The Greater Centralia Chamber of Commerce has received a $50,000 grant from Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to replace revenue lost as a result of COVID-19.
Centralia Chamber Executive Director Marcus Holland says that money will now be used to help the business community.
“We filled out the application knowing we had taken a loss of revenue due to not having a full balloon fest. When we submitted that, we didn’t know what we’d get,” Holland said. “We didn’t know how many chambers of commerce would be able to apply for it. I’m glad that they were able to help a lot of communities with the goal that chambers of commerce would support the business community and economic development. We know that we’re developing a strategy and a plan with my board of directors that would do just that, to help our community and help our businesses through marketing.”
There were 151 local chambers to share in the $5 million in Back to Business Grants. The Vandalia Chamber received $5,000 and the Nashville chamber $22,000 through the program.
