Dresden station, Chamber team up to support local businesses

Every year, Grundy County Chamber of Commerce gift certificates are the gift that keeps on giving – the recipient gets to buy what they really want from a local business, and the local business gets a new customer.

This year, Dresden Generating Station is making Grundy Chamber gift certificates even better. For every $50 purchased in Chamber gift certificates, Dresden station’s donation to the Chamber is buying you another $25 gift certificate. Maybe you’ll keep that gift certificate for yourself for lunch, use it to buy your mom the perfect gift, or give it to your neighbor as a Secret Santa present. Whatever you decide to do with the certificate, it’s being spent locally, and that’s the goal.

“It is always the Chamber’s goal to encourage local shopping, buying and eating. Through this pandemic, supporting our Grundy County businesses is more imperative than ever, and Dresden station wanted to help. The gift certificate-matching program will help further stimulate local spending and is just another way Dresden station is an asset to this community, its businesses and its residents,” Chamber President and CEO Christina Van Yperen said.

Exelon’s Dresden Generating Station’s two nuclear reactors generate more than 1,800 megawatts of carbon-free energy. This is enough clean electricity to power 1.8 million homes. The station has been a part of the Grundy County community for more than 60 years. It provides hundreds of well-paying jobs and millions of dollars in economic support, including about $24.8 million in taxes annually for schools, roads and other public services. In addition, the station and its employees donate more than $300,000 annually to local organizations and charities.

Exelon recently announced Dresden Station is set to close November 2021. Local leaders, the Grundy Economic Development Council and the Chamber are part of a movement to save Dresden. The impact this plant closure would have on the community would be devastating. The jobs and economic impact Dresden provides cannot be matched, Van Yperen said. To join the movement, visit savedresden.com.

The matching program for the gift certificate purchases is happening now and will continue throughout the holiday season.

“Supporting the community and local businesses during the holidays is incredibly important to the employees of Dresden Station, especially in the midst of a pandemic,” said Pete Karaba, Site Vice President of Dresden Station. “That’s the essence of being a good friend and neighbor.”

The matching program could incentivize $30,000 in local sales at any of the more than 500 businesses that are members of the Grundy and Channahon Minooka chambers. A listing of members can be found on the directory at grundychamber.com. All funds from a gift certificate go straight to the business it is being spent at, keeping the dollars local.

For an extra incentive to buy local this holiday season, when you purchase a Chamber Gift Certificate by Dec. 14 your name will be entered into the Chamber’s Holiday Hometown Shopping giveaway for a chance to win prizes the Chamber has purchased from local members.

To buy a gift certificate, you are encouraged to order in advance of pick up by calling 815-942-0113 or order online at grundychamber.com. Limitations do apply on the matching program. Call the Chamber at 815-942-0113 for information.