The Express Track The Galesburg Area Chamber of Commerce advocates for area business and member interests, while providing quality resources, services and leadership to its current and future members.

GALESBURG AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE NEWSLETTER

July 2016- Vol 2016, Issue 7

July Community Events

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Fri. 1 Jul, 2016First Fridays (Fri. 1 Jul, 2016 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm)An opportunity to get outside, breathe deeply, visit with your friends and enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of Historic Seminary Street as you browse the shops for the latest must-haves, listen to the live, local music and either visit one of our restaurants or sample their offerings on the street.

Sat. 2 Jul, 2016Galesburg Farmer's Market (Sat. 2 Jul, 2016 8:00 am - 12:00 pm)There's something for everyone at the Galesburg Farmer's Market! Located at Simmons and Kellogg, the Market is open from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturdays. We accept LINK and WIC coupons for young mothers and seniors. Interested vendors can contact Kathy Allen at (309) 368-1750 to participate. Cost for vendors is $15 dollars per week or 150 for the season!

Mon. 4 Jul, 2016BIG BANG BOOM!!! Fireworks (Mon. 4 Jul, 2016 8:00 pm)FREE Fireworks synced to music! At dusk - Lake Storey Park

Tue. 5 Jul, 2016Create-It Camp (Tue. 5 Jul, 2016 5:00 am)Summer Camp ages 4-6 Fun Filled learning all summer long! July 5-7 10-11:30 am $30.00 Members/$35.00 Non-members Pre-registration requiredArt Explosion! (Tue. 5 Jul, 2016 8:00 am)Summer Camp ages 6-10 Fun-Filled learning all summer long! July 5-7 1-3 pm $30.00 Members/$35.00 Non-members Pre-registration requiredWed. 6 Jul, 2016Cafe in the Park (Wed. 6 Jul, 2016 11:00 am - 1:00 pm)

Sat. 9 Jul, 2016Galesburg Farmer's Market (Sat. 9 Jul, 2016 8:00 am - 12:00 pm)There's something for everyone at the Galesburg Farmer's Market! Located at Simmons and Kellogg, the Market is open from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturdays. We accept LINK and WIC coupons for young mothers and seniors. Interested vendors can contact Kathy Allen at (309) 368-1750 to participate. Cost for vendors is $15 dollars per week or 150 for the season!

Tue. 12 Jul, 2016Design, Create, Sell ! (Tue. 12 Jul, 2016 5:00 am)Summer Camp ages 6-12 Fun-Filled learning all summer long! July 5-7 10am-12pm $35.00 Members/$40.00 Non-members Pre-registration requiredStar Wars (Tue. 12 Jul, 2016 8:00 am)Summer Camp ages 6-10 July 12-14 1-3 pm $35.00 Members/$40.00 Non-members Pre-registration requiredWed. 13 Jul, 2016Cafe in the Park (Wed. 13 Jul, 2016 11:00 am - 1:00 pm)

Sat. 16 Jul, 2016Galesburg Farmer's Market (Sat. 16 Jul, 2016 8:00 am - 12:00 pm)There's something for everyone at the Galesburg Farmer's Market! Located at Simmons and Kellogg, the Market is open from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturdays. We accept LINK and WIC coupons for young mothers and seniors. Interested vendors can contact Kathy Allen at (309) 368-1750 to participate. Cost for vendors is $15 dollars per week or 150 for the season!

Tue. 19 Jul, 2016Mine, Craft, & Build (Tue. 19 Jul, 2016 5:00 am)Summer Camp ages 6-10 Fun-Filled learning all summer long! July19-21 10am-12pm $35.00 Members/$40.00 Non-membersSuper Scientists (Tue. 19 Jul, 2016 8:00 am)Summer Camp ages 8-12 Fun-Filled learning all summer long! July19-21 1-2pm $35.00 Members/$40.00 Non-members Pre-registration requiredWed. 20 Jul, 2016Cafe in the Park (Wed. 20 Jul, 2016 11:00 am - 1:00 pm)

Sat. 23 Jul, 2016Galesburg Farmer's Market (Sat. 23 Jul, 2016 8:00 am - 12:00 pm)There's something for everyone at the Galesburg Farmer's Market! Located at Simmons and Kellogg, the Market is open from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturdays. We accept LINK and WIC coupons for young mothers and seniors. Interested vendors can contact Kathy Allen at (309) 368-1750 to participate. Cost for vendors is $15 dollars per week or 150 for the season!

