Support small business with 'IL-ove Local' campaign April 11-18

Chambers of commerce and small businesses across the state of Illinois are launching the 'IL'ove Local campaign to encourage people to support local businesses April 11-18. According to the SBA, small businesses make up 99.6 percent of all businesses in Illinois.

The Illinois Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives is leading efforts to unite chambers across the state in the initiative.

The statistics are staggering for small businesses following natural disasters: according to FEMA, roughly 40-60% of small businesses that close after a disaster never reopen.

"People across the state are staying home to save lives, we want to ensure that small businesses can save their livelihoods," said Lisa Weitzel, president of Illinois Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives. "We are asking neighbors to put their money where their heart is and support the 'IL'ove Local initiative."

Each dollar spent at a local, independent business returns 50 times more money to the local economy than shopping at a mega e-retailer. Across Illinois, small businesses provide communities with good jobs, quality service, and the character that makes cities, towns and neighborhoods feel like home.

From Chicago to Carbondale and the Mississippi to Lake Michigan, Illinois chambers are coming together sharing resources, building community and uniting to create the weeklong initiative designed to drive business to our small businesses. Collectively small, local businesses are the state's largest employer. Small businesses employ more than half of the working class in the United States.

What shoppers can do

• Follow social distancing guidelines and stay home as much as possible.

• Buy Local. Find out if your favorite local store has an online shop or reach out to them to find out how you can purchase now for pick up later.

• Buy gift cards to use later.

• Take online virtual classes from your favorite local business.

• Get takeout/delivery - Tip big! Consider buying lunch/dinner for the first responders, you will help your local restaurants and the people who serve us all. Or buy gift cards from local businesses for your favorite waiter/waitress/bartender.

• Like and share your favorite local businesses social media post. Once you've purchased a gift card or meal, take a picture of it, share it on your social media and hashtag #IloveIllinois or use #shopsmall #shopillinois #Illinoisstrong #AllInIllinois

• Maintain your memberships

• Check out chamber links and directories for a one-stop shop in shopping small, of all the ways to support independent Illinois businesses in your backyard. Visit www.IllinoisLoveLocal.com.

This is a partnership led by the Illinois Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, with participation from Chambers of Commerce across Illinois in support small business across the state. The Illinois Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives was established in 1915 and serves over 130 chambers of commerce and their professional staff throughout the state. IACCE supports the development of chamber professionals by creating opportunities for growth and recognition.

More information on the 'IL'ove Local campaign can be found at www.IllinoisLoveLocal.com.

To find small businesses in your community to support, the following is a list of chambers in the suburban Chicago area:

Cook County

• Arlington Heights at (arlingtonhcc.com or www.facebook.com/arlingtonheightschamber/)

• Barrington Area (barringtonchamber.com or on Facebook)

• Bartlett Area (www.bartlettareachamber.com or .facebook.com/BartlettAreaChamberIL/)

• Des Plaines (www.dpchamber.com)

• Mount Prospect (www.mountprospectchamber.org)

• Palatine Area (www.palatinechamber.com or www.facebook.com/PalatineChamber/)

• Park Ridge (www.parkridgechamber.org or www.facebook.com/ParkRidgeChamber/)

• Rolling Meadows (rmchamber.org or www.facebook.com/rollingmeadowschamber/)

• Rosemont (www.rosemontchamber.com)

• Schaumburg Business Association (www.schaumburgbusiness.com or www.facebook.com/schaumburgbusinessassociation/)

• Streamwood (www.streamwoodchamber.com or

• Wheeling/Prospect Heights (www.wheelingareachamber.com or www.facebook.com/GreaterWheelingAreaChamber/)

• Winnetka Northfield (winnetkanorthfieldchamber.com or www.facebook.com/WinnetkaNorthfieldChamber/)

DuPage County

• Addison (addisonchamber.org)

• Bensenville (www.bensenvillechamber.com or Facebook)

• Bloomingdale (www.bloomingdalechamber.com)

• Bolingbrook (www.bolingbrookchamber.org or www.facebook.com/bbchamber60440/)

