We are excited to announce some great opportunities for Hoopeston businesses. As of April 30th, Valerie Hinkle, Hoopeston Chamber President, is announcing her retirement. Upon retirement, the Hoopeston Chamber will be merging with Vermilion Advantage. If you are a member of the Hoopeston Chamber or would like to become a member of the Hoopeston Chamber, between March 20 and April 30, you can join the Hoopeston Chamber for $100, and join Vermilion Advantage for the discounted rate of $200 for a total of $300 per year. If you are already a Hoopeston Chamber member, you can get the Vermilion Advantage discounted rate of $200 for this limited amount of time. If you are already a member of Vermilion Advantage, you do not need to do anything. Vermilion Advantage welcomes businesses of all types and sizes and would like to help you in any way they can. They are comprised of over 500 members that support Vermilion County by way of their membership investment in them. In their current form, Vermilion Advantage has been in existence since 2002. They are the result of combining some of the responsibilities of a former Chamber of Commerce and former Economic Development Corporation. It was the thought of their leadership at that time that Vermilion County did not need two membershipbased organizations working on some overlapping aspects of business support when both were reliant on discretionary dollars and time. The resulting Vermilion Advantage, through membership value, provides strategic leadership on critical business issues - leading economic & workforce development, anticipating and responding to members’ needs, addressing qualityof-life issues and providing a network of information & business contacts, and advocating the pursuit of opportunities to strengthen the local economy and business environment. Please see www.vermilionadvantage.com/member-services to see the many forms of membership advantages and marketing opportunities that would be available to you as a member of Vermilion Advantage. A base annual business membership starts at $500 but has elective amounts that are higher if you do not choose to take advantage of the grandfathered amount that is being offered at this time. Membership can be paid annually, semi-annually, or quarterly, and is prorated per calendar year. PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Upon the current Hoopeston Chamber President, Valarie Hinkle’s retirement, the Hoopeston Chamber of Commerce will be merging with the Vermilion County Chamber of Commerce through Vermilion Advantage. Hoopeston businesses, be on the lookout for Nicole Van Hyfte, Director of the Chamber of Commerce, to visit your community businesses to show the advantages that will be offered through this merger. Nicole is a proud resident of Hoopeston and truly believes in the direction the city of Hoopeston is moving towards. She looks forward to continuing the forward momentum for our community. For membership inquires visit www.vermilionadvantage.com, or if you have any questions, call Nicole Van Hyfte at nvanhyfte@vermilionadvantage.com or 217-442-6201. Vermilion Advantage looks forward to serving your businesses and community!