As area businesses recover from the pandemic shutdowns, so are the organizations that support them, namely chambers of commerce.
The Oak Lawn Chamber of Commerce saw a decline in membership when COVID-19 was causing people to stay home and forcing businesses to close or limit their capacity. The chamber had 273 members at the end of 2021, said Anne Fritz, but as of July, membership has rebounded to 367 members.
Businesses were nervous about how they spent their money, Fritz said.
The cost of membership in a southwest area chamber of commerce can range from $80 to $600 a year, depending on the particular chamber and type of membership.
The main purpose of any chamber is to help businesses and organizations market themselves and network with other community groups, Fritz said.
“It’s a huge advantage when you are able to make these connections,” she said.
Churches, nonprofit agencies, park districts and school districts, including Oak Lawn Hometown District 123, Ridgeland Elementary District 122 and Mother McCauley High School are members of the Oak Lawn Chamber of Commerce, Fritz said.
“If businesses are successful, they look for ways to give back, such as by sponsoring Little League teams or donating to the community food bank,” she said.
Golf outings are often major fundraisers for chambers of commerce, but they also sponsor other activities. In April, the Oak Lawn Chamber held a health and safety expo, attended by more than 200 people, who could receive free blood pressure and blood sugar screenings. About 40 vendors in the health and security fields handed out bags with information about their services, and residents could bring paperwork for free shredding.
The Oak Lawn Chamber will hold a business showcase on Oct. 21, as part of Oak Lawn Community High School’s Parent Teacher Student Association’s craft fair.
“Usually there are more than 80 crafters and vendors there,” Fritz said.
Membership in the Palos Area Chamber of Commerce fell to about 60 during the pandemic, said Veronica Studnicka, who was chamber president from 2020 to 2022.
“Its relevancy was dwindling,” as were its revenues, Studnicka said.
The chamber eliminated its executive director position to save money and recruited board members who would be willing to do the chamber’s work themselves.
“It was challenging to find business owners that are already stressed running their businesses and having families who were willing to roll up their sleeves and give time to the chamber,” Studnicka said. But, “I was able to find individuals who said I’m in.”
She sought out small-business owners “because they were vested in getting their name out there, getting their brand out there and getting their face out there.”
Together they started new events open to the community, including a St. Patrick’s Day Party at Franklin’s Public House, a Halloween Bash at Joe Daniel’s Neighborhood Eatery and Pub, a Kris Kringle Market, the Majestic Trail Runs and a St. Patrick’s Day Party at Franklin’s Public House, all in Palos Heights.
“We knew people wanted to go out and network, but they also wanted to have fun,” Studnicka said.
The chamber also will host a Health Fair on Oct. 7 at the Palos Heights Recreation Center.
With the hands-on involvement of the board members and strong recruiting efforts, membership in July has grown to 224 members, said Todd Probasco, current president of the Palos Area chamber. The member businesses and organizations are located not just in Palos Heights and Palos Park, but include some from Orland Park, Tinley Park, Lockport and Hickory Hills.
A vibrant chamber of commerce benefits the area’s residents, Studnicka said.
“It strengthens the sense of community. These individuals are all vested in the viability and the prosperity of the community. And the residents who live there want to live in a good community.”
Kimberly Fornek is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
