2021 Antwerp Chamber of Commerce
The Antwerp Chamber of Commerce has closed out an “almost back to normal” 2021. We began by growing our membership to 49 businesses, 19 non-profits, 11 home-based businesses and 9 friends of the library chamber memberships. This included a growth in our home-based businesses category. These range from local crafters to direct sales representatives. We also continued our Spotlight on area businesses by doing feature articles on Krazy Krafters, Pond-a-River, Antwerp Manor, Antwerp Conservation Club, Leinard Mobile Home Court and Gen Fed Credit Union. We had grand openings for 3 new businesses/business owners this year. The new Sub and Grub in the old Subway building, the new owner of Leinard Mobile Home Park, and recently for Antwerp Corner Café.
For the third year we awarded our Antwerp Chamber scholarship to a deserving senior from Vantage, Eli Molitor. Eli graduated from Vantage in the Ag and Industrial Power Technology program. He is attending the University of Northwestern Ohio majoring in Agricultural Diesel Technology. Upon completion of this two-year degree, he intends to continue farming as well as working in a shop repairing diesel engines. The Chamber paired Eli with Kyle Kauser, Transportation Director at Antwerp Local Schools. Kyle has tremendous experience in working with diesel engines through the bus garage and will be a tremendous asset to Eli as he works towards his professional goals. Our Cutie Pie Contest during Day in the Park supports our scholarship each year.
In April and May we celebrated Mother’s Day with #antwerpshop4mom days. Community businesses ran specials and home based businesses were open at the VFW and the old Papa Oley’s building.
In June we once again sponsored the Town-wide garage sales. Chamber was able to make a map of sales in the area and business sponsors on the back. These were available for shoppers to pick up as they moved from sale to sale.
We also test drove the 3/50 project. For every $100 spent in locally owned and independent stores, $68 stay in the community in the forms of taxes, payroll and other expenditure. We challenged people to choose 3 businesses that they would miss if they were no longer here and to spend $50 in each business. We did this for 4 months and each winner won $50 in Chamber Bucks. Winners were Suz Bagley, Cyndy Bowers, Judy Sawyer and Brenda Copsey. Grab Your Neighbor and Explore Your Downtown was shortened to just the kiddie parade in July with bingo following at the VFW and the 3rd annual dog show in August. Both were well attended despite having rain both days. Many children turned out for the parade and bingo and about 12 dogs entered the dog show with Fergus being the winner. Donations were taken up at the dog show for the Paulding County dog kennel.
With a little help from our local Girl Scout troop we continued with a fun activity this summer involving books. We took in donations of gently used books, placed them in plastic bags with a note, and hid them around town and out at the park. Kids were encouraged to find a book, read it and then place it back in the bag and rehide it for someone else to find. Our hope is that the children enjoyed some reading time throughout the summer months.
Day in the Park was a huge success with the theme being Best Vacation Ever. The Park was filled with townsfolk eager to see the great entertainment, crafters, food vendors, parade, games for the kids, Cutie Pie Contest and silent auction. Water to Wine provided our musical entertainment for the day and Laurel Hopkins was our Gem of the Year. Our total profit from Day in the Park was $2083.00. The Genesis House was the winner of the traveling trophy. We want to thank everyone who donated and participated in our big event.
In early November we partnered with the Holly Beach Splash Pad group and sponsored a wine bus trip on a beautiful Saturday morning. All proceeds went directly to help fund the splash pad and we raised $3000.00 and had a tremendous amount of fun doing it.
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.
Next we held a Christmas tree lighting/carol sing at Greenway 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. While we wait for our new tree to grow we lit up the arbor with our artificial tree and the nativity.
To encourage businesses to decorate for the holidays we had a contest for the best festive light display. We had 13 businesses join us and 43 people voted. The winner was Small Town Bliss. They now can proudly display a life size version of the leg lamp from the Christmas Story movie. The leg lamp will become a traveling trophy and we can’t wait to crown a new winner in 2022.
Secret Santa Shop was again a fun time for our kiddos and a chance for businesses to show off a few gifts. For $5 per gift a child could shop in our Santa shop where they purchased small gifts for their family. Once again, we were able to use the meeting room at the VFW for this event. All items are provided by our local businesses and all monies went back to the businesses. This year $1160.00 went back to local businesses.
We wrapped up 2021 with Santa’s mailbox set up next to the town hall. Our busy little elf helps Santa answer between 100 and 125 letters to Santa each year.
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 category as well so if you like the things we are doing, we invite you to join us.
Thank you, businesses, for all that you do to support the Chamber. We look forward to seeing all of you in 2022.