ABOUT US:
Invest Elyria is a non-profit group staffed entirely by volunteers. We are a group with a genuine desire to promote Elyria's community as a great place to live, work, and raise a family. Invest Elyria is focused on the arts, food and commerce. We believe in keeping Elyria businesses thriving, and improving the morale of our community. IE also develops initiatives to encourage good citizenship and bring neighbors together. We also support and are actively involved in keeping our streets and parks safe and clean.
Invest Elyria is a non-profit group staffed entirely by volunteers. We are a group with a genuine desire to promote Elyria's community as a great place to live, work, and raise a family. Invest Elyria is focused on the arts, food and commerce. We believe in keeping Elyria businesses thriving, and improving the morale of our community. IE also develops initiatives to encourage good citizenship and bring neighbors together. We also support and are actively involved in keeping our streets and parks safe and clean.
What We Do:
2015:
-Sponsored the Mayoral Debate: Sept 2015
-Before I Die...I Want To: Mural painted in downtown Elyria by IE Volunteers Sep.2015
-New Website: Created Invest Elyria's new website: Nov. 2015
-IE's Small Business Saturday; Promoting small businesses in Elyria Nov. 2015
-Invest Elyria Light Up Elyria Contest in Dec. 2015
-IE's entry in the Elyria Arts Councils tree decorating contest; Dec. 2015
2016:
-IE receives Non-Profit 501(c)3 Status-Jan 2016
-Invest Elyria collects truck full of drinking water to help the people of Flint , Mich.- Jan. 2016
-Invest Elyria Compassion Week-Putting out scarves, hat, gloves and coats in Ely Square for the homeless, those items not picked up at Ely Square are donated to St. Andrews Episcopal Church for their Warming Shelter. Feb 2016
-Invest Elyria Steps To Success -Part 1 of 2 for Small business owners in Elyria; Feb. 2016;
-Invest /Elyria and Girl Scout Troop join together for a Pancake Fundraiser-April 2016
-Taste of Elyria: Promoting local restaurants on our website and Facebook Pages throughout the Month of May 2016
-IE Volunteers at the Super Heroes for Kids Day at Ely Square May 2016
-Invest Elyria Steps To Success -Part 2 of 2 for Small Business owners in Elyria; June 2016
-IE Volunteers on Elyria Pride Day: Planting flowers, and plants at #1 Fire House-June 2016
-IE entry in the Memorial Day Parade honoring all those killed in action from all wars. Trophy presented to IE for Best Historical Entry in the parade
-Ribbon cutting ceremony with Mayor Holly Brinda at the new Elyria Farmers Market-June 2016
-IE Booth at the American cancer Society's Relay For Life Flea Market; July 2016
-Invest Elyria's: Elyria Farmers Market runs till Sept. 17, 2016
-Book Drive: October 2016
-UHEMH Relay for Life and Invest Elyria join to help the Salvation Army with volunteer Bell Ringers for the Holiday Season Nov-Dec 2016
-Advent Baskets: Thanks to Peggy Zarlinga for heading up this project for IE. Along with the baskets we delivered 10 personal care packages to St. Agnes Church. We'd also like to thank Melissa Merrill Snyder, Carol Munger for contributing! December 2016
2017:
-IE creates the Bicentennial page on this website celebrating Elyria(photos added throughout 2017)
-Warming Drive (Yarn Collection)- Nov. 2016-Feb. 2017 : Collected and donated yarn for next years event. Thanks to Beth Doyle for creating and running this project along with her group The Elyria Hookers.
- Participated in the Chili Cook Off at the Moose Lodge to support UHEMH Relay for Life Jan.28,2017
- Elyria Pride Day May 20th: Volunteers cleaning flower beds, planting flowers and other plants at Elyria Fire Station #1 and at Pioneer Plaza
- Pancake Extravaganza Breakfast Fundraiser May 29th at St. Andrew's Church in downtown Elyria
- IE runs the Elyria Farmers Market in downtown every Saturday from June 17- Sept. 9th
-IE along with Journey Around Music and the City of Elyria puts on the The Scenic East Falls Concert Series in June, July, and Sept. 2017.
-IE car in the Grand Bicentennial Parade Aug.5, 2017
-IE sponsors Small Business Saturday as a Neighborhood champion for 25 local businesses in November 2017
2018:
Jan. 2018 IE is working with several people/organizations in support of their drives to help the needy: Warming Event(Beth Doyle), Advent Baskets(Peggy Zarlinga and Tanya), Warm Angels Blankets(Barbie Blackhall) December 2017/Jan-April 2018
March 2018:
-March 3, 2018: IE volunteers help out at the Special Olympics Hoops at LCCC
-March 24, 2018; Invest Elyria Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser theme this year: "Breakfast with the Easter Bunny"
April 2018:
IE working with Our F.A.M.I.L.Y. will be delivering food to those in need to locations in our city with our pilot "Mobile Market" project. Thank You Bendix Corp. for the generous donation of the van for this project.
