SONNY ACRES TO BUILD SPECIAL EVENT SPACE, THE BARN ON NORTH Sonny Acres Farm is in the process of constructing a special events space on its West Chicago property. The Barn on North broke ground earlier this summer. Its opening is targeted for November 2026 at Sonny Acres, 29W310 North Ave., West Chicago...
THE MAJORITY OF SMALL BUSINESSES EMBRACE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE Small businesses are adopting artificial intelligence (“AI”) at record rates but share growing concerns over state AI and data privacy regulations, finds a new Chamber Technology Engagement Center (C_TECH) report. Technology is a critical driver of economic success for small businesses, enabling growth,...
HELP MAKE WARRENVILLE MORE ACCESSIBLE - TAKE THE SURVEY! The City of Warrenville is developing an ADA Transition Plan to improve accessibility on public sidewalks, curb ramps, crosswalks, and transit stops. This plan will help make it easier for all residents—including...
WEST CHICAGO BUSINESS OWNER APPOINTED TO DUPAGE COUNTY BOARD The DuPage County Board on Tuesday, [August 12], unanimously approved Chair Deborah Conroy’s appointment of Melissa Martinez of West Chicago to fill an upcoming vacancy on the County Board. “Melissa Martinez has a distinguished background as ...
LAWMAKERS AND LOCAL BUSINESSES TALK TAXES With the enactment of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the 119th Congress has advanced pro-growth tax policies and avoided the largest tax increase in American history, which was set to occur when key provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) expired at the end of 2025...
NEW MACHINE LEARNING CERTIFICATE NOW AVAILABLE AT COD College of DuPage is launching a new Machine Learning certificate for students who wish to enter the artificial intelligence (AI) field. Students in this program will acquire basic knowledge of machine learning and learn to develop AI-powered solutions to complex problems using current AI...
PARK IS HERE: COD FIELD STUDIES PROGRAM HITS ALL 63 NATIONAL PARKS With the completion of a class to the National Park of American Samoa, and more than five decades spiriting College of DuPage students across the country and abroad, the College’s Field Studies and Study Abroad program has finally visited all 63 U.S. national parks recognized by...
NAVIGATING THE NEW TAX LAW: WHAT SMALL BUSINESSES NEED TO KNOW The recently enacted “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” introduces significant tax reforms designed to support small business growth. These changes are retroactive to January 20, 2025, allowing business owners to maximize savings immediately...
FISCH FINANCIAL WEEKLY UPDATE Stocks rebounded last week as investor optimism for a September rate adjustment and strong Q2 corporate results overcame the rollout of fresh tariffs. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 2.43 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index gained...
WEST CHICAGO FOOD FESTIVAL RETURNS ON AUGUST 23 WITH FLAVOR, FUN, & LIVE ENTERTAINMENT Downtown West Chicago will once again come alive with the sights, sounds, and tastes of the annual West Chicago Food Festival on Saturday, August 23, from 4 to 8 p.m. The community event promises a flavorful evening featuring a wide variety of food vendors, live music, and family-friendly activities for all ages...
INTERNATIONAL POLICY UPDATES The Trump administration on August 7 imposed new “reciprocal” tariffs ranging from 15% to 41% on 65 countries around the globe (see the July 31 executive order). Analysts assess that the average U.S. tariff has now risen eight-fold from about...
TARIFFS DOG THIS SMALL BUSINESS As small businesses across America continue to grapple with tariff challenges, one that specializes in high-end dog crates has seen its tariff taxes skyrocket from $2,000 per shipment to about $25,000 for the same size...
FISH RETURN TO SALT CREEK AFTER GRAUE MILL DAM REMOVAL Recent fish sampling at Fullersburg Woods Forest Preserve in Oak Brook has confirmed what conservationists hoped: Fish are once again swimming freely upstream in Salt Creek following the late 2023 removal of the...
WHITE HOUSE ACTION PLAN POSITIONS U.S. TO WIN AI RACE The Trump Administration’s AI Action Plan aims to solidify U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence by fostering innovation, driving economic growth, and enhancing global competitiveness. The plan reflects many principles outlined in the U.S. Chamber’s March submission, emphasizing the need for a unified regulatory...
WEST CHICAGO FOOD FESTIVAL TO SERVE UP AN EVENING OF ALL TASTES The West Chicago Food Festival returns to downtown West Chicago on Saturday, August 23, from 4 to 8 p.m., promising a diverse lineup of culinary delights and entertainment that caters to all tastes. The festivities commence at 4 p.m. in downtown West Chicago at the main stage along Galena Street with a performance by Soul Sacrifice...
WEST WASHINGTON SITE SOIL REMOVAL PROJECT UNDERWAY AS PART OF LONG-TERM REDEVELOPMENT PLAN The City of West Chicago is advancing its long-term redevelopment plans for the West Washington Site through a soil removal project now underway. This effort is part of the City’s voluntary participation in the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s (IEPA) Site Remediation Program (SRP) with the goal of obtaining a....
STAY CONNECTED WITH THE CITY EVERYWHERE YOU GO! Pay your utility bill, request a building permit, report issues (tree down, streelight out, damaged mailbox), make a service request, and much more, with the City of Warrenville app...
SPONSOR A DUCK! SUPPORT NATURE! Duck purchases can be made online, and sales end Aug. 8 at 3 p.m. CST (or when all ducks have been claimed). Ducks will be raced on Aug. 9, 2025 at Salt Creek at Fullersburg Woods Forest Preserve. The duck race and prize-winning results will be posted to the Friends of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County’s Facebook...
BEHIND THE HEADLINES: STRONG MAJORITIES FAVOR PRO-GROWTH TAX PROVISIONS Recent public opinion data reports mixed results by way of voter sentiment toward the One Big Beautiful Bill. A closer look at recent public opinion polls shows that large percentages of Americans are unfamiliar with the details of the bill. A recent survey highlights widespread public...
FISCH FINANCIAL WEEKLY UPDATE Expectation-beating Q2 results from several companies, trade updates, and investor optimism for more trade agreements pushed market averages to solid gains. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index advanced 1.46 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index added...
WEST CHICAGO BEGINS COMMUNITY-DRIVEN SEARCH FOR NEW CITY ADMINISTRATOR On July 7, the West Chicago City Council launched a strategic and community-driven leadership transition—one that reflects a growing consensus: it’s time for West Chicago to take bold steps forward. This is more than a routine shift in...
U.S. CHAMBER COMMENDS WHITE HOUSE AI ACTION PLAN U.S. Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer Neil Bradley issued the following statement after the release of the Trump Administration’s AI Action Plan to ensure U.S. dominance in artificial intelligence...
TARIFFS THREATEN SMALL COFFEE SHOPS Most U.S. coffee shops source their beans from countries that have the right conditions for growing coffee. Higher tariffs are making the challenge of running a small business harder. Why it matters: With tariff rates...
CANTERA POINT TOWNHOME HEARING CONTINUED TO AUGUST 21 The developer of the proposed Cantera Point townhome development on MaeCliff Drive has requested another continuation of the public hearing following the July 10 meeting. The Plan Commission/Zoning Board of Appeals (PC/ZBA) will continue...
FOREIGN PRICE CONTROLS COULD STIFLE U.S. MEDICAL INNOVATION The U.S. is considering adopting foreign price controls for prescription drugs—a move that could backfire, U.S. Chamber Executive Vice President Neil Bradley writes in an op-ed for IPWatchdog....