• Carol Stream (carolstreamchamber.com or www.facebook.com/carolstreamchamber/

• Downers Grove Woodridge (https://www.chamber630.com or www.facebook.com/Chamber630/)

• Elmhurst (www.elmhurstchamber.org or www.facebook.com/ElmhurstChamber)

• Glen Ellyn (www.glenellynchamber.com or www.facebook.com/GlenEllynChamberofCommerce/)

• Glendale Heights (www.glendaleheightschamber.com/)

• Lisle Area (lislechamber.com or www.facebook.com/LisleChamber)

• Lombard (www.lombardchamber.comor www.facebook.com/LombardChamber/)

• Naperville Area (www.naperville.net or www.facebook.com/NapervilleChamber) or Downtown Naperville (downtownnaperville.com or www.facebook.com/downtownnaperville/)

• Quad County African American Chamber (www.quadcountyaachamber.org or www.facebook.com/QCAAChamber/)

• Roselle (www.rosellechamber.com or www.facebook.com/RoselleChamber/)

• West Suburban (www.wscci.org or www.facebook.com/wscci/)

• Wheaton (www.wheatonchamber.com or www.facebook.com/Wheatonchamber) or Downtown Wheaton (www.facebook.com/DowntownWheaton/)

• Wood Dale (wooddalechamber.com or www.facebook.com/wooddalechamber/)

Kane County

• Aurora Downtown (auroradowntown.org/)

• Aurora Regional (www.aurora-chamber.com or www.facebook.com/AuroraRegionalChamber/)

• Aurora Regional Hispanic (www.ahcc-il.com or www.facebook.com/RegionalHispanicChamber/)

• Batavia (www.bataviachamber.org or www.facebook.com/BataviaChamber/) or Batavia MainStreet (downtownbatavia.com)

• Elburn (elburn.com or www.facebook.com/ElburnChamber/)

• Elgin Area (www.elginchamber.com or www.facebook.com/elginareachamber/) or Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin (www.downtownelgin.com)

• Geneva (www.genevachamber.com or www.facebook.com/GenevaILChamber/)

• Hampshire Area (hampshirechamber.org or www.facebook.com/hampshireareachamber)

• Northern Kane County (www.nkcchamber.com or www.facebook.com/NorthernKaneChamber/)

• St. Charles (stcharleschamber.com or www.facebook.com/StCharlesCoC)

• Sugar Grove (www.sugargrovechamber.org or www.facebook.com/SugarGroveChamberOfCommerce/)

Lake County

• Antioch (www.antiochchamber.org or www.facebook.com/AntiochChamberofCommerce/)

• Buffalo Grove Lincolnshire (www.bglcc.org or www.facebook.com/BGLChamber)

• Grayslake Area (www.grayslakechamber.com)

• Green Oaks, Libertyville, Mundelein, Vernon Hills (www.glmvchamber.org or www.facebook.com/glmvchamberofcommerce/)

• Gurnee (www.gurneechamber.com)

• Lake Zurich Area (lzacc.com or www.facebook.com/LZACC/)

• Lindenhurst Lake Villa (lindenhurstchamber.org/ or www.facebook.com/LindenhurstChamber/)

• Northwest Hispanic Chamber (nwhcc.wildapricot.org or www.facebook.com/nwhccil/)

• Round Lake Area (www.rlchamber.org or www.facebook.com/rlachamberofcommerce/)

• Wauconda Area (waucondachamber.org or www.facebook.com/waucondachamber/)

McHenry County

• Algonquin-Lake in the Hills (www.alchamber.com or www.facebook.com/ALChamber/)

• Cary Grove (www.carygrovechamber.com)

• Crystal Lake (www.clchamber.com or www.facebook.com/clchamber/)

• Fox Lake Richmond Spring Grove Area (flrsgac.com)

• Huntley Area (huntleychamber.org or www.facebook.com/HuntleyAreaChamberofCommerce/)

• Marengo Union (www.marengo-union.com or www.facebook.com/marengounion.chamber.7/)

• McHenry Area (mchenrychamber.com or www.facebook.com/mchenryareachamber/)

• Woodstock Area (www.woodstockilchamber.comor