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Wed. 27 Jul, 2016Cafe in the Park (Wed. 27 Jul, 2016 11:00 am - 1:00 pm)

Sat. 30 Jul, 2016Galesburg Farmer's Market (Sat. 30 Jul, 2016 8:00 am - 12:00 pm)There's something for everyone at the Galesburg Farmer's Market! Located at Simmons and Kellogg, the Market is open from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturdays. We accept LINK and WIC coupons for young mothers and seniors. Interested vendors can contact Kathy Allen at (309) 368-1750 to participate. Cost for vendors is $15 dollars per week or 150 for the season!

Baymont Inn & Suites2285 Washington Street, Galesburg, IL

(309)343-7600, galesburggm@jankohotels.com

J & S ElectronicsMr. Evan Johannson

878 Jefferson St., Burlington, IA(319)752-5609, ejohannson@jselectronics.com

www.jselectronics.com

SlumberlandMs. Renee Beierwaltes

1270 N. Henderson St., Galesburg(309)343-2002

Renee.beierwaltes@slumberland.comwww.slumberland.com

Smart Design on a DimeMs. Nina Smith

1080 N. West, GalesburgCell 335-8017, ninefriend71@gmail.com

StaplesMs. Georgia Lepisto

2353 National Blvd., Galesburg(309)341-1051

www.staples.com

WELCOME NEW MEMBER

Thank you to the following businesses who renewed their membership. We value your support and participation!

BSure Home Inspection Environmental LLCBullis and Sundberg LLC Insurance SvcsFarmers State Bank Investment Services

Glass Specialty WLC, IncHomefield Energy

Midwest Uniform Supply

Penn’s New & Used Furniture Inc.Royal Cleaning Services

Sugden ElectricTri States Public Radio

Western Illinois Cancer Treatment Ctr

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Drop Off Your Unused Prescription Drugs Accepted items: Unused, Expired, or Unwanted Medications.

Items not accepted: Adult diapers, intravenous solutions, mercury thermometers, personal care products, household hazardous waste, syringes.

Friday, July 15th, 2016 10am – 4pm (Rain date July 22nd)

General public drop off only. Not for Commercial Organizations.

Protect…

….OUR ENVIRONMENT. Medications disposed of down the toilet or in the trash end up in our water supplies and damage our environment.

…OUR TEENS FROM AN EPIDEMIC OF RX ABUSE. 7 of the 10 most commonly abused drugs by teen-agers are prescription medications. Teens get dangerous drugs from family and friends and their medicine cabinets

...OUR YOUNG CHILDREN from a leading cause of accidental poisoning.

…OUR SENIORS from misuse and mistakes

…YOUR HOME. Addicts are looking in as many medicine cabinets as possible – maybe even yours.

Location: OSF St. Mary Medical Center, 3333 S Seminary St, Galesburg, IL

Convenient drive up tent & drop off in front of the hospital.

This event was made possible by: Galesburg Police Department, Knox County Health Department and

OSF St. Mary Medical Center.

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Toot Your Own Horn!

JOSEPH RILEY PROMOTED TO VICE PRESIDENTAT FIRST MID-ILLINOIS BANK & TRUST

MATTOON, IL – Joseph R. Dively, Chairman and CEO of First Mid-Illinois Bancshares Inc., recently announced officer promotions that were approved at the annual organizational meeting of the Board of Directors, April 27th, 2016.

Joseph Riley has been promoted to Vice President, Commercial Loan Officer. He began his career with First Mid in 2015. Riley has 10 years of experience in the financial industry, having previously worked for Farmers and Mechanics Bank in Galesburg.

