An Export Grant Workshop, sponsored by Bradley University and the State of Illinois Office of Trade and Investment will be held on November 9 from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Peoria Next Innovation Center, located at 801 W. Main Street in Peoria.

Registration is free but space is limited.

The workshop will discuss grant opportunities for Illinois companies to expand their exports. Topics include State of Illinois sponsored trade shows and opportunities for individual company travel for trade shows or to meet with potential foreign partners.

To register go to https://web.memberclicks.com/mc/quickForm/viewForm.do?orgId=bu&formId=108505.

Today, Soderstrom Dermatology Center announced that they will build a new 7,500 sq ft building in Morton to serve the Peoria, Morton, East Peoria, Washington and Pekin areas. The facility will offer dermatology and plastics services and a beautiful new, expanded, full service day spa. The new facility is scheduled to open July 1, 2012.

“We are immensely pleased to be expanding our offices and services in our hometown of Morton, Illinois,” said Dr. Soderstrom. “It all started here and we are extremely excited about this newly designed facility”.

In 1974, Soderstrom Dermatology Center first opened at 81 Queenwood Road in Morton. Since that time the Dermatology, Plastic Surgery and the Cosmetic Spa has expanded to 8 other sites in Central Illinois and Iowa, with over 200 of the finest health care professionals supporting 100,000 patient visits annually.

Dr. Soderstrom, APACE Design, and Volker Gray Design of California have created a unique design for the new building that incorporates all of the concepts unique to Soderstrom Dermatology Center. The building will be located on Maxine Street near OSF Prompt Care and the new medical complex.

Wayne Baum, of Core Construction, who built the Soderstrom Dermatology Center in Peoria, will be the local contractor for their new building in Morton. In addition, many subcontractors from Morton and the Morton area will be employed to work on the building.

“Having a new center that provides this level of service will be a welcome addition to Morton,” said Jennifer Daly, CEO for the Morton EDC. “We applaud Dr. Soderstrom and his team on their selection of Morton for their new, state-of- the-art expansion and their support of our growing, local economy.”

Warm Neighbors Cool Friends Energy Assistance Offered in Peoria and Canton

The Salvation Army in Peoria and Canton are participating with Ameren-Illinois’ Warm Neighbors Cool Friends Energy Assistance Program. This program is designed to help those who do not meet qualifications for the LIHEAP program. Eligibility is based on gross monthly income, and guidelines include:

• The applicant must live at the address on the bill and have active service in his/her name
• Applicant can only receive assistance once per season
• No bills over $750
• Matching payments up to $350
• Must have Driver’s license or other official ID to sign up
• Must have copy of current Ameren utility bill

Residents of Peoria County need to contact The Salvation Army Sylvia Fites Family Services Center at 655-7272 for more details, while in Fulton County, contact The Salvation Army at (309) 647-0732.

“We are happy to be able to partner with Ameren on this project, both here and in Fulton County,” said Glenavary Lucas, Family Services Director for The Salvation Army in Peoria

The assistance is available once per winter, so to apply for assistance or for more details, please contact the appropriate center.

The Junior League of Peoria will host its annual Victorian Christmas Tea at the historic Ballance-Herschel House on Saturday, December 3, 2011.

With the Ballance-Herschel House as a backdrop, our historic home will be decorated for the holidays in an 1800’s setting. During tea times, guests will learn about the history of the Ballance-Herschel House and several different Christmas traditions while being served lunch and listening to Christmas music played by a local harpist. We are offering two tea times of 11am and 2pm. Tickets are $18 per person. Come enjoy this holiday tradition with us!

Seats are limited! To reserve your seat, please contact the Junior League of Peoria office at 309.685.9312. For additional information, go to www.juniorleagueofpeoria.org.

Today, the Morton Economic Development Council and the Morton Business District Commission announced three new financing programs for local small businesses. “We have been working diligently over the past year to develop several financing tools to assist Morton businesses,” said Jennifer Daly, CEO for the Morton EDC. “Hopefully these three programs will provide some needed assistance.”
The Morton Revolving Loan Fund provides loans of $5,000 – $25,000 over a 5 year term at a low interest rate to pair with traditional financing for the acquisition of property or equipment and property improvements. “This program is ideal for a business that can only receive a portion of a needed loan from their financial institution,” said Daly. “It can fill in that gap to make a project happen.” The Morton RLF is funded through the Morton Business District Fund. Applications will be reviewed monthly as needed.

