After a year defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Rochelle Chamber of Commerce held its yearly awards night on Thursday at the Kennay Farms Distilling Rickhouse.
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ROCHELLE — After a year defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Rochelle Chamber of Commerce held its yearly awards night on Thursday at the Kennay Farms Distilling Rickhouse.
"Small business owners are a special group of people anyways,” Chamber Executive Director Tricia Herrera said. “But to recognize them for their hard work and their resiliency, we could have given out 50 awards tonight for the businesses that have come out so much stronger on the other side of the pandemic.
Kennay Farms Distilling was awarded the Family Business of the Year award after it changed its business model to make hand sanitizer at the beginning of the pandemic. Herrera called the business a destination for the community and praised its investment in downtown Rochelle.
The Cypress House won the Small Business of the Year award after it opened an online storefront, promoted itself on social media, offered delivery and encouraged support of restaurants in town during COVID-19. It also held outdoor summer markets with other businesses.
The Flight Deck Bar & Grill won the Restaurant of the Year award after it adapted and did curbside pickup, take and make meals and provided food to frontline workers during the pandemic.
Midwestern Clothing Company won the Welcome to Rochelle award. In nine months the business went from an online boutique to opening its own storefront downtown, creating another option for shoppers in town.
The Retailer of the Year award was given to Rochelle Ace Hardware. The business added staff and inventory after demand rose during COVID-19.
Meyers Furniture was honored with the Legacy Award. The business is in its third generation of leadership and has made contributions to the community in avenues such as youth sports.
Finally, Herrera awarded the Director’s Award to the City of Rochelle’s Team Rochelle after its work to aid pandemic-impacted businesses with three rounds of grants and incentivizing shopping local.
“We have a great relationship with the city,” Herrera said. “They're very generous to our members. We work well with them and they include us on projects that we couldn't facilitate alone. We're always very proud of that partnership."
