The Antwerp Chamber of Commerce has closed out a challenging 2020. We began by growing our membership to 45 businesses, 21 non-profits, 7 home-based businesses and 4 single chamber memberships. We grew our category for home-based businesses. These range from local crafters to direct sales representatives. We continued our Spotlight on area businesses by doing feature articles on Small Town Bliss, Kauser Excavating, Papa Oley’s, KS Works of Art and Advanced Chassis.
The Covd-19 epidemic created many challenges to us this year. Many of our events that we sponsor had to be cancelled due to state restrictions. Early in the epidemic we encouraged the community to support our local restaurants and bars that were struggling to abide by the guidelines and remain open. School was closed so we had a “bear hunt” where people were encouraged to put teddy bears in their front windows to allow parents to drive their children around town to spot the bears. At Easter we had an Easter egg hunt along those same lines to allow for some drive by Easter egg window hunting.
Our seniors were not able to have their traditional graduation. To honor those seniors we had their senior pictures enlarged and placed in the windows of the H2O Water Stores building.
We awarded our second scholarship to a deserving senior from Vantage, Emily Wentland. Emily attended Vantage Vocational Center for criminal justice and graduated this spring. She was awarded $500.00 to further her education at Defiance college. The scholarship money is generated from our Cutie Pie contest which we were able to hold at Petals and Vines and also KB Scoops since we were unable to have Day in the Park this year.
In June we once again sponsored the Town-wide garage sales. Chamber produced a map of sales within the community and participants were encouraged to social distance and have hand sanitizer available. Masks were also encouraged.
In October we held a virtual Halloween Costume Contest. Participants posted their pictures on the Antwerp Chamber of Commerce Facebook page and those pictures were printed off and the residents of the Manor House chose 5 winners. Each winner won a $5 Chamber Buck.
Small Business Saturday, held on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, was a huge success with many businesses having a very profitable day. We had a Scavenger Hunt and a save your receipt raffle- both with prizes awarded in the form of Chamber Bucks to be used at any Chamber Business. Thank you to the VFW for allowing us to host the welcome station in their meeting room.
We held a virtual Christmas tree lighting at Green way Park next to the police station. We have outgrown our large Christmas tree near the street so we have moved down to the arbor area behind the tennis court. We had lighting run to the area by Schweller electric and the nativity scene and Christmas tree were both part of the virtual lighting on November 30th.
We wrapped up 2020 with Santa’s mailbox set up next to the town hall. Secret Santa Shop looked a little different this year. For $5 per gift a child could shop in our Santa shop where they purchased small gifts for their family. Again we used the meeting room at the VFW and allowed 5 days/evenings by appointment to allow for social distancing and limiting of shoppers. All items are provided by our local businesses and all monies went back to the businesses. This year $1315.00 went back to local businesses.
Chamber Bucks continue to be a hit with gift givers. Many businesses, groups and individuals purchased Chamber Bucks to show their appreciation. Remember if you receive a chamber buck in your business, just flip it over and there is a phone number on the back. Call Sue Fowler and she will stop in your business and reimburse you for the amount of the chamber buck.
Don’t forget about Chamber gift certificates that are available at the Antwerp Exchange Bank. Gift certificates make a great gift or a nice way to pay it forward for a person or family in need. The certificate, in the form of a check, can be used anywhere in our town. The check cannot be used for cash.
The Antwerp Chamber of Commerce continues to be committed to all the businesses in the Antwerp community. We welcome any and all feedback and we encourage members to join us at our monthly meetings. You do not need to own a business to be a member of the chamber. We have an individual membership so if you like the things that we are doing, we invite you join us.
Thank you businesses for all that you do to support the chamber. Hopefully 2021 will bring health and normalcy back to the community and we will see more of you out and about in the community.
