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CHAMBERCONNECTION

UPCOMING UPCOMING UPCOMING

EDUCATIONAL EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS WORKSHOPS WORKSHOPS

CHAMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS

KETRAROSELIEB CHAIRMAN-WESTERNILLINOISUNIVERSITY JOHN MEIXNER PAST CHAIRMAN - ROE #26

BRENTNEYHICKENBOTTOM TREASURER-MIDAMERICANATIONALBANK

SETH MINTER EDWARD JONES

LYNNE CAMPBELL COMMUNITY NEWS BRIEF

PATRICK OSTERMAN MCDONOUGH DISTRICT HOSPITAL

DUSTIN TEEL KUNES AUTO GROUP OF MACOMB

ALYSON STURGIS SULLIVAN TAYLOR UPTOWN

JOSH ALDEN PELLA

ANNE INGERSOLL BLOOM MACOMB

MARJORIE RHOADES MACOMB SCHOOL DISTRICT #185

BLAKE SEVERS MACOMB PARK DISTRICT

JUSTIN POWERS MTC COMMUNICATIONS

LAURA LEEZER CLOCK TOWER COMMUNITY BANK

LISA WARD BLUE SKY BUNGALOW, LLC.

STEVEN BRODY

Executive Director

Our next Business After Hours will take place on August 19 at Midwest Integrative Health. It will be held from 4:306pm, and as always, is only open to Chamber members as another benefit of membership.

August is always an interesting month. Families are getting in some last-minute vacations before school starts. Educational institutions are preparing for the new school year. And homeowners try to keep their cool when opening their utility bill, thanks to the constant use of their air conditioners.

At the Macomb Area Chamber of Commerce, we continue to serve our members and the business community. We are constantly looking for ways to provide value and to come beside our businesses and organizations to succeed. An important function is by offering informational workshops on topics chosen by our members via our Member Survey earlier in the year. So far, we have had speakers present on Mastering the Disaster, HR Wake Up Call: What Employers Get Wrong, Brain Health and the Workplace, and How to Advocate.

Our workshops continue with an Active Threat presentation on August 13, What to Expect During an OSHA Inspection on September 10, and a Cybersecurity refresher on October 29. Please mark your calendars to register when they become available.

The Downtown Block Party in Chandler Park is on August 28 and will be here before you know it. Be sure to stop by our table for a free T-shirt, thanks to our sponsors, and say hi to all the other tables that will be set up in the park.

I enjoy visiting our members to deliver Community Guides. The best part is seeing their facial expressions when I ask to take their picture holding our Guide in front of their business logo. There is nothing like free advertising on social media.

Don’t forget that our office hours are Monday-Friday from 9am-4pm. We are here to serve you, answer your questions, and collaborate with you to improve our slice of Western Illinois.

Thank you for your participation and partnership with the Macomb Area Chamber of Commerce. It is a pleasure working with you!!!

SHAY HOLLAND Marketing

Director

Our calendar is there to help you see what’s happening around town, from ribbon cuttings and networking opportunities to community events and important dates.

Our emails are designed to keep you in the loop when there is something you need to know. (And yes, we know everyone’s inbox is already full, so we try to make sure what we send has a purpose.)

August has a funny way of reminding us how quickly time moves.

One minute we are talking about summer events, vacations, and enjoying longer days. The next minute school is starting, schedules are changing, and everyone is trying to figure out how to fit everything back into the calendar.

For businesses, this time of year can feel especially busy. There are customers to serve, employees to manage, projects to finish, and about a thousand little things competing for attention.

We know keeping up with everything happening in the community is not always easy. That’s why we try to make the Chamber a resource you can actually use, not just another email in your inbox.

Our social media is another way we highlight what our members are doing, celebrate milestones, and share opportunities to connect. And if you have something happening at your business, let us know We want to help share your news, promote your events, and help our community learn more about the moments worth celebrating.

The truth is, nobody has extra time right now. We are all juggling more than we probably should. If no one has told you, you’re doing a great job at all of it. If the Chamber can make finding information, staying connected, or promoting your business just a little easier, then we are doing what we are here to do.

As we head into a busy fall season, thank you for continuing to be part of this community. We appreciate the businesses and organizations that show up, support one another, and make Macomb a better place every day.

My contact information is below and I encourage you to use it as many times as you need to; I assure you no idea is too small or no question is too weird. That's what I, and the Macomb Area Chamber, are all about.

