executive Director of LISC New Markets Support Corporation
Joel Bookman, Director of Programs at LISC/Chicago
Lunch will be provided
Please RSVP by Tuesday January 10th with Maria Hernandez at
mhernandez@lisc.org
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