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With the new academic year bubbling on the horizon, the ������Ƶ Area Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to partner with ������Ƶ College’s Office of Community Partnerships, Planning and Research, and Division of Student Affairs to welcome college students into town! On Monday, August 25, first-year students and Renfrow Hall downtown residents are invited to experience a taste of ������Ƶ for the .

As part of the ������Ƶ Chamber’s warm welcome, the event will feature yummy bite samples from some of its members, including Prairie Hospitality Group, Grin City Bakery, and Dari Barn. Not only will students meet fellow first-year students and the Chamber staff, but they will also meet local business owners and discover resources to connect with local community events and volunteer opportunities.

“There is no doubt that the atmosphere in the town is different when the college students are back in town,” says Julie Smith, owner of the charming McNally’s grocery store. McNally’s is one of many businesses participating in the ������Ƶ Chamber’s discount program this year. 

At the upcoming event, first-year and Renfrow Hall students will receive a Student Discount Card, courtesy of the Chamber and its members. Participating restaurants and retailers will provide discounts and deals to students who present their discount cards at their businesses, including members like CleanFoodFix Wellness Studio, Anna Kayte’s Boutique, and Witte’s Home Decorating. “We are excited to see the students, and the discount program is our way of saying thank you for the vitality they bring to downtown,” adds Smith.

Fostering a strong connection between college students and the Chamber’s local businesses is a key focus for Rachael Kinnick, president and CEO of the ������Ƶ Chamber. “We want students to build relationships with not only our office at the Chamber of Commerce but also with all our downtown businesses,” she says. “We want them to know they are welcome here and that we are excited to have them.”

Last year, when the Chamber of Commerce held a similar event for new Renfrow Hall residents, the discount program debuted to help students explore local retailers and restaurants as they began settling into the greater ������Ƶ community. About 95 students came to interact with the town’s local business owners and employees, making it no question that the event would return again to greet a new portion of the town’s residents.

Monica Chavez-Silva, ������Ƶ College’s vice president of community engagement and strategic planning, is excited to support the Chamber after the successful inaugural event. “Wonderful collaborative events like this between the College and the Chamber highlight the shared opportunities and collective energy that come from working together,” she shares, “while also giving our students meaningful ways to connect with the place they call home during their time here. We are excited to welcome new students and returning students to campus and the community of ������Ƶ.”

With the help of ������Ƶ College, the ������Ƶ Chamber has also been able to incorporate current student experiences, like using their Dining Dollars meal plan, into the greater ������Ƶ community. Chamber members, such as Pagliali’s Pizza and McNally’s, accept dining dollars for students to regularly dine and enjoy study snacks beyond campus.

“It is so important to have students in the community, whether at shops or restaurants,” remarks Smith. “When students see people they know work at McNally’s, for example, or meet a fellow college student working there for the first time, it builds a sense of community. Then they really are seeing what it is like to live here.”

Explore, connect, and “Get Into ������Ƶ” with the Chamber on Monday, August 25, at the Katherine Howell Weingart ‘61 Civic Innovation Pavilion on 1033 Broad St. Truly experience the full array of flavors that ������Ƶ has to offer you during your time living in the heart of downtown or throughout your four years on campus. To learn more about the ������Ƶ Area Chamber of Commerce, visit their website at or visit their social media platforms, and .

About the Author

Yesenia Mozo ’22 graduated from ������Ƶ College with a psychology degree and a policy studies concentration. After graduation, she stayed at her alma mater as a content specialist within the Communications and Marketing Office. As the current Marketing and Communications Coordinator with the , she helps advance economic growth within local businesses, and coordinates local programming and community events to help make the ������Ƶ community a great place to live, learn, work, and play. Yesenia is originally from New Jersey, and in her free time, she loves to travel, read, and play board games. She is also a NJ SEEDS alumna from 2014 and a School Year Abroad France graduate from 2017.