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Archive for the ‘membership’ Category
#AuroraChamber News for Members
Tuesday, February 12th, 2019$15 Minimum Wage Passes Senate
Monday, February 11th, 2019The Senate approved SB 1 (Lightford) by 39-18. The bill would increase the minimum wage for those above the age of 18 from $8.25 (current) to:
-$9.25 by January 1, 2020
-$10.00 by July 1, 2020
-$11.00 by January 1, 2021
-$12.00 by January 2022
-$13 by January 2023
-$14 by January 2024
-$15 by January 2025.
The bill would also make similar increases for those under 18 with the final wage being $13 per hour by 2025.
The bill includes a tax credit for employers with less than 50 employees. However, as drafted, the credit is not as straightforward as it is being sold.
Business organizations — including the Illinois Chamber, Illinois Retail Merchants Association, and others — remain opposed. The Senate is expected to put SB 1 up for a vote in the House this week. Members are encouraged to reach out to their lawmakers and urge them to vote NO on any minimum wage increase that does not include employer protections. Members can reach their legislators by either writing or calling their offices here.
State of the City Set for March 5
Monday, February 11th, 2019Mayor Richard C. Irvin’s 2019 State of the City Address – THE LIGHT IS ON: AURORA IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS - will bring the community together for a review of the past year and a preview of the year ahead, including many exciting announcements.
Hosted by the Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Aurora Regional Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Quad County African American Chamber of Commerce and the City of Aurora, the 2019 State of the City Address will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5 at Aurora University’s Crimi Auditorium, 407 S. Calumet Ave.
A VIP reception will be held from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the Hill Welcome Center on AU’s campus.
“This has been a pivotal year in Aurora,” said Mayor Richard C. Irvin. “During last year’s address, I announced many initiatives that are now on the completed checklist. What’s on the horizon is even more exciting.”
Irvin will focus on his key priorities of economic development, public safety and education while highlighting advances in technology, government efficiency and transparency and community engagement.
“We are looking forward to another successful event which allows our three chambers to collaborate with each other and the mayor,” Chamber leaders said in a joint statement. “Hundreds of members of the business community have already responded to our announcement and are excited to be in attendance.”
Illinois Pushes Toward $15 Minimum Wage
Wednesday, February 6th, 2019An effort to increase Illinois’s starting wage to $15 has gained early traction driven by the desire of Governor J.B. Pritzker to achieve passage sooner rather than later. Many Illinois residents will recall that the Governor made a $15 starting wage one of the cornerstones of his campaign.
Wednesday, during a subject matter hearing of the Senate Labor Committee, IRMA testified on the subject. It was noted that while IRMA is philosophically opposed to artificially imposed starting wages, we recognize that an increase is going to occur.
Proponents have noted that $15 starting wages in places like Seattle have not apparently led to significant job loss although research does point to lost hours particularly for low or unskilled workers. However, as even pro-wage increase researchers have noted, no one knows what the impact will be outside of urban centers like Seattle, New York City or Chicago and you cannot assume the experiences of a thriving city center will be the same experiences elsewhere as there are major economic differences. IRMA noted that the suburbs and downstate do not enjoy the concentration of economic dynamics that such urban centers enjoy. For example, Chicago benefits from robust tourism, a concentration of business headquarters, the daily influx of millions who spend money, and a concentration of wealth. No other location in Illinois even comes close to enjoying that combination of benefits.
IRMA also pointed to states like Oregon and New York that appeared to recognize such differences and took geographic-based approaches to increasing their starting wages.
In Oregon, the starting wages are higher in the Portland metro area, somewhat lower in their suburbs, and then even lower in the rest of the state. This is an approach that recognizes the substantial cost-of-living differences. It also recognizes the substantial differences that will occur between Illinois and every border state. With retail increasingly able to serve consumers regardless of where they are located, and 2/3rds of Illinois’ population within a 40-minute drive of a border, those disparities will have impact on employers.