The Morton Façade Improvement Grant provides small grants of up to $5,000 to commercial property owners and occupants for exterior building and signage improvements. “This grant is open to any business or building owner located in our Business District, which is the vast majority of our businesses,” said Daly. “It is not just for the downtown.” The Morton Façade Improvement Grant is funded through the Morton Business District Fund. Applications are due each year by January 31st and funding is awarded in March.

The Morton MicroGrant provides small grants of up to $5,000 to for-profit business owners interested in starting, moving, or growing a business in Morton. Funds can be used for property improvement or acquisition, equipment purchases, inventory and working capital, and rent subsidies. “This fund is targeted to helping our smallest businesses to locate or grow in Morton,” said Daly. “Sometimes small dollar amounts can really make a difference to this group.” The Morton MicroGrant is funded through a directed investment with the Morton EDC made by Morton Community Bank. Applications are reviewed on a monthly basis as needed.

For more information on these programs or to complete an application, please go to www.mortonedc.org.
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[Editor’s Note: Hey Folks, they’re asking for our opinion! That doesn’t happen too often. So, give it. If you can’t make the Wednesday night meeting, then go online and fill out the short survey they talk about in this press release!]

Cumulative voting is the method currently used to help elect minorities to the Peoria City Council. Mayor Jim Ardis, along with representatives from Bradley University’s Institute for Principled Leadership, the League of Women Voters, African American Leadership Alliance, Neighborhood Alliance, and the Peoria Chamber of Commerce, have organized a second community forum which will be held on November 2, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. This forum will give the public the opportunity to weigh in on the best system for electing members to the city council. The forum will be held at the River West Frank Campbell Community Room (312 Merriman).

In addition to attending the community forum, a short online survey has been created to gauge public sediment about the cumulative voting system. The survey can be accessed on the homepage of the City of Peoria website by logging onto www.ci.peoria.il.us.

The effort to look into Peoria’s voting system is being led by Brad McMillan, Executive Director for the Institute of Principled Leadership at Bradley University. McMillan stated, “I urge all Peoria citizens to weigh in on whether cumulative voting is the best method for electing Peoria City Council Members, or whether there is a better system that will enhance minority representation on the Peoria City Council. The survey is simple and straightforward and is accessible online.”

Patricia Landes, Director of Planning and Growth Management for the City of Peoria, indicated that the most recent Census data showed a growth in the city’s minority population. “The 2020 Census data revealed several changes in racial composition for the City. There was an 11% increase, 2,999 residents, in African American population; 99% increase, 2,611 residents, in Asian population; and an 8% decrease, 6,514 residents, in Caucasian population. The City’s Hispanic population nearly doubled, with an increase of 2,789 residents. Overall the City’s population increased the first time since 1970 by 1.8%, or 2,071 residents from the 2000 Census.”

The City is trying to get as much feed back from the survey as possible. We encourage the community to log onto the City website and take the brief survey.

Each year, the Central Illinois Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) honors donors, volunteers and fundraising executives whose gifts of time, expertise and resources contribute significantly to the success of the non-profit agencies and institutions they serve. This year’s Philanthropy Day Awards Luncheon will be held on Wednesday, November 9. The luncheon provides a unique opportunity for organizations to publicly express appreciation to those who do so much to enhance philanthropic support in our community. AFP will honor the following 2011 Central Illinois Recipients:
Wayne Baum – Outstanding Philanthropist
Russell’s Cycling and Fitness – Outstanding Philanthropic Corporation
Joan L. Janssen – Lewis J. Burger Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser
Pilot Club of Peoria – Dennis A. Steele Outstanding Philanthropic Organization
Ms. Marla Claudin’s Class at Kiefer School – Outstanding youth in Philanthropy Ages 5-17
Nikki Cole – Ian T. Sturrock Outstanding Fundraising Executive

The luncheon will be held at Par-a-Dice Hotel & Casino in East Peoria. Reservations are $35 each. Reservations must be received no later than Wednesday, November 2nd. Please visit the Central IL AFP website at: www.afpcentralillinois.org for more info or call 309-677-3091.

