511 W. Main Street
Kirkland, Illinois 60146
Phone: 815-522-6179
Fax: 815-522-3501

Navigation:

Greater Kirkland Area
Chamber of Commerce

Kirkland Community News

P.O. Box 208, Kirkland, IL 60146
Ken Brooks - President
(815) 522-9017

The Greater Kirkland Area Chamber of Commerce  The Chamber of Commerce thanks you for your interest in this organization and invites all business owners and
interested persons to join. We meet on the 1st Tuesday of every month at
the Kirkland Village Hall.

Chamber Membership Renewals Due by July. Annual memberships in the Greater Kirkland Area Chamber of Commerce are due for renewal (or new membership) by July 1. Membership for a family or a business with two or fewer employees is $20.00, and membership for a business with more than two employees is $50.00. Memberships can be paid at the Annual Award Luncheon on June 17, or sent to the Chamber at P.O. Box 208, Kirkland, IL 60146.

Web Sites of Kirkland Businesses or Chamber Members

Brooks leading charge for Kirkland chamber
By Bill Braksick - Chronicle News Group

Chamber Seeks "Citizen of Year" Nominations by June 1

The Greater Kirkland Area Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominations for its annual "Citizen of the Year" award. The nominee should be someone who has (1) performed some significant public service, (2) fostered pride in the community, and/or (3) made a lasting contribution to the quality of life in the area served by the Chamber, which is equivalent to the Hiawatha School District. The nominee does not need to live within the area, provided he or she has been active in the community in the ways described.

To nominate someone for this award, please provide a statement in 100 words or less describing why the person you are nominating is deserving of the award. Mail your nomination by June 1 to the Kirkland Chamber of Commerce, P.O., Box 208, Kirkland, IL 60146. Or email your nomination to npcc_1@verizon.net or laudemont@aol.com. Please put "Kirkland Citizen of the Year" in the subject line. Include your own name if you care to, but it is not required.

The Chamber of Commerce will review all nominations and select the person who is to receive the award at the "Citizen of the Year" Award Luncheon. The luncheon will be held June 17 at 11:30 a.m., at the Kirkland Fire Station west of town.

Business Sites Available in Kirkland
Several storefront business sites are available for rent in Kirkland. For information about these locations, contact Dr. Ken Brooks, President 815-522-9017 or kenbrooks55@hotmail.com , Janice Sheehan 815-522-2401 or npcc_1@verizon.net  or the Village Hall 815-522-6179. The Chamber's goal is to help develop retail businesses in the community to the maximum extent possible for the benefit of the entire village.

If you know of a business building, storefront or other space for rent in the greater Kirkland area, please contact the Chamber vice president, Janice Sheehan, so it may be listed and the information shared with the Kirkland Economic Development Board.

Railroad through Kirkland
to Change Ownership

Although it's not a member of the Kirkland Chamber of Commerce, one business operating in Kirkland will be seeing some major changes in the near future. The Iowa, Chicago & Eastern Railroad is included in the merger of its parent line, the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern, into the Canadian Pacific Railway. The $1.48 billion (USD) buyout was announced on September 4, 2007 on the web sites of both railroads (www.cpr.ca and www.dmerail.com). Regulatory approval for the merger must still be secured from the Surface Transportation Board and other agencies.

Potential changes through Kirkland, which will probably not occur for at least a year, could include more and faster trains as track is improved through the infusion of new capital by the Canadian Pacific. The property was attractive to the new owner because the DM&E has secured approval from the Federal government to construct a new line into Wyoming to haul coal from the Powder River Basin. The entire railroad system was offered for sale in order to secure outside capital to construct the line, which could take five to six years. More than likely, however, that coal will not move through Kirkland in large quantities but will move to eastern markets via existing Canadian Pacific lines in Wisconsin. The line through Kirkland may see increased traffic between Chicago and Kansas City.

Kirkland's railroad has had three owners since the demise of the Milwaukee Road (Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific) in 1986 -- The Soo Line (owned by the Canadian Pacific); the I&M Rail Link (owned by Montana Rail Link); and the Illinois Chicago & Eastern (owned by the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern). With this sale the trackage reverts to a previous owner.