Chamber brings back banner program in downtowns

The Grundy County Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s downtown banners program is back and has had a face-lift. Every other year, the Chamber offers local businesses the ability to advertise in downtown Morris, Coal City and Minooka on street pole banners.

For 2021, we redesigned the banners offering a unique look for each town. In Coal City, the banners feature the village’s water tower with a sunset sky and for Minooka, a photo of the Village Hall.

The city of Morris and the Morris Downtown Development Partnership currently are working on new branding for the city, so we are holding off on the Morris banners until the new brand is complete. The Chamber sits on the branding committee, too, and it’s been a pleasure to see this committee work together to bring to life the essence of Morris. It is taking time, but it’ll be worth the wait. As soon as the brand is complete and announced, the Chamber will begin work on banners for downtown Morris.

Because of the pandemic, so many of our area’s traditional events were canceled – Minooka’s Summerfest, the Grundy County Corn Festival and Morris Cruise Night, among others. Many of the events are back on schedule this year, along with some new ones, so there will be plenty of visitors to our downtowns again this season. Make your business stand out among the crowds with a banner that includes your logo.

With a banner in our downtowns, your business will be seen by visitors and by everyday residents. Make a banner part of your marketing plan and become a recognizable name when someone is in need of your product or service.

Pricing varies per town because of banner sizing. In Minooka, there are two size banners to choose from: larger ones at 60 by 32 inches that are on the poles on Mondamin Street from West Street to the viaduct, and smaller ones that are 36 by 18 inches on the poles from West Street to Wabena Avenue. Larger banners are $300 for members and $400 for nonmembers. The smaller banners are $200 for members and $300 for nonmembers.

In Coal City, the banners are along the newly reconstructed Broadway Street and are 81 by 28 inches. The banners are $300 for members and $400 for nonmembers.

Banners are guaranteed for 12 months and will be replaced by the Chamber if they become ripped or fall off the pole in that time period. The banners are often left up by the municipalities past the 12 months. Business logos, or two lines of text, appear on the bottom portion of the banners. Businesses or organizations that buy more than one banner, either in the same town or in multiple towns, receive a discounted rate.

The deadline to order the banners with the Chamber is June 1.

If you are interested in a banner or would like more information, contact Membership Director Amanda Hiller at 815-942-0113 or at amanda@grundychamber.com.

Upcoming events

Coffee & Company: 8 to 9 a.m. June 24 via Zoom with Lightways, formally known as Joliet Area Community Hospice. Register in advance to receive link at grundychamber.com or call 815-942-0113.

Family Fest: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 26 at Morris Elementary School, 2001 Dupont Ave., outdoors at the soccer fields. Free family entertainment – balloon animals, reptile show and business expo. Food trucks and Touch-A-Truck event. Sponsored by Three Rivers Energy Center Competitive Power Ventures and The Stenger Devermann Group at Morgan Stanley. For information, visit grundychamber.com

• Christin Van Yperen is president and CEO of the Grundy County Chamber of Commerce and Industry.