Midwest Business and Climate Change | October 8, 2014

Written by Amy Fitzgerald | Sep 26, 2014 2:26:37 PM

Did you know that Twenty-Five Percent of businesses never reopen after a severe weather event, and that a recent UN report estimates that inaction on climate change could cost $100 billion a year? You may think that this is a worry for coastal businesses and those on fault lines, but less than a year ago, an Illinois town was decimated by a tornado in November. The town has since made strides to recovery, but climate change affects all of us.

Local First Chicago Presents Midwest Business, Extreme Weather and Climate Change: Risks and Opportunities

Even under the most optimistic scenario, extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, and tornadoes are expected to intensify in the Midwest over the next several decades. As these changes come, we are left with more questions than answers:

  • How will these changes affect Midwest businesses?
  • What can business owners do to protect themselves?
  • Will climate change and extreme weather lead to new business opportunities?

The reality is that we are off to the races in terms of climate change. Climate change is accelerating, and at some point, we could reach a tipping point. No one community or business is immune to the risks, including the vast manufacturing base that resides in Illinois. It’s important to stay prepared.

This is why the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center, on behalf of Local First Chicago, would like to invite you to Midwest Business, Extreme Weather and Climate Change: Risks and Opportunities, held on Wednesday, October 8, 2014 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Polish Museum of America—984 N Milwaukee Ave. Chicago, IL 60642.

Pricing

According to the Local First Chicago Event information, tickets will be priced in two tiers, Early bird and regular.

  • Early Bird Registration (Today-October 1): $20.00
  • Regular Registration: $25.00
  • ***No Tickets will be sold at the door***

Click Here to Register on Eventbrite

Speakers

Learn more about the speakers that will be presenting at this October 8 event:

  • Andrew Clarke --- Ground Floor Partners & Local First Chicago
  • Bryan McGannon --- American Sustainable Business Council
  • Lesley Tweedie --- Roscoe Village Bikes & Local First Chicago
  • Jack Darin --- Illinois Director of the Sierra Club
  • Ellen Wesley --- Sustainable Solutions LED
  • Irv Cernauskas --- Irv & Shelly's Fresh Picks

Food and Beverage Providers

Food and beverage will be provided by the following:

  • Appetizers: Heartfelt Catering
  • Local Craft Cider provided by Virtue Cider
  • Wine and Soft Drinks provided by Local First Chicago

Sponsors

Local First Chicago, American Sustainable Business Council, Amata Office Centers, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, Illinois Green Business Association, Made in Chicago, Anderson Development Corporation, Sauganash Chamber of Commerce, Sierra Club, Irv & Shelly's Fresh Picks, Ground Floor Partners, Heartfelt Catering, Roscoe Village Bikes, Virtue Cider, Jubilee Affordable Housing LLC, Illinois Environmental Council, and more.

For More Information

Please contact Mark Walden by phone at 312-287-0151 or by email at mark@localfirstchicago.org.

Click Here to Register for Extreme Weather and Midwest Business

About Local First Chicago

The mission of Local First Chicago is to build thriving, local communities by educating citizens, community groups and policy makers on the positive and enduring economic, social and environmental impacts of local, independently owned businesses, connect and grow a broad base of locally owned independent businesses and train businesses and other parties in socially, environmentally and economically sustainable practices.

Local First Chicago is a network of locally owned, independent businesses, community organizations and citizens joined together to keep money and character in our neighborhoods and build a thriving local living economy.  In doing so, we hope to promote the overall social, economic, and environmental health of our economy and communities.

About IMEC

The Illinois Manufacturers Excellence Center (IMEC) was established in 1996 to improve the productivity and competitiveness of Illinois’ small and mid-sized manufacturing firms. A non-profit economic development organization, IMEC is funded in part by the National Institute of Standards and Technology – Manufacturing Extension Partnership, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and by fees for services paid by Illinois manufacturers.