Business Community Relationship

8/12/2024 (Permalink)

The Impact of a Business on Its Community: The Good and the Bad

Businesses play a significant role in shaping the communities they serve. Their impact can be felt in numerous ways, from providing essential services and creating jobs to influencing local culture and contributing to economic growth. However, their presence can also have negative repercussions if not managed responsibly. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for businesses aiming to make a positive difference.

The Positive Impact of Businesses

1. Economic Growth and Employment Opportunities: One of the most tangible benefits businesses bring to their communities is job creation. By hiring locally, businesses boost the local economy, provide income to families, and support other local enterprises. This ripple effect enhances the overall economic health of the area.
2. Community Engagement and Support: Many businesses actively engage with their communities through sponsorships, donations, and volunteering. Whether it’s supporting local schools, sponsoring community events, or participating in charity drives, businesses that give back help to strengthen community bonds and improve the quality of life for residents.
3. Local Development and Infrastructure: Successful businesses contribute to the development and maintenance of local infrastructure. They often invest in improving their facilities, which can lead to better roads, parks, and public spaces. This investment not only enhances their own operations but also benefits the community at large.
4. Cultural and Social Influence: Businesses can also shape the cultural and social landscape of a community. Local businesses that embrace diversity and inclusivity set an example and foster a more welcoming environment. They can also become cultural hubs, offering spaces for social interaction and creativity.

The Negative Impact of Businesses

1. Environmental Degradation: Some businesses, if not regulated properly, can negatively impact the environment. Pollution, waste, and overuse of natural resources can harm local ecosystems and affect residents' health. Responsible businesses should prioritize sustainable practices to mitigate these effects.
2. Economic Disparities: While businesses create jobs, they can also contribute to economic disparities if they pay low wages or offer minimal benefits. This can exacerbate income inequality and lead to economic challenges for certain segments of the population.
3. Community Displacement: Rapid business expansion or gentrification can lead to the displacement of long-time residents. This often occurs when property values rise, making it difficult for local residents to afford their homes and maintain their community connections.
4. Corporate Misconduct: Poor business practices, such as unethical behavior or lack of transparency, can erode trust within the community. Businesses that engage in such practices risk damaging their reputation and harming the community they serve.

SERVPRO’s Positive Impact on the Community

At SERVPRO®, we are dedicated to making a positive impact on our community, and our commitment extends beyond providing top-notch restoration services. We believe that businesses have a responsibility to contribute positively to their surroundings, and we strive to exemplify this through our actions and values.

1. Supporting Local Needs: We actively engage with our community by supporting local events, participating in charitable activities, and partnering with organizations that make a difference. From sponsoring school programs to assisting with local fundraisers, SERVPRO is committed to being a force for good in our area.
2. Creating Jobs and Opportunities: As a local business, we are proud to offer employment opportunities that contribute to the economic stability of the community. Our team members are not only employees but also valued members of the community. We invest in their professional growth and provide a supportive work environment that enhances their lives and the lives of their families.
3. Environmental Responsibility: We take our environmental impact seriously. By using eco-friendly cleaning products and implementing sustainable practices in our operations, we minimize our footprint and contribute to a healthier planet. Our commitment to environmental stewardship reflects our dedication to both our community and the world at large.
4. Community Resilience: In times of crisis, such as after a fire or flood, SERVPRO is there to provide timely and effective restoration services. Our team works tirelessly to help our community recover and rebuild, demonstrating our dedication to supporting our neighbors in their time of need. We understand the challenges our community faces and are here to ensure a swift and smooth recovery process.
5. Education and Awareness: We believe in the power of knowledge and education. By offering workshops and seminars on disaster preparedness and property maintenance, we empower our community with the information they need to protect their homes and businesses. Our goal is to foster a more informed and resilient community.

In conclusion, businesses have the power to shape their communities in both positive and negative ways. At SERVPRO, we are focused on making a positive impact through our community engagement, job creation, environmental responsibility, and commitment to helping those in need. We are dedicated to continuing our efforts to support and uplift our community, ensuring that our presence contributes to a better, more resilient future for all.

