January 19, 2010 :: Event, LPCC

Aldermen, City Officials Join LPCC to Discuss State of the Ward for 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Aldermen, City Officials Join LPCC to Discuss State of the Ward for 2010
Business Assistance, Neighborhood Developments Highlight Annual Event

CHICAGO (January 19, 2010) – With the busy holiday season now in the rearview mirror, companies large and small are taking stock of business and looking ahead to the future.  With this in mind, the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce (LPCC), along with 32nd Ward Alderman Scott Waguespack and 43rd Ward Alderman Vi Daley, presented a vision for the neighborhood in 2010 Tuesday to business owners and community members.

More than 120 business owners from Lincoln Park and other great Chicago neighborhoods joined Alderman Daley and Alderman Waguespack at the DePaul University Student Center.  Officials from the Chicago Police Department as well as Chicago’s Department of Streets and Sanitation also provided updates on key projects, developments and community alerts affecting Lincoln Park.

“The Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce remains committed to providing businesses access to the resources and programming necessary to succeed in any economic climate,” said Kim Schilf, LPCC President and CEO.  “We are excited to enter a new year and continue to promote both the Lincoln Park business community and the surrounding neighborhood as the shopping and dining destination it is today.

“The Lincoln Park business community shares in an excellent reputation as a destination neighborhood for shopping, dining, recreation and cultural entities,” Schilf said.  “Our many business leaders and anchor institutions ensure that this reputation, and traffic along our main commercial corridors, remains strong.”

For the assembled crowd, the discussion ranged from new changes that will help streamline the City of Chicago’s Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection to other programs that will benefit business owners.  Aldermen also discussed key developments in the neighborhood, including the new Apple Store slated for an April 2010 opening at North and Clybourn and the proposed – and widely-debated – future of the former Lincoln Park Hospital site.

The LPCC works to offer its members access to their elected officials and key decision-makers that have the potential to benefit businesses and the neighborhood at-large.  In addition, for members looking to expand their business through networking opportunities, the State of the Ward Luncheon and Annual Meeting was the first official networking event offered in 2010 by the LPCC.

The LPCC also used the State of the Ward Luncheon and Annual Meeting to slate its 2010 Board of Directors.  Taking over as Board Chairman for 2010 is Chris Ramsey from the Lincoln Park Massage Spa.  Mark Rogers of National City Bank served as Board Chair in 2009, helping launch an expansive membership research initiative and driving the strategic goals of the LPCC.  Joining the Board in 2010 are Patrick Karpowicz, Ostrow, Reisin, Berk & Adams; Jim Kelly, Real Leaders Lead Business Coaching; Erika Kohler, Lincoln Park Zoo; and Beth Kraszewski, Keating and Associates.

Members of the Chicago Police Department (CPD) received a special gift at the event courtesy of the Clark Street Special Service Area (SSA) #23, an economic development initiative operated by the LPCC, to build on the area’s reputation.  To improve safety along the busy commercial corridor, the Clark Street SSA donated 18 specially-outfitted bicycles to the CPD.  The donation values $25,000.

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Please note: Photos are courtesy of Christopher Parish.