| Southern Illinois Chambers of Commerce Urge Residents to Do Holiday Shopping Locally Ten area Chambers of Commerce along with several regional businesses have teamed up this holiday season in an effort to encourage Southern Illinoisans to do a majority of their holiday shopping in the region, rather than traveling out of the area or shopping online. Ten area Chambers of Commerce along with several regional businesses have teamed up this holiday season in an effort to encourage Southern Illinoisans to do a majority of their holiday shopping in the region, rather than traveling out of the area or shopping online. The effort, called “Shop Southern Illinois,” features a website, www.shopsouthernillinois.com, where residents can learn some of the reasons it is important for Southern Illinoisans to shop locally and take an online pledge to do most of their own holiday shopping in the region. By making the pledge, participants are entered in weekly drawings to win prizes including a gift basket from Walker’s Bluff; gift certificates to 17th Street Bar and Grill; 14 tickets and use of a luxury suite during a 2015 Southern Illinois Miners game and the grand prize, a year’s worth of Pepsi courtesy of Pepsi MidAmerica. There are no costs associated with the program. The website also features a special message from Southern Illinois University Men’s Basketball Coach Barry Hinson, who stresses the importance of shopping locally. Website design and services were donated by Carbondale-based Highline Ideas. “This program is a cooperative effort of many chambers and businesses who know the importance of encouraging Southern Illinoisans to shop local this holiday season,” explained Les O’Dell, executive director of the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce, one of ten participating chambers. “We know that when dollars stay right here in Southern Illinois, we all benefit. This is a great way of reminding all of us to buy local.” Southern Illinois Chambers sponsoring the effort include Benton/West City, Carbondale, Carterville, Du Quoin, Herrin, Marion, Murphysboro, Pinckneyville, Union County and West Frankfort. For more information, please contact the Marion Chamber of Commerce at (618) 997-6311. Published: 11/25/14 |