HOW BUSINESSES CAN THRIVE AMIND INFLATION, TARIFFS, AND AI DISCRUPTION Persistent inflation, shifting trade policies, and disruptive technologies like AI are reshaping the business landscape. On Dec. 10, Neil Bradley, U.S. Chamber Executive Vice President, and RSM US Chief Economist Joe Brusuelas discussed how businesses can adapt to these challenges...
INFLATION, WORKFORCE PRESSURES WEIGH ON SMALL BUSINESS The latest MetLife & U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Index shows that employers’ concerns about recruiting and retaining workers have been rising over the past year. The survey also shows that inflation lingers as the top concern for small businesses....
WARMING CENTERS IN WARRENVILLE & DUPAGE COUNTY Need a warm place to go on cold winter days? The Warrenville Park District Recreation Center is open as a warming center during regular hours: ...
FISCH FINANCIAL WEEKLY UPDATE Stocks pushed higher over the holiday week as investors' hopes for a Fed rate adjustment drove bullish sentiment. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 3.73 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index rallied 4.91 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 3.18 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock ...
HOUSING DEMAND IS QUIETLY RISING, EVEN AS WINTER APPROACHES A surprising trend is taking shape in real estate right now: buyer demand is beginning to rise, not fall, heading into the final stretch of the year. According to new data from Freddie Mac, the average 30-year mortgage rate dipped again this week to around 6.23%, continuing a gradual downward trend. At the same time, pending home ...
THE HIDDEN COST OF 50 STATE AI LAWS: A DATA-DRIVEN BREAKDOWN Artificial intelligence (AI) presents a tremendous opportunity to improve efficiency and grow our economy. America has a distinct advantage, with some of the leading technology firms in the world making breakthroughs every year. Unfortunately, there is a great deal of confusion around what laws are needed to regulate emerging technologies like...
U.S. CHAMBER APPLAUDS ADMINISTRATION'S NEW OIL & GAS LEASING PLAN Christopher Guith, senior vice president for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Global Energy Institute, issued the following statement regarding the Department of the Interior’s recently announced Draft Proposed Oil and Gas Leasing Program for the...
GET READY FOR THE 2025 MERRY MARKET! Shop local and kick off the season at the City of Warrenville’s Merry Market, which returns with expanded hours, more vendors, and two locations! Last year’s first market drew strong interest from residents and small businesses,...
SHOP SMALL IN DOWNTOWN WEST CHICAGO THIS SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY Join us this holiday season to celebrate Small Business Saturday on Saturday, November 29 by exploring and supporting the unique shops, restaurants, and services that make our downtown special. Launched nationally by American Express in 2010, Small Business Saturday is held each year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving to encourage people to #ShopSmall and support local entrepreneurs. What began as a single day...
DEMOLITION OF CITY-OWNED PROPERTIES IN DOWNTOWN SET TO BEGIN At its November 3 meeting, the City Council approved demolition of the two additional downtown structures. Utility disconnections for these properties are now underway, and demolition activity has begun, starting on High Street. As work progresses, construction fencing will be relocated from one...
NEW CITY OF WARRENVILLE APP City Services On the Go: Your City. Your Services. Your Way! The City of Warrenville App lets you, Report problems in your neighborhood, Pay your utility bill anytime, & Apply for permits and licenses online.
FISCH FINANCIAL WEEKLY UPDATE Heightened volatility was on Wall Street’s mind last week, as investors continued to focus on valuations of artificial intelligence (AI) stocks. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 1.95 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index declined 2.74 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 1.91 percent. The MSCI...
SHOP SMALL: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY Small Business Saturday is an annual event that takes place on the Saturday following Thanksgiving (this year, November 29, 2025). First observed in 2010, Small Business Saturday has become an important day to show appreciation for small businesses...
WEGO DRAMA BRINGS THE WARMTH WITH ALMOST, MAINE: A ROMATIC COMEDY Wego Drama at West Chicago Community High School continues their 2025-26 Season with a riveting production of John Cariani’s quirky and hilarious Almost, Maine. The play is a romantic comedy about love and loss in the town of Almost, Maine the show guarantees to warm the heart. It takes place on a Friday night in January...
THE RESILIENT MARKET: WHY HOUSING ISN'T CRASHING - & WHAT THAT MEANS FOR BUYERS AND SELLERS If you’ve spent any time scrolling headlines lately, you’ve probably seen the words “plunge,” “stall,” or “housing slowdown.” The truth, however, is far less dramatic — and far more interesting. The housing market isn’t crashing. It’s normalizing. Rates are settling, demand is steadying, and prices — while no longer racing ahead — continue to show...
TOYS FOR TOTS Help spread holiday cheer for local children - donate to Toys for Tots! What to Donate: New, unwrapped toys (in original packaging) for kids from newborns to 12 years old. Deadline: Drop off your donations Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. by Wednesday...
CHRISTMAS AT CANTIGNY RETURNS FOR A SPECTACULAR THIRD SEASON Christmas at Cantigny returns for its third season, bigger, brighter, and more magical than ever. From Friday, November 21, through Tuesday, December 23, Cantigny transforms into a holiday wonderland filled with lights, music, food, and festive cheer for our Christmas at Cantigny celebration. NEW Magical Twist for 2025: A Wickedly Popular Christmas, Christmas at Cantigny’s Sunday...
WHY MORE HOUSING IS KEY TO A THRIVING ECONOMY The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has launched a bold new initiative that strikes at the heart of the organization’s mission: ensuring every American has access to affordable housing because economic growth and prosperity mean little if people lack a safe place to call home...
WHAT'S GOING ON WITH CURRENT TRAVEL CONDITIONS? The FAA is temporarily reducing flight capacity by up to 10% at 40 major U.S. airports because of the ongoing government shutdown and air traffic controller strain. Airlines began phasing in smaller cuts (around 4%) and will ramp up to 10% next week. Expect some schedule shuffles mostly on domestic and regional routes....
OSHA'S UNOFFICIAL GUIDELINES FOR SAFE HOLIDAY DECORATING As workplaces decorate their offices with cheer and remembrance during the holiday season, it's essential to prioritize safety to prevent this joyful time from turning tragic. Between Thanksgiving and New Year's, non-typical workplace injuries increase due to electrical hazards, decoration fires, falls caused...
FISCH FINANCIAL WEEKLY UPDATE Stocks rose last week thanks to a full slate of upbeat third-quarter corporate results and mild inflation data, which helped soften concerns over trade tensions with China. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index gained 1.92 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index rose 2.31 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 2.20 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks...
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE NEW JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER Japan’s first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, ushers in a new era of economic and political strategy, presenting both opportunities and challenges for U.S. companies. Takaichi is expected to take an assertive approach to national security, strategic industries, and economic policy...