New York increased the starting wage to $15 quickly in New York City, a bit more slowly in Long Island and Westchester County, and much more slowly in the rest of the state. In both cases, the increase to $15 started at a much higher rate in New York City. Similarly, Chicago will be at $13 July 1 while Cook County will be at $12. That is a significantly different starting point than the rest of Illinois which is currently at $8.25. A phase-in such as five years for the City of Chicago and Cook County, seven years for the collar counties and 10 years for the rest of the state is more realistic but will still be a large cost item for employers.
Even if the Illinois starting wages were increased from $8.25 to $15 over a 10-year period, the average annual increase would be just over 6% to the largest or single largest expense item of retail employers. That is why the tax credit currently proposed by the advocates to soften the blow on smaller employers is inadequate if policy makers insist on not taking an Oregon-like approach. First, the tax credit as currently proposed, only applies to employers with fewer than 50 employees at all locations. As IRMA noted, a single retail store can have more than 50 employees. Second, it treats franchisees as if they are owned by the franchisor. Franchisees are, in fact, small businesses so this inequality must be repaired. Third, the tax credit itself is not robust enough.
Additionally, the Illinois probationary/training wage allows employers to pay a trainee $0.50 less per hour than the current minimum wage. That was not very adequate at $8.25 but it is wholly inadequate at $15.00. The probationary/training wage needs to be in the neighborhood of $2.00 per hour less for the 90-day probationary/training period if employers are going to have any incentive to take the risk of hiring no-or-low-skilled employees.
While there are other issues, these are the primary issues under discussion. Additional considerations exist about impact on taxpayers. At $15, the State budget will be negatively impacted a few hundred million annually not to mention at least that kind of impact on local governments, higher education institutions, K-12 schools, park districts, etc.
Aurora Chamber Joins Ill. Chamber, Others in Release of Study on Data Centers
Wednesday, February 6th, 2019Recently, the Chamber Foundation joined our partners in releasing a report that showed Illinois has had significantly weaker growth in data center markets than surrounding states that have data center incentives.
The report, published by Mangum Economics, compares the disparity of data center capital investment growth and jobs created between Illinois and neighboring and competitive states and examines the state tax policies used to attract and grow the industry.
Today, 30 states have incentives specifically targeted at attracting data centers as part of expanded economic development efforts. Since 2012, 24 states have enacted legislation aimed at capturing a greater percentage of data center growth.
Illinois should consider these tax incentives to ensure the direct and indirect benefits from the construction, operation, and ancillary growth that occurs over the lifetime of these facilities.
Second Aurora Business Registration Program Roundtable Discussion Set
Wednesday, February 6th, 2019What is the Aurora Business Registration Program (ABRP)?
The ABRP is a proposal being reviewed by City Council Aldermen that will have all current and future businesses operating within Aurora to submit a completed registration form to the City of Aurora.
Why was the Aurora Business Registration Program proposal developed?
Business operations can involve the use and storing of chemicals, can have fire/smoke alarms, and can have licensed firearms on the premises. When this information is not available to our public safety personnel, it’s is not only a potential safety concern for public safety staff, it can pose a similar concern to business employees and to the general public. The ABRP will capture this (and limited economic development related) data that will be shared with designated City of Aurora staff so that they are better informed and equipped to provide services to our business owners.
What is the role of the Aurora Business Registration Roundtable Discussion?
The purpose of the ABRP is to share more details on the proposed program with attendees as well as to receive comments and suggestions that can inform program development.
When: February 11, 2019, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Where: Eola Community Center, 555 S. Eola Road
Questions: Contact Adrienne M. Holloway at 630-256-3005 or aholloway@aurora-il.org
RSVP: Space is limited. Please submit your RSVP by 1:00 p.m. on February 8, 2019 to https://tinyurl.com/y7a4fgb2
Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry Establishes Evening Food Distribution
Tuesday, February 5th, 2019Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry has begun an evening distribution from 3 to 7 p.m. on the third Tuesday of every month for those who would like to receive food, but cannot visit the pantry during the current daytime distribution hours. Depending on the response, evenings could be added for additional weeks each month in the future.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, seven percent of the workforce in any community is still living at the level of poverty, with incomes of $25,720 or less for a family of three. In Kane County, that could be as much as 56,700 persons. There are an additional 76,700 persons in Kane County who are considered low income, with annual incomes of between $25,980 and $51,960 for a family of three.
