Vella Highlights Illinois-Made Holiday Shopping Guide, Works to Support Local Businesses

ROCKFORD, Ill. – With the holiday season fast approaching, state Rep. Dave Vella, D-Rockford, is encouraging residents to take advantage of this year’s Illinois Made Holiday Gift Guide and support Illinois businesses when buying gifts for their friends and family.

“We are all lucky to have so many amazing small businesses throughout our community and our state as a whole,” said Vella. “Especially after the difficult past year and a half they have had to endure, we must come together and do our part to show how much we appreciate these businesses. I highly encourage residents to look through the many incredible gifts that are made in Illinois and support our local businesses this holiday season.”

The Illinois Office of Tourism has released their Illinois Made Holiday Gift Guide, which includes gift ideas such as sparkling wine, flavored popcorn and custom-hemmed denim that are made by small businesses in Illinois. Residents interested in viewing the guide can visit enjoyillinois.com/Illinois-made/holiday-gift-guide/.

Highlighting the guide is just one way that Vella has worked to support local businesses during his time in the General Assembly. He recently introduced legislation supporting the hospitality industry by providing a tax credit when they provide various employee benefits. Vella also introduced legislation waiving municipal and county licensing fees for veteran-owned businesses.

“Illinois businesses are an integral part of what makes our community and communities across our state special,” said Vella. “This holiday season and moving forward, it is important we are supporting these local businesses. I look forward to ensuring that state government is doing its part of help these businesses thrive.”