Area chamber of commerce to cease operations at end of year

OREGON, Ill. — An area chamber of commerce will halt operations at the end of the year.

The Oregon Area Chamber of Commerce announced on Facebook that it will suspend its current operations on Dec. 31. The Chamber said the decision was made after several years of financial hardship that made their current business model unsustainable.

The Chamber said they made efforts to reduce costs, including selling their building and moving to Phelps Plaza, lowering spending, limiting software expenses, and cutting staff hours.

Leaders at the Chamber said they would work toward finding a solution.

"The Chamber Board will stay in place and