About First Mid-Illinois Bank & Trust, N.A.:First Mid-Illinois Bancshares, Inc. is the parent company of First Mid-Illinois Bank & Trust, N.A. (First Mid) and First Mid Insurance Group. A community bank with over $2 billion in assets headquartered in Mattoon, IL, First Mid offers comprehensive banking, trust and wealth management services, and insurance services. First Mid’s mission is to fulfill the financial needs of our communities with exceptional personal service, professionalism and integrity, and deliver meaningful value and results for customers and shareholders. First Mid-Illinois Bancshares, Inc. stock is traded on the NASDAQ under the symbol FMBH. More information about First Mid is available at www.firstmid.com.

Media Contact: Laura Zuhone Investor Contact: Aaron Holt VP, Director of Marketing AVP, Shareholder Relations217-258-0675 217-258-0463lzuhone@firstmid.com aholt@firstmid.com

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New Release - For Immediate Use

F&M Bank Completes Merger of Brimfield Bank

(Galesburg, IL) F&M Bank headquartered in Galesburg, Illinois has completed the merger of Brimfield Bank, Brimfield, Illinois, into F&M. The transaction, which was announced in March, was completed on July 1, 2016.

The boards of both organizations believe that the acquisition will create a strong partnership, bringing together two compatible community banks. Brimfield is located midway between Galesburg and Peoria, communities in which F&M Bank already has a combined total of four locations.

“We are excited about the prospect of providing clients with access to a broader range of services such as mobile banking, commercial cash management, and trust and investment services,” said Doug Sanders, President and CEO of F&M Bank in Galesburg, Illinois. “We are sure that many of them will also enjoy the convenience of the additional area locations as well.”

The location will operate under the name F&M Bank. No action is required on the part of clients, and account numbers, checks, debit cards, automatic payments and similar items will not change at this time. Further information is included in a mailing that was sent to account holders this week.

“We are also extremely pleased to have the Brimfield Bank employees join our banking family, and we’re excited by the opportunity to serve our new clients,” said Doug Sanders, President and CEO of F&M Bank.

The Brimfield location will change over to F&M Bank’s data processing system later this year, and clients will then be able to enjoy full account support at all five F&M Bank locations.

###END OF TEXT###

Date: July 1, 2016For Immediate Use

Re:

Contact:

Bank Merger Completed

Doug Sanders, President & CEO F&M Bank (309) 343-7141doug.sanders@thefmbank.com

A few weeks ago, I attended the Illinois Council for Convention and Visitor Bureaus spring meeting in Schaumburg. The Galesburg Area CVB has been a certified member since 1986. This organization in invaluable for information, training, marketing opportunities and quality networking among colleagues from all over the state.

One of the greatest assets available to ICCVB members is our legislative committee. Over the past year Kim Bless, the president and CEO of the Elgin Area CVB, Tim Hennessey, our lobbyist and John Groh of the Rockford Area CVB have worked very hard to keep the member Convention and Visitors Bureaus informed about the budget struggle playing out in Springfield.At the ICCVB meeting in Schaumburg, Tim Hennessey and Kim Bless talked about a proposed hearing on Illinois tourism funding that would take place in the House General Services Appropriations Committee. At that time, we did not know when the hearing would take place.

On Friday, May 20, Representative Fred Crespo, the Chair of this Committee, let Tim know it would take place on Thursday, May 26. Based on recommendations from Representative Crespo, the team that was chosen to testify included Kim Bless from Elgin Area CVB, John Groh from Rockford Area CVB, Marc Anderson from Choose Chicago, Don Welch from Peoria Area CVB and Cory Jobe from the Illinois Office of Tourism.

The purpose of the testimony was to convey the importance

of funding tourism, the drop in numbers that has taken place during FY16 delayed to CVBs as well as the consequences of not funding the Illinois Office of Tourism, which as you know is an ongoing concern and issue.

At the hearing, each individual was given an opportunity to talk about specific items including the impact on Chicago and the rest of the State due to the delayed funding, information from the study that ICCVB commissioned, and examples of what business has been lost due to the delay in funding. The testimony in all lasted 90 minutes.

