Effingham businesses prepare for eclipse influx

EFFINGHAM, Ill. (WCIA) — The eclipse countdown is on for many throughout the Midwest, but for some cities in Illinois, the eclipse offers a unique opportunity.

The city of Effingham will see totality on April 8, making it a tourist hotspot for travelers chasing the sun.

“Not only just to see the event or, you know, to see the solar eclipse, but also to experience what Effingham has to offer,” Director of Tourism Jodi Thoele said.

Effingham is planning for tens of thousands of visitors.

“We are looking at this like it’s a day to celebrate the total solar eclipse, but also to really welcome people into our community, too,” Thoele added.

The city is making sure businesses are prepared to host the event. Thoele said six local businesses will split a total of $10,000 in eclipse grant money.

“We’re helping to encourage and promote events in the area and allowing these events to get  more advertising out, to be able to use that for music, and just ways that they can honestly make their event better.”

Village Wine and Gifts located downtown got $1,500. Ryan Kruger is the event coordinator and said the grant will help cater to the large influx of visitors.

“It’ll be a great opportunity to get some people in here from out of town that don’t normally make a trip to Effingham, and kind of showcase our small business and all the neat things that we have to offer here,” Kruger said.

The Effingham Performance Center also got $1,500.

“It’s a really great opportunity to bring people to Effingham and to highlight our community,” Executive Director Kim Jansen said. “The past solar eclipse, we were not in totality. So this time, to be included in that is pretty amazing.”

For such a dark eclipse, some businesses will get their day in the sun.

“It’s going to have a massive economic impact on us,” Thoele said. “We have 1,200 hotels here in the city of Effingham. Almost all of those are booked up on a random Monday in April. You know, you’re normally not going to see that.”

The eclipse grant money comes from Effingham’s hotel/motel city fund.

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