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Thursday, June 04, 2026
Troy/Edwardsville Shrine Club to Host BBQ Competition at 5th Annual “Smoke N For The Kids” BBQ Festival
TROY, IL — The Troy/Edwardsville Shrine Club is proud to present the BBQ Competition portion of the 5th Annual “Smoke N For The Kids” BBQ Festival, taking place Friday and Saturday, August 15–16, 2026, at Tri-Township Park in Troy, Illinois. Sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS), the competition will feature both Professional and Backyard BBQ Series divisions, bringing talented barbecue competitors from across the region to Troy for a weekend of championship-level cooking. Competitors
Thursday, June 04, 2026Live Music Lineup Announced for 5th Annual “Smoke N For The Kids” BBQ Festival
TROY, IL — The Troy/Edwardsville Shrine Club is excited to announce the live music lineup for the 5th Annual “Smoke N For The Kids” BBQ Festival, taking place Friday and Saturday, August 15–16, 2026, at Tri-Township Park in Troy, Illinois. Along with championship barbecue, food, vendors, cold beverages, and family-friendly activities, festival guests can enjoy a full weekend of live entertainment featuring talented regional musicians and bands. Saturday’s live music lineup will include Noon Blue Grass
Thursday, May 28, 20265th Annual Smoke N For The Kids BBQ Festival Returns to Troy August 15-16
TROY, IL — The Troy/Edwardsville Shrine Club is proud to present the 5th Annual “Smoke N For The Kids” BBQ Festival on Friday and Saturday, August 15-16, 2026, at Tri-Township Park in Troy, Illinois. The family-friendly event will feature championship BBQ competition, live music, a bags tournament, car show, great food, cold beverages, and fun for all ages — all while supporting a great cause benefiting children through Shriner initiatives. Sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS), the
Tuesday, May 26, 2026Troy/Maryville/St. Jacob/Marine Chamber of Commerce Foundation Announces 2026 Scholarship Winners
The Troy/Maryville/St. Jacob/Marine Chamber of Commerce Foundation is proud to announce the recipients of the 2026 Chamber Foundation Scholarships. Five outstanding local students were selected to receive $1,000 scholarships in recognition of their academic achievements, leadership, community involvement, and future goals. The 2026 scholarship recipients are: • Emilynn Graklanoff • Addison Mallette • Alexia Metcalf • Conner Martens • Xavier Carter The Chamber Foundation scholarship program is
Tuesday, May 26, 2026First Fridays Returns to Downtown Troy with “Crafts. Corks. Casks.” on June 5
TROY, IL – The Troy/Maryville/St. Jacob/Marine Chamber of Commerce invites the community to kick off summer at First Fridays: Crafts. Corks. Casks. on Friday, June 5, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in Downtown Troy. This popular community event will transform downtown into a vibrant destination filled with live music, local shopping, food, family-friendly activities, and a unique tasting experience featuring regional breweries, wineries, and distilleries. Guests can stroll through downtown businesses,
Tuesday, May 26, 2026Chamber’s Business Builder Series Helps Professionals Present, Network and Lead with Impact
TROY, IL – The Troy/Maryville/St. Jacob/Marine Chamber of Commerce recently hosted its highly successful Business Builder Series: Presenting, Networking & Leading with Impact Workshop at the Tri-Township Public Library, bringing together business professionals, community leaders, and entrepreneurs for an engaging two-hour learning experience. The interactive workshop focused on three essential professional development areas: presenting with confidence, building meaningful business relationships through
Thursday, April 16, 2026What Makes Customers Stay: Engagement Strategies for Troy-Maryville Small Businesses
Effective customer engagement comes down to a straightforward principle: make customers feel seen, heard, and valued — consistently. For small businesses across Troy, Maryville, St. Jacob, and Marine, where neighbors know neighbors and word travels fast along the I-70/I-55 corridor, that principle isn't abstract. It's the difference between a one-time sale and a customer who becomes your best referral source.Why Retention Is the Better Growth Strategy Most business owners spend more time thinking about
Friday, March 20, 2026Brand Refresh or Full Rebrand? What TMSM-Area Businesses Should Decide First
A brand refresh is a set of targeted updates to your visual identity, messaging, or positioning — distinct from a full rebrand, which overhauls everything including your name and core values. The difference matters because most businesses that feel "stuck" don't need to start over; they need strategic, focused updates. G2's branding research found that consistent brand presentation across all platforms increases revenue by up to 10–20%, making a well-executed refresh one of the highest-ROI moves a local
Thursday, February 05, 2026Building Strategy From the Ground Up: Lessons From Local Markets
