From the Lake in the Hills Chamber of Commerce:
Chamber Foundation Awards First ALERT Fund Grant to The Annex After Break-In
ALGONQUIN/LAKE IN THE HILLS, Il. — The Algonquin/Lake in the Hills Chamber Foundation today announced its first ALERT Fund grant, awarded to The Annex Restaurant & Lounge following an overnight break-in that left the business with more than $1,200 in damage after a door was smashed and an attempt was made to steal the gaming ATM earlier this month.
“We’re proud to stand with the business owners who invest here, serve our community, and employ our neighbors,” said Greg Urban, executive director of the Algonquin/Lake in the Hills Chamber of Commerce.
“When incidents like this occur, we step up to help bridge the gap and show that this community has their back.”
“They may have broken into our restaurant but they didn’t steal our flavor,” said Peter Alevras, owner of The Annex Restaurant & Lounge.
“Come try our great food and intriguing slots. We’ve got the heaviest ATM’s around!”
About the ALERT Fund
The ALERT (Algonquin Lake in the Hills Emergency Recovery Team) Fund provides rapid, small grants to help locally impacted businesses cover unexpected costs from incidents such as
- vandalism,
- theft,
- fire,
- flood, or
- other damage.
By delivering quick, flexible support, the ALERT Fund helps business owners stabilize operations, keep staff employed, and reopen their doors to the community.
Foundation Relaunch & Programs
Relaunched in late 2024, the Algonquin/Lake in the Hills Chamber Foundation focuses on two community-support programs:
- ALERT Fund — Emergency micro-grants to help businesses recover from damage and disruption.
- Entrepreneur Academy — Scholarships and no-cost training, workshops, and resources that help entrepreneurs and employees upskill and grow.
How the Community Can Help
Residents are encouraged to patronize The Annex Restaurant & Lounge in the coming days and weeks to show support.
The Annex Restaurant & Lounge, 2104 W Algonquin Rd, Lake in the Hills, Illinois 60156
www.annexrestaurant.com | (224) 333-0035
Community members who wish to help future businesses in times of need can donate to the Chamber Foundation and the ALERT Fund at www.ALChamberFoundation.org. All donations are tax-deductible.
About the Algonquin/Lake in the Hills Chamber Foundation
The Algonquin/Lake in the Hills Chamber Foundation (501(c)(3)) supports a resilient local economy by funding emergency relief for businesses, offering education through the Entrepreneur Academy, and partnering with community organizations to foster job growth and opportunity. Learn more at ALChamberFoundation.org.
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I asked if this was the first such emergency relief fund a Chamber had crearted.
Executive Director Greg Urban replied,
“I grew up in the area but lived in the Seattle area for 20 years before moving back in 2022.
“I ran the Edmonds Chamber of Commerce which had a sister Foundation.
“I created a business disaster grant program there called the WISH Fund.
“In 3 years we were able to give out almost $40,000 in grants.
“When I moved back and took over running the Algonquin/Lake in the Hills Chamber I felt it was important to restart the Chamber Foundation (which closed in 2018) expressly with the idea of bringing this type of business support grant to the community.
“This was our first grant given and we have at least 2 others who expressed interest recently.
“This program has no Chamber membership requirement.
“It is open to any business in Lake in the Hills or Algonquin.”