May 2018:
June 2018:
2015:
-Sponsored the Mayoral Debate: Sept 2015
-Before I Die...I Want To: Mural painted in downtown Elyria by IE Volunteers Sep.2015
-New Website: Created Invest Elyria's new website: Nov. 2015
-IE's Small Business Saturday; Promoting small businesses in Elyria Nov. 2015
-Invest Elyria Light Up Elyria Contest in Dec. 2015
-IE's entry in the Elyria Arts Councils tree decorating contest; Dec. 2015
2016:
-IE receives Non-Profit 501(c)3 Status-Jan 2016
-Invest Elyria collects truck full of drinking water to help the people of Flint , Mich.- Jan. 2016
-Invest Elyria Compassion Week-Putting out scarves, hat, gloves and coats in Ely Square for the homeless, those items not picked up at Ely Square are donated to St. Andrews Episcopal Church for their Warming Shelter. Feb 2016
-Invest Elyria Steps To Success -Part 1 of 2 for Small business owners in Elyria; Feb. 2016;
-Invest /Elyria and Girl Scout Troop join together for a Pancake Fundraiser-April 2016
-Taste of Elyria: Promoting local restaurants on our website and Facebook Pages throughout the Month of May 2016
-IE Volunteers at the Super Heroes for Kids Day at Ely Square May 2016
-Invest Elyria Steps To Success -Part 2 of 2 for Small Business owners in Elyria; June 2016
-IE Volunteers on Elyria Pride Day: Planting flowers, and plants at #1 Fire House-June 2016
-IE entry in the Memorial Day Parade honoring all those killed in action from all wars. Trophy presented to IE for Best Historical Entry in the parade
-Ribbon cutting ceremony with Mayor Holly Brinda at the new Elyria Farmers Market-June 2016
-IE Booth at the American cancer Society's Relay For Life Flea Market; July 2016
-Invest Elyria's: Elyria Farmers Market runs till Sept. 17, 2016
-Book Drive: October 2016
-UHEMH Relay for Life and Invest Elyria join to help the Salvation Army with volunteer Bell Ringers for the Holiday Season Nov-Dec 2016
-Advent Baskets: Thanks to Peggy Zarlinga for heading up this project for IE. Along with the baskets we delivered 10 personal care packages to St. Agnes Church. We'd also like to thank Melissa Merrill Snyder, Carol Munger for contributing! December 2016
2017:
-IE creates the Bicentennial page on this website celebrating Elyria(photos added throughout 2017)
-Warming Drive (Yarn Collection)- Nov. 2016-Feb. 2017 : Collected and donated yarn for next years event. Thanks to Beth Doyle for creating and running this project along with her group The Elyria Hookers.
- Participated in the Chili Cook Off at the Moose Lodge to support UHEMH Relay for Life Jan.28,2017
- Elyria Pride Day May 20th: Volunteers cleaning flower beds, planting flowers and other plants at Elyria Fire Station #1 and at Pioneer Plaza
- Pancake Extravaganza Breakfast Fundraiser May 29th at St. Andrew's Church in downtown Elyria
- IE runs the Elyria Farmers Market in downtown every Saturday from June 17- Sept. 9th
-IE along with Journey Around Music and the City of Elyria puts on the The Scenic East Falls Concert Series in June, July, and Sept. 2017.
-IE car in the Grand Bicentennial Parade Aug.5, 2017
-IE sponsors Small Business Saturday as a Neighborhood champion for 25 local businesses in November 2017
2018:
Jan. 2018 IE is working with several people/organizations in support of their drives to help the needy: Warming Event(Beth Doyle), Advent Baskets(Peggy Zarlinga and Tanya), Warm Angels Blankets(Barbie Blackhall) December 2017/Jan-April 2018
- Warming Event in Ely Square. The public is invited to join the Elyria Hookers along with Invest Elyria volunteers to help put out the items out in Ely Square (on Monday, Jan.15th at 10 a.m.)
- IE is working with the Elyria South Side Neighborhood Network to help provide them with a list of disabled or elderly neighbors that are in need of snow removal from their walkways and driveways in the South Side of Elyria
March 2018:
-March 3, 2018: IE volunteers help out at the Special Olympics Hoops at LCCC
-March 24, 2018; Invest Elyria Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser theme this year: "Breakfast with the Easter Bunny"
April 2018:
IE working with Our F.A.M.I.L.Y. will be delivering food to those in need to locations in our city with our pilot "Mobile Market" project. Thank You Bendix Corp. for the generous donation of the van for this project.
May 2018:
- May 16, 2018: Invest Elyria volunteers along with Lorain HS sophomores clean up Pioneer Plaza Park on Lorain County's "Legacy, Leadership, & Service Day".
- May 19, 2018; Elyria Pride Day where IE volunteers clean up flower beds and plant flowers at EFD Station #1 on Cedar St. and at Pioneer Plaza Park
- May 25, 2018: IE volunteers attend the first Downtown Business Community Conversation in support of local businesses
- May 28, 2018: IE volunteers participate in the Memorial Day Parade
June 2018:
- June through September 2018 Invest Elyria will be running the Elyria Farmers Market on Broad St. every Saturday at Pioneer Plaza Park
- June 2018: IE becomes the fiduciary agent and is on the planning committee for for the Garford Arts Festival held on Aug. 18, 2018 at the East Falls
- IE along with Our F.A.M.I.L.Y (Families Involved in Local Youth) working with 2nd Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio kicks off the pilot Mobile Market program that delivers free produce to those in need in partnership at sites in Elyria.
- September 29, 2018: IE along with other volunteers help SHP (Sleep in Heavenly Peace)organization build 67 bank beds in Lowe's parking lot on Set. 29th so no child has to sleep on the floor.
- October 29, 2018: IE helps along with other volunteers in building 41 bunk beds 10-27-2018 with Lorain County's SHP group(Sleep in Heavenly Peace) so no child has to sleep on the floor.
- November 17, 2018: IE has a fundraiser "Quartermania" to help fund the continued operation of the Mobile Market throughout the Winter by becoming a unique Mobile Market Pantry.
- November 24, 2018: IE will host Small Business Saturday
- IE will be working with local organizations like Warm Angel Blankets and the Elyria Hookers for their Warming Drives that run through April 2019