For more information on our services or to schedule an appointment, contact SERVPRO of Frankfort at (815)485-6901 or https://www.SERVPRO.com/locations/il/SERVPRO-of-frankfort.

Stay Informed

7/15/2024 (Permalink)

Stay Informed: The Importance of Having Multiple Methods to Receive Local Weather Alerts

Weather can be unpredictable, especially during storm seasons when severe weather can strike with little notice. It’s crucial to stay informed about local weather conditions to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. One of the best ways to do this is by having multiple methods to receive weather alerts. Here’s why it’s important, along with examples of different methods and their benefits and drawbacks.

Why Multiple Weather Alert Methods Are Essential

Relying on a single source for weather alerts can be risky. Different methods of receiving weather alerts ensure that you won’t miss critical information when it matters most. For instance, power outages, network failures, or being out of range for a particular service can all prevent you from receiving vital alerts. By having multiple methods, you create a safety net that increases your chances of staying informed, no matter the situation.

Examples of Weather Alert Methods

1. Emergency Alert System (EAS)
• Benefits: EAS broadcasts emergency alerts via television, radio, and satellite. It’s reliable and widely used, ensuring broad reach.
• Drawbacks: If you’re not near a TV or radio, or if power is out, you might miss these alerts.
2. Weather Radios
• Benefits: NOAA weather radios provide real-time alerts and are battery-powered, making them useful during power outages.
• Drawbacks: You need to have the radio turned on and within hearing range. It’s also another device to keep batteries for and maintain.
3. Mobile Apps
• Benefits: Apps like WeatherBug, The Weather Channel, and local news apps provide instant notifications and detailed information directly to your smartphone.
• Drawbacks: They rely on cellular or Wi-Fi networks, which may be unreliable during severe weather events.
4. SMS Alerts
• Benefits: Many local governments and weather services offer text alerts. They’re simple and effective for quick notifications.
• Drawbacks: They require a functioning mobile network and may not provide detailed information.
5. Social Media
• Benefits: Platforms like Twitter and Facebook can disseminate information quickly. You can also follow multiple sources for diverse updates.
• Drawbacks: Information may not always be accurate or timely. It also requires access to the internet.
6. Community Alert Systems
• Benefits: Services like Everbridge provide community-specific alerts via phone, text, and email, tailored to your location.
• Drawbacks: You need to sign up and maintain your contact information to ensure you receive alerts.

How SERVPRO ® Can Help During Weather Emergencies

During severe weather events, the aftermath can be daunting. From flooding to storm damage, quick and efficient cleanup is essential to prevent further damage and start the recovery process. SERVPRO is a trusted leader in the restoration industry, offering comprehensive services to help you get back on your feet after a weather emergency.

• Water Damage Restoration: Our team of experts can quickly and efficiently remove water, dry affected areas, and prevent mold growth.
• Storm Damage Cleanup: We handle everything from fallen trees to damaged roofs, ensuring your property is safe and secure.
• Mold Remediation: In humid conditions following a storm, mold can become a serious problem. We offer thorough mold remediation services to protect your health and property.

By ensuring you have multiple ways to receive weather alerts and knowing that SERVPRO is ready to assist, you can face severe weather with confidence. Stay safe, stay informed, and know that help is just a call away when you need it most.

For more information on our services or to schedule an appointment, contact SERVPRO of Frankfort at (815)485-6901 or https://www.SERVPRO.com/locations/il/SERVPRO-of-frankfort.

National Night Out

8/23/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Frankfort prides itself in taking part in community events. This year our marketing reps took part in several National Night Out Against Crime events. Our marketing representative were able to attend a few events, playing games with the children who attended. We played the game where the kids picked a duck and won a prize. We were also able to make donations to many other National Night Out events in other towns. We were able to donate things such as chips, water, and raffle baskets that were given out during drawings during the events. 

