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COVID-19 Resources

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15 East 3rd Street
Sterling, IL 61081
Phone: 815.626.8610
Email: info@sterlingmainstreet.org

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Since the weather just keeps looking so iffy, we'r

Since the weather just keeps looking so iffy, we're proceeding with caution and will bring you tonight's festivities inside! Join us at Champs from 5-8 tonight for our Pop-Up Market!

Hey there! The office is going to have some short

Hey there! The office is going to have some shortened hours this week while I head "back to school" for a week of training. (Visit https://www.mainstreet.org/howwecanhelp/msai/historicrealestate if you'd like more info on what I'm learning...).

Lori will be in the office 8:30A-1P Monday through Thursday and I'll be checking in during the evenings. We'll be back to business as usual on the 21st.

Thanks for your patience if our response time is a bit longer than usual this week! ~Janna

#neverstoplearning #imaginesterling

Guess what went up today? Thanks Distinctive Gard

Guess what went up today? Thanks Distinctive Gardens, as always they look spectacular! Can't wait to see them flower all summer long!

#DiDiDAY #ImagineSterling #DowntownBeautification

Our downtown business spotlights continue.... Be

Our downtown business spotlights continue....

Becky Murray has been a big part of downtown Sterling for more than 21 years since starting Massage Works. Four years ago she brought Merle Norman back to the community as well. We sat down with her recently and talked about the evolution of her businesses - and buildings - in the downtown.

In addition to the great advice she offers up for aspiring entrepreneurs, she talked about the importance of utilizing local resources such as Main Street, the Chamber and the services of the SBDC at Sauk. She said "Our brains don't quit. That's the sad thing, we're constantly thinking of what can we do to improve [our business], what can we do to make it better."

#SmallBusinessSpotlight #imaginesterling

More from Lisa's Brickhouse.....Ashley offers up h

More from Lisa's Brickhouse.....Ashley offers up her advice on taking the leap to start your own business.

“My best advice to you is that there is never a perfect time to do it, you will never be fully ready, you will never be perfectly prepared, you will never have it all figured out, but you have to do it because you will figure it out as time goes along and you'll be really happy that you did because otherwise you're going to be waiting forever to do it, get out and do it. The community will support you, they will show up and show you the love and give you all the tools you need to succeed."

#justgoforit #smallbusinessspotlight #imaginesterling #downtownsterling

A little greenery to brighten this dreary day. Com

A little greenery to brighten this dreary day. Coming June 9th to a downtown lamppost near you... #flowerpower #streetscape #downtownsterling #imaginesterling

We had a blast chatting with Lisa and a couple of

We had a blast chatting with Lisa and a couple of her employees for this Business Spotlight. Not only did Lisa tell us how important her staff is to her, but it's pretty clear from her staff as well.

Chelsey summed it up perfectly...

“Well for one, Ashley and I both talked about we've never had a boss that genuinely cares and like Lisa said she tries really hard to accommodate us and make sure we're happy and see what she can do like you're stressed out or she just takes really really good care of us. So initially when I started here, my plan was to do this for a little while, while I was going to school for something else, and then leave here. I haven't even looked into schooling, because I am happy here, and, like, at this point in my life I can't really imagine leaving here.”

#imaginesterling #smallbusinessspotlight

Did you know that May is National Small Business M

Did you know that May is National Small Business Month? To celebrate we'd like to help you get to know some of our downtown business owners and their employees better.

Lisa Escamilla had been working at Champs for 17+ years when the opportunity presented itself for her to purchase the bar. Champs was relocating around the corner. While the deal had been in the works for quite a while as renovations were being made to the new Champs location, Lisa officially purchased the building on January 30, 2018.

“Our first year, 2018, was a good year. I worked out a lot of kinks, did a lot of crying, learned a lot of stuff. I thought I went into it well prepared, that Denny had taught me everything I needed to know. I then learned really fast that I knew nothing about owning a bar, and was like ‘holy cow, what did I get into’. To me, I'm successful because of who I have working for me. Everybody in this building has helped me make baby steps to get to where we are and helped me make the big and little decisions every single day. It's very hands on, 24/7, and the people who work here, the people who come here are like my family, my employees are like my kids. I love them all dearly.

2019 was a great year. 2020 was supposed to be a year of more growing. We were lucky enough to sustain the business that we had. We went from almost zero carry out orders to 400-500 carry outs per week. So we're hoping in 2021 to continue to grow as much as we can in a 1,000 square foot building.”

#ImagineSterling #SmallBizSpotlight

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