While at the point of writing this update, we do not know the final status of the FY17 budget, or FY16 budget for IOT, we feel very good to have been given the opportunity to have ICCVB reps speak with the committee and reiterate the importance of funding Illinois tourism.

On May 25, Cory Jobe, the Director of the Illinois Office of Tourism paid a visit to Galesburg. The purpose of his visit was to help celebrate Discovery Depot’s 20th Anniversary. He spent the afternoon eating lunch at Iron Spike Brewpub, touring Knox’s Whitcomb Heritage Center, the Orpheum Theatre, the Amtrak Depot & the Galesburg Railroad Museum.

He then gave a presentation on the impact of tourism to the Illinois economy. I have shared this information with all of you on several occasions. I have also reached out to all four of our legislators with the information

Cory provided.

To summarize, Illinois tourism is responsible for $37 billion in direct visitor spending, $2. 9 billion in State and local tax revenue and over 314,000 jobs. In fact, over 26,000 tourism related jobs have been added since 2010. That’s some true economic development.In Knox County over FY14 there was $74 million in domestic tourism related spending that supported 480 jobs. State tax receipts were nearly $4 million and local tax receipts were more than $1.6 million. FY15 numbers should be available later this summer. They will reflect an increase in spending in Knox County.

For FY16, those number may go down. Since the Illinois Office of Tourism has had no money to spend on domestic marketing for the entire year, we have already seen a 15% decline in hotel tax revenue across the state. When you spend money marketing the State it has a direct impact on economic development. When you don’t spend money, it has just as direct and immediate an impact.

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Bill MorrisExecutive Director,Galesburg Area Convention & Visitors Bureaubmorris@visitgalesburg.com

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In Illinois, where the job creation climate is extremely challenging, tourism spending is the best bet for job growth, capital project development and tax revenue for government bodies.

Convention and Visitor Bureaus across the state did receive LTCB (Local Tourism and Convention Bureau) grants in FY16. In Galesburg we received over $58 thousand dollars. Along with that money, we spent hotel tax dollars on a wide range of marketing initiatives across the Midwest, regionally and locally. If we lost our funding, there would a direct

immediate impact on the local economy. Restaurants shops, hotels, and attractions would feel the loss. Tax revenues would decline and jobs would be lost.

June is a busy month in Galesburg. There are events going all month long. Here’s a list of significant events. June 4: Semi Cruise-In at Sandburg Mall, June 5: Run Galesburg Run half marathon, 5k & 1 mile walk/run on Simmons Street, June 5: Rail Town Rumble car show at Lincoln Park, June 18-

19: More On 34 - all along Route 34 from Aurora to Galesburg, Galesburg Railroad Days: June 23-26 in downtown Galesburg. The Toy Show, Model Train & Railroadiana Show at Galesburg High School Field House.

For more information, go to visitgalesburg.com, www.galesburgrailroaddays.org, moreon34.com, rungalesburgrun.com, www.newlimitedrods.com

Grab a foursome and join us for the

2nd AnnualGalesburg Christian School

Golf OutingSaturday, July 9, 2016 Oak Run Golf Course

1:30pm Shotgun Start

Hole Contests * Raffle * Door Prizes

Drive the Middle Contest with Birdies for Charity pledge

Entry fee $50 per person (includes greens fees, carts & dinner)

Entry forms at: www.GalesburgChristian.org

All proceeds support Galesburg Christian School Assn., Inc.

Please enter by June 30, 2016

For more information, contact GCS at 343-8008

3&4 Preschool – High School Integrating Faith & Learning

Sponsor a Hole for

$50

BALLOON RACETHE GREAT

July 29-31, 2016 | Lake Storey Park | Galesburg, IL | FREE

Thank you to our Sponsors!

Launch TimesFriday - 6 p.m.

Saturday - 6 a.m. & 6 p.m.Sunday - 6 a.m.

CraftsFriday &Saturday3-8 pm

Motorcyle ShowSaturday, July 30

1-4 p.m.

Night Glows Both

EveningsAt Dusk

galesburgballoonrace.com | All events are weather permitting