Visiting a food pantry not only provides needed food and increases food security for individuals and families who are struggling, it also helps families stretch their resources to better cover living expenses. Food that is received from Aurora Food Pantry does not have to be purchased at the grocery store and the savings can be applied to cover things such as rent, utilities and medicine, helping people maintain their homes, keep the lights on and stay healthy.
According to Brisa Barraza, Aurora Food Pantry director of operations, “Our goal is to discover where a need exists in the community and offer food programs to meet that need. Just as we developed special programs for veterans and school children, we will now accommodate the needs of those who work daytime jobs. Many working families are strapped, as they struggle with inadequate income. Our new evening distribution will extend our ability to fulfill our mission to ensure everyone has access to needed food.”
On the third Tuesdays when there is an evening distribution, there will be no daytime distribution hours and the pantry office will not open until noon. Those interested in visiting Aurora Food Pantry during an evening distribution or needing further information can go to their website at www.aurorafoodpanty.org or call (630) 897-2127. Volunteers are also needed for these monthly evening hours. Any individuals, businesses or groups interested in volunteering during an evening distribution can contact Alexandra Roman at (630) 692-3059 or aroman@aurorafoodpantry.org.
Food Pantry Names New Exec
Friday, January 25th, 2019Cat (Catherine) Battista has been selected to be the new executive director of Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry.
An attorney by training, Battista has served the people of Kane County in both a professional and volunteer capacity for more than a decade.
Prior to joining the Food Pantry, she served in a leadership position at CASA Kane County, advocating for the rights of abused and neglected children where she worked closely with Aurora area social service agencies. Additionally, Battista worked as a litigator, defending the rights of the elderly against abusive and neglectful nursing homes and volunteered at Aurora area legal clinics as a pro bono attorney.
She served on the Kane County Board as a commission member and helped to advise and lead the county to the implementation of a paperless case management system for the 16th Judicial Circuit.
Battista and her husband, Jeff, reside in St. Charles with their three children. Her husband owns and operates an Aurora-based electrical company.
Food Pantry Board President Lynn Flores adds, “We are confident that Cat’s experience, passion and commitment to our mission will help our organization continue to thrive and grow as it meets the ongoing needs of the community.”
Cat succeeds Marilyn Weisner who has served as AAIFP executive director for 10 years and who will remain until the end of February to ensure a smooth transition.
#EconomicPulse, Business Registration, More from #AuroraChamber
Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019
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River Front Celebrates 30 Years
Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019Bill McSkimming, president of River Front Chrysler Jeep Dodge, proudly announces the dealership’s 30th anniversary.
In 1989, McSkimming opened the doors to his Chrysler Plymouth store then located at 1261 N. Lake Street in Aurora. The dealership moved to its current 36,000 square foot, state of the art location in the North Aurora Auto Mall on Easter weekend 1996. Expansion has taken place with the acquisition of Jeep in 1994 and Dodge in 2009 and Chrysler Corporation’s transformation of Ram into a separate line. This growth and increase in available inventory necessitate the need for use of nearby storage lots.
McSkimming, has been in the automobile business since 1970. He believes River Front’s success is due to his staff in management, sales, service, parts and office staff. “One of our employees has been with us since 1990. Others have been here for 20 plus years. There is a cohesiveness that exists from department to department. The teams work together with the common goal of satisfying our customer’s needs. Our employees enjoy what they do and it shows.” He added, “Chrysler builds the vehicles, and for 30 years River Front has been delivering the experience. It’s been our mantra and it will continue to shape our future.
River Front Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram was recently awarded the Chrysler Customer First Award and for several years running, has earned an A+ Rating with the Better Business Bureau. McSkimming, states that, “Our customers are our best referrals. In every sales meeting I remind the crew that if we keep our customers satisfied, they’ll come back— for the excellence of the product we sell and the unparalleled service we provide. And, in turn they will share their experience with family, friends, and neighbors.