Let’s make it a great month!

Hi Everybody,

JULY RENEWALS

Thank you to our members who have continued their annual investment with us as we can continue our partnership for another great year. We appreciate your support of the area business community and wish you much success.

150% CLUB

The 150% Club is a voluntary membership enhancement to provide additional support to the Macomb Area Chamber of Commerce and it’s mission.

Dr.Matthew McClure

150% CLUB

The 150% Club is a voluntary membership enhancement to provide additional support to the Macomb Area Chamber of Commerce and it’s mission.

FinancialAdvisor: SethMinter

KALI FOXALL S

COMMUNITY EVENTS

COMMUNITY NEWS

SRC appoints new president

CANTON & MACOMB, Ill. – The Spoon River College (SRC) Board of Trustees has selected Shelley Barkley, Ed.D., as the College’s next president, pending final contract negotiations. She will serve as the college’s 9th president and the first female to lead. A nationally recognized community college leader with extensive experience in student success, workforce development, and institutional transformation, Barkley will begin her duties on August 31 following formal Board approval at the July meeting.

A committee representing the Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, students, and the community worked with former SRC President Dr. Keith Miller and ACCT, a national search firm, to identify candidates aligned with the College's mission, values, and strategic priorities.

Information: src.edu

MDH names interim CEO

MACOMB, Ill. – Following contract approval by the McDonough District (MDH) Board of Directors during a July 13 special Board meeting, Wanda Foster, RN, MSN will serve as the Interim Chief Executive Officer for the hospital she worked at for more than 40 years Her start date was July 18

She succeeds Bill Murdock, who departs after working at MDH for seven years, including the past 2-plus years as President & Chief Executive Officer

Formerly the Vice President/Chief Nursing Officer, Foster retired in October 2023 after spending 43 years at MDH in various roles She returned to MDH as the interim Chief Nursing Officer for a brief period, and last year was appointed to the Board of Directors.

Information: mdh.org

COMMUNITY NEWS

DIRECTORY DELIVERIES

July 1 - Giving Gardens

MACOMB, ILLINOIS – The Ambassador Committee of the Macomb Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting on July 1, 2026 for Giving Gardens at its Edison School location (521 S. Pearl St.)

Founded in 2022 by John Curtis, Giving Gardens has grown into a network of 12 public-access garden locations dedicated to cultivating more than fresh food—it's cultivating community The gardens provide free vegetables, herbs, berries, and flowers while creating welcoming spaces where neighbors can connect, learn, and harvest together.

Giving Gardens' mission is to strengthen communities by making fresh, local food and beautiful green spaces accessible to everyone. Guided by a vision of a greener, more abundant, and more hopeful world, a dedicated team of volunteers tends the gardens, harvests produce, and organizes community events to help each location thrive. Funded through private donations and area sponsors, the Giving Gardens relies on the support of local participants and encourages community involvement in all forms

For more information and a garden map: givinggardensforall.com,

July 7 - McDonough District Hospital

MACOMB, ILLINOIS – The Ambassador Committee of the Macomb Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting on July 7 to celebrate the newly renovated Gastroenterology and General Surgery clinic areas on the second floor of the McDonough District Hospital (MDH) Health Services Building 2, located at 515 E. Grant Street.

These improvements reflect MDH’s continued commitment to providing a welcoming, comfortable, and modern environment for the patients and families they serve.

For more information, visit mdh.org

RIBBON CUTTING

July 15 - Graham Medical Group

MACOMB, Ill. – The Ambassador Committee of the Macomb Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting on July 15 during the July Business After Hours to celebrate the opening of Graham Medical Group Macomb West (GMG Macomb West), a new Graham Medical Group - Graham Health System location in Macomb.

Located at 1701 W. Jackson St. community by offering primary care, specialty care, laboratory and imaging services, all in one convenient location. The new facility reflects Graham Health System's continued investment in providing high-quality, patient-centered care close to home.

Graham Health System also operates GMG Macomb

Primary Care and Convenient Care at 1630 E. Jackson St.

For

WELCOME TO THE CHAMBER

The Busted Cup Taproom & Meat Market, Macomb’s newest destination for craft beverages, is excited to officially open its doors with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday, August 3, followed by its first day of business beginning at 4 p.m.

An extension of The Busted Cup Brewery in Burlington, IA, The Busted Cup Taproom & Meat Market brings together exceptional craft beverages and locally produced meats in a welcoming college-town atmosphere.