Wheaton Business and Industry
Supporting Wheaton’s Businesses
By Catherine L. Tully
Wheaton has a variety of businesses and has been steadily adding new ones to the already interesting lineup of storefronts, offices and restaurants. Jim Kozik, Director of Planning and Economic Development for the City of Wheaton, points out that they have hired a retail consultant to specialize in business recruitment as the city continues to grow.
He notes that there is a lot of building going on, including two projects that have a total of about 10,000 square feet of brand new retail space. In addition, the corporate headquarters for First Trust Portfolio will soon be located in Wheaton in a five-story, 125,000 square foot building. This development will feature 25,000 square feet of retail space when it is finished. Add to all that a 500-car parking garage, and you could say there is a lot going on in this city.
The historic downtown area still remains tree-lined and charming, despite all the development—a lovely area to shop or dine. Businesses there have the focused support of the Downtown Wheaton Association, which offers its members everything from information to financial assistance and works hard to keep the area as vibrant and exciting as possible. The DWA has been in existence for over 20 years and its largest event is an annual Fine Arts Fair, which features an array of artwork, live entertainment, and food. The fair is held the second weekend of July every year. Other events taking place in this district include parades and sidewalk sales.
A solid business economy in any city is usually backed by a strong Chamber of Commerce. Wheaton is a good example of the benefits that this type of an organization can offer in a community. Representing over 500 businesses in Wheaton and the surrounding areas, the Wheaton Chamber of Commerce helps its members by offering monthly membership luncheons, ribbon cuttings, business after hours, open houses and professional development seminars—all of which provide opportunities for networking and education. Other opportunities to get involved include joining a general committee, such as the marketing or membership development committee.
Members can also get on board by participating on a committee that oversees the chamber’s annual events: Autumn Fest or Golf Outing and Steak Fry.
The WCC provides visibility for member businesses through marketing initiatives such as the newsletter and bi-weekly email “blasts.” In addition, members are listed on the Wheaton Chamber’s website at www.ewheaton.com and have a listing in the annual Business and Community Directory. There are additional advertising options for those seeking greater coverage through the tools the WCC employs, including banner ads and enhanced business listings on the website.
Other functions of WCC include an option to participate in the Residential Greeter Program, which sends out approximately 500 packages to new residents in the city each year. Businesses can opt-in to this program for an extremely low cost and include their materials in the box.
The Advantage Newsletter helps keep WCC participants informed about upcoming events and member news. In addition to being the voice of the members, WCC also makes sure that members are aware of issues that could impact their business and does their best to advocate on the behalf of member businesses. The Chamber has recently partnered with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to ensure that members have access to even more programs and services while staying abreast of national issues as well as local ones.
With all of the residential and retail development going on, Wheaton stands ready to become even more of a “destination” as it adds to its already well-shaped community. As the city helps bring in new business, the local organizations are ready to help them assimilate into the community. With the support of organizations such as the Wheaton Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Wheaton Association, this city has, and will continue to do very well.
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