SERVPRO of Frankfort’s Marketing Representatives enjoyed interacting with our community as well as meeting many of the officers from our towns while we attended the events. We look forward to attending more community events in the future and also look forward to attending the National Night Out Against Crime events in the future years. 

Lessons Learned From Disaster Management Experts

9/26/2017 (Permalink)

Life Lessons Learned From Disaster Readiness Planning, Part 1

At first thought, you might think that planning and preparing for an emergency or disaster has nothing at all to do with being well prepared for real life, every day challenges, but I’ve found that the very principles employed by experts in the in the fields of emergency response and readiness are the very same ones that help us to be well prepared in other areas of life. Read on a little bit, and see what I’ve found:

Know Why

Before embarking on any important mission, know your motivation for embarking on it. In other words, know your “why”. Knowing why you need to accomplish any mission, whether it’s preparing for a natural disaster or a career or a personal goal, brings the most important things about that mission to the surface; allowing you to keep the important things front and center at all times. It also provides motivation for you to draw upon when you run into difficulty, distraction, drudgery and discouragement.

Here are a few rules to follow when discovering your why (or whys). Clearly define your why. No wishy washy or fuzzy, ill-defined reason will do; this is much too important. Make sure your why is important to you; if it’s not it won’t matter enough when the going gets tough, and the going always gets tough at some point. Finally, memorize your why so you can draw upon it in times of need.

Check out this YouTube video of Michael Jr. about why you should know your why, https://youtu.be/LZe5y2D60YU. He’s hilarious, but he also makes the point perfectly in three minutes.

Set Small Easily Achievable Goals (aka Micro-goals)

When dealing with the general public goals have to be easy, or compliance will tank and nothing will get accomplished. This is because the average person is not a highly motivated, over-achieving, type A, super-freak personality. I’ll confess that I’m not this type of person. That’s why I love micro-goals!

The idea is to make goals that are ridiculously easy to achieve. Make goals that are almost impossible not to achieve; at least in the beginning. Then build on your goals, baby step by baby step. For example, if you want to start jogging to get healthier, don’t decide to run 5 miles your first day. Start with a jog you know you’ll accomplish, such as a trip around the block, or even a walk around the block. You’ll never tell yourself you don’t have enough time or energy to do this. You can’t lose! The next day add a block, or a half a block, or a quarter of a block. Whatever you know you can achieve.

Each goal achieved builds on the previous goal accomplished, and before you know it, you’ll find yourself doing quite well. For more information on micro-goal setting, see the Psychology Today article, “Why goal setting doesn’t work”, by Ray Williams.

Severe Weather Safety Expo in New Lenox, IL

5/1/2017 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Frankfort at the Severe Weather Expo in New Lenox,IL

The Village of New Lenox, in partnership with the New Lenox Safe Communities America Coalition and collaborative partners, recently held their 2017 New Lenox Severe Weather Spotter Training / Health and Safety Expo.  The event was held on Wednesday April 26, 2017 at Lincoln-Way West High School, 21701 Gougar Road New Lenox, IL 60451 in the Performing Arts Center. 

The expo hosted 50 organizations, including SERVPRO of Frankfort, from the health, safety, fitness, preparedness and emergency response industries.   Attendees had the opportunity to receive free literature, giveaways, and health screenings while visiting the tables.  

The expo also offered Severe Weather Spotter Training.   The training provided those in attendance with information on what to look for during severe weather season.  Attendees learned about:

• Thunderstorms – lightning, hail, damaging winds, flash flooding and tornadoes;
• Facts and myths about severe weather hazards that impact our area;
• Advisories, watches, and warnings;
• How and where weather spotters can report information from the safety of their homes; and
• Steps that can be taken to prepare for severe weather.

This program was perfect for, parents, scouting groups, amateur radio operators, emergency services, public works, police, fire, schools and anyone else wishing to learn about severe weather.

SERVPRO of Frankfort, IL was proud to participate in this community expo and would like to thank the village of New Lenox, IL for putting on such a great event for the community.