Khurram Rashid, MD, has joined Illinois Plastic Surgery’s team of physicians. He comes to central Illinois from Montefiore Medical Center which is affiliated with Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, New York where Dr. Rashid was a Plastic Surgery Fellow in the Division of Plastic Surgery.

Dr. Rashid received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering at State University of New York at Buffalo, where he received the Howard Hughes’s Medical Institute Fellowship Award. He earned his Doctor of Medicine at the University of Buffalo in New York. He then served as Chief Surgical Resident in the Department of Surgery at the University of Buffalo. Dr. Rashid is certified by the American Board of Surgery and is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria (UICOMP).

Illinois Plastic Surgery provides a full range of cosmetic and reconstructive procedures, as well as non-surgical treatments. For more information, visit www.illinoisplasticsurgery.org. The physicians of Illinois Plastic Surgery are affiliated with the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria.

Annual CEFCU-sponsored holiday cards available

Nine area students have been honored by CEFCU and Children’s Hospital of Illinois for having their designs selected for the 2011 Brighten A Child’s Life holiday greeting card program.

This is the 27th year CEFCU has sponsored the contest to select designs for the cards. Students throughout central Illinois submitted entries in various categories.

The CEFCU Brighten a Child’s Life greeting card sale generated more that $25,000 last year to benefit Children’s Hospital.

The 2011 winners, hometowns, schools, and categories are:
• Jessica Laughlin, 9, of Normal – Grove Elementary School (5-10 Year Old Category)
• Ashley LaFayette, 14, of Normal – Parkside Junior High School (11-15 Year Old Category)
• Taylor Beccue, 17, of Pekin (Tremont High School) (16 Year Old+ Category)
• Angie Koch, 15, of Tremont (Tremont High School) (Inspirational Category)
• Elizabeth Costello, 18, of Bloomington (Normal Community High School) (Corporate)
• Celine Estes, 17, of Tremont (Tremont High School)

Runners-Up are:
• Ariana Serratos of Normal (Grove Elementary School)
• Sophia VanSlyke of Peoria (St. Thomas Grade School)
• Abby Ladwig of Tremont (Tremont High School)

This year’s cards include two from Celine Estes of Tremont who was an award winner in 2010. Celine tragically died in a car accident in January. Her cards are being sold in a dual pack – her entry from 2011 and her winning card from 2010.

The cards, which cost $10 for a package of 20 cards, are available at the following locations: All CEFCU member centers; Hy-Vee in Peoria; OSF Saint Francis Medical Center and the Children’s Hospital of Illinois gift shops; the Children’s Hospital Foundation offices in Peoria and Bloomington.

Cards are also available online at www.childrenshospitalofil.org under the link “Holiday Cards”

Arby’s Restaurants is proud to announce the opening of a new Arby’s location near the Westlake Plaza on Sterling Avenue, next to Interstate 74 and across from Northwoods Mall. The restaurant will be opening its doors early November and will host a Grand Opening on 11/11/11. This new restaurant replaces Arby’s University Street location which closed on October 20, 2011.

Miller Group USA, LLC, based out of Bloomington, Ill., owns and operates the Central Illinois Arby’s franchise, which includes 18 locations throughout the region. Kim Oberbillig is the company’s Director of Human Resources.

“We are very excited about our new restaurant near Westlake Plaza. It will be modern and conveniently located,” said Oberbillig. “While our University Street restaurant has been a part of the Peoria community for many years, we decided to take advantage of this new opportunity which, unfortunately, requires the closing of the University Street restaurant. We thank our loyal customers and hope they will visit our new restaurant on Sterling Rd.”

Arby’s Roast Beef Restaurants, founded in 1964 by Leroy and Forrest Raffel, has over 3,600 restaurants worldwide. Today, Arby’s rich heritage is comprised of several multi-generation franchise owners. In fact, Jim Raffel, founder Leroy’s son, owns and operates three locations in Maine.