New Itasca chamber aims to help local businesses

As Itasca works to invigorate its downtown, promote local hotels and attract new events to the village, officials are charging up the newly launched Itasca Chamber of Commerce.

The organization works in conjunction with the Greater O'Hare Commission, a regional group, and both are led by Shirlanne Lemm.

Lemm talked with the Daily Herald about how the new chamber at 650 E. Devon Ave. will benefit the village. This is an edited version of that interview.

Q. Itasca has been without a chamber of commerce for years, why create one now?

A. The village, I think, saw there was a need. Itasca was already putting together after-hours events and doing a great job. They were very successful, attracting about 150 people.

Meanwhile, the Greater O'Hare Association moved from Bensenville to Itasca about two years ago, and one night at an Itasca after-hours I thought, wait a minute, we're in Itasca and we could serve their business community since we already had a staff, Itasca address and phone numbers.

So I spoke with the mayor (Jeff Pruyn) and we explored the idea.

Q. So how does that work, with your staff doing double duty as the Itasca Chamber of Commerce and the Greater O'Hare Association?

A. Actually, it's triple duty because our office is also home to the Elk Grove Village Chamber of Commerce. But they are separate organizations, since Itasca and Elk Grove are different municipalities and Greater O'Hare is a regional group with members from 85 communities.

But we service both community chambers that have their separate events. We do combine events occasionally, too, such as the recent Itasca and Greater O'Hare lunch. Obviously, the more people who attend, the more opportunity … it behooves the businesses.

While businesses want to support the community they're in, most business' interests certainly go beyond the boundaries.

There are advantages of combined headquarters, too. Where else would you have six full-time employees? Plus, more and more chambers now are partnering to do events. And on April 28, all three of our groups will partner for a business expo, which is something the Itasca chamber would not be able to host on its own.

Q. So what will the Itasca chamber offer that's exclusive to the village businesses?

A. The chamber will have its own identity, logo, board of directors and events. There will be four meetings per year that are open to Itasca businesses only, whether they are members or not. We will also continue to host business after-hours events, as well as before-hours gatherings, too, that are scattered throughout the year.

One of those was on Dec. 1 at our office, so local businesses could warm up to the idea of the chamber, learn how we will represent them and meet the staff.

Q. Since the new chamber was formed in late September, what progress has been made?

A. We didn't have any members when we announced the formation and now we have 51 who can join locally or have a membership that offers more regional (promotion). We now have a board of directors, a Facebook page, and we are working to get a website up by the end of the year.

Q. Now that the chamber is up and running, what is the main goal for Itasca businesses?

A. The focus is really just to strengthen the business community. I think it's a matter of listening to what the businesses are looking for and promoting them. People are starting to learn there is a chamber now and hopefully that will become the place to call when people want to know about some place in Itasca.”

• Chamber membership includes: a listing on the Itasca Chamber website with link to your website; Illinois Commerce Commission membership decal, bimonthly business after/before hours, quarterly membership luncheons, annual multiple chamber events, annual mayor's state of the village address, business advocacy at a local level, business referral service and Notary service. For details, call (630) 773-2949.