Why We Need Chambers of Commerce Right Now…And Why They Need You!

Let’s face it, it seems like we are all living through a bad science fiction movie! Many of you in the Morton Grove area may also remember the haunted house called Fear City. Their costumed characters marched in the Morton Grove, Niles and Skokie July 4th parades back in sunnier days. Did you know the Halloween attraction featured a story line about an infected Chicago? Sometimes truth is truly stranger than fiction!

Movies and haunted houses are fantasies designed to entertain people who paid admission. But when the show was over, we all went out to enjoy dinner, go shopping, went back to work and school, attended a sporting event and generally just got on with our lives. Just like those fictional epidemics, we will all get back to our normal day to day activities once we are over the hump of the COVID-19 virus outbreak.

But we must think about some real-life ways to make sure the restaurants and other companies we patronize in and around Morton Grove and Niles are supported NOW in the best way we can.

Your local Chambers of Commerce in Morton Grove and Niles (along with our neighbors in Skokie and Lincolnwood) are on the front line of this fight to keep our business communities (all located in Niles Township) active and ready to serve the public.

What are your Chambers doing since we can’t hold new business ribbon cuttings, after hours networking events, morning referral group breakfasts, educational luncheon seminars, street fairs, farmers’ markets, training seminars, visits to members’ establishments, golf outings, annual banquets, holiday parties and more? The answer is A LOT!

We have taken to social networking to keep our social distancing and follow the advice of our state and local health officials. From morning through evening, we are reaching out to our members along with their customers to help keep the flow of business going. Almost daily conference calls with other chambers along with federal, state, county, township and local municipalities are held to share ideas to keep business moving and get support to our business community. We post on Facebook and other social networking sites about who is open and how to reach them to get food delivered and more. We email our members and provide links to many sources to sources of reliable information. All of this from home as our offices have been closed…and trust me, we are all looking forward to getting back to our offices!

If you are a resident, please reach out and support our local business community right now!

• Place a food order for pick up or delivery (and tip generously)
• Buy a gift card for future use
• Write a good review online
• Send them an encouraging note by mail, messenger or email
• Shop locally by contacting a business online
• Donate to local charities and food pantries
• Buy a product to pick up another day or order a service call for later, but pay now
• Keep your dues, subscriptions & memberships current
• Stay positive

If you are a business, let us know how we can help you get the word out to the community that you are there to serve their needs. Your Chamber of Commerce is a cheerleader for marketing your business! We appreciate your being a part of the chamber and local business community because with your support, we can continue working to keep our businesses looking ahead to better times.

The bad movie will end, you’ll step out of a haunted house. We will get back to normal (but maybe a little bit stronger, smarter and aware of how much we need to support each other).

THANK YOU ALL!

Important Links…

Morton Grove Chamber Links

Website – https://mgcci.org/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/mgcci.org/

MG Open Restaurants - https://www.mortongroveil.org/restaurants/

Niles Chamber Links

Website - https://www.nileschamber.com/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Niles-Chamber-of-Commerce-176579002387040/

Niles & Maine Township Open Restaurants Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/227077132009804/

Links to our neighbors…

Skokie - https://skokiechamber.org/ & https://www.facebook.com/skokiechamber/

Lincolwood - https://www.lincolnwoodchamber.com/ & https://www.lincolnwoodchamber.com/