Understanding your local market is no longer a side project — it’s your competitive edge. Small shifts in customer sentiment, spending habits, or competitor positioning can tell you exactly where to move next. The challenge is translating that noise into actionable strategy.Key Takeaways Local insights reveal the "why" behind customer choices and can guide pricing, messaging, and product decisions. Turning insights into strategy requires structured collection, pattern recognition, and consistent
Friday, September 26, 20252025 “SEE THE SIGNS … BE THE CHANGE” WOMEN’S CONFERENCE SET
Women leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals across the region are invited to mark their calendars for the highly anticipated 2025 Women's Conference, themed "See The Signs... Be The Change." This empowering event, set to take place on Wednesday, November 5, at The Outlet at Edison’s Entertainment Complex. The day will be filled with a full day of insightful discussions, practical workshops, and unparalleled networking opportunities designed to inspire growth, foster leadership, and champion
Monday, September 15, 2025How Visual Storytelling Can Shape Brand Identity, Engage Customers, and Fuel Small Business Growth
You’re launching a new product, hosting an event, or celebrating your first 100 customers. You know you need to stand out — but the question is how. In today’s crowded landscape, visual storytelling isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s one of the most powerful ways small businesses can build a compelling brand and convert interest into growth.Why Visual Storytelling Works So Well for Small Businesses Unlike faceless corporations, local businesses thrive on connection. Visual stories give your brand
Friday, August 15, 2025What First-Time Founders Actually Need to Run Smoothly
Starting a business doesn’t just take vision. It takes systems. The kind that hold under pressure, that work at 11 p.m. after everyone else logs off, and that still respond when your brain won’t. That’s why so many early-stage founders stall — not because the idea’s wrong, but because the tools weren’t ready when momentum was. Managing your time, money, and mental energy takes more than hustle. It takes help. And it has to come in a form that doesn’t demand a second MBA just to make sense of
Tuesday, July 15, 2025Troy Celebrates National Night Out with Family Fun, Community Connection, and First Responders
Troy, IL – Mark your calendars for a fun-filled evening as the Troy Police Department, the Troy/Maryville/St. Jacob/Marine Chamber of Commerce, and local partners proudly host National Night Out on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Tri-Township Park Pavilion #10 (near the football fields). This community-focused event is part of the nationwide initiative to strengthen police-community partnerships and promote neighborhood camaraderie. The evening will kick off with a
Monday, July 14, 2025CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SEEKING FALL COLLEGE INTERNS
The Troy/Maryville/St. Jacob/Marine Chamber of Commerce is seeking fall Chamber college interns. Students who apply should be a junior or senior in college and enrolled in mass communication, social media, video, public relations, business, marketing or office management. The Chamber is seeking students who can work independently, pay attention to detail, are reliable and are willing to do any task at hand. Interns are very important to the success of the Chamber as they are each involved in all
Monday, July 07, 2025APPLICATIONS BEING ACCEPTED FOR NEXT ROUND OF TROY HOMETOWN HERO BANNERS
If you have driven through downtown Troy, Illinois, in the last few years, you have noticed the Troy Hometown Hero banners hanging on the poles. The banners represent individuals who have been nominated by family members and friends who have served in the military or served the community. “Heroes come in so many forms” said Dawn Mushill, President/CEO of the Troy/Maryville/St. Jacob/Marine Chamber of Commerce. “When friends and families contact us, they always have a great story about their hero” said
Wednesday, May 07, 2025The Digital Lockbox: Modern Safeguards for Business Intellectual Property
In the fast-moving sprawl of the digital marketplace, your intellectual property can vanish with the click of a mouse or the scrape of a web page. Ideas, once guarded in filing cabinets and boardroom discussions, are now traded, transformed, and sometimes stolen in seconds. For startups and established firms alike, defending that intellectual property—your designs, code, content, or branding—has never felt so urgent. But with a clever blend of legal, technical, and practical tools, it’s still very
Monday, January 06, 2025Bold Moves to Grow Your Restaurant Like Never Before
Scaling a restaurant business is a multifaceted endeavor that demands a keen understanding of market dynamics and consumer behavior. As the industry evolves, restaurateurs must adopt forward-thinking strategies to remain competitive and profitable. From leveraging digital tools to enhancing customer engagement, each step taken can significantly impact your restaurant’s growth trajectory. By focusing on efficiency, sustainability, and customer satisfaction, you can create a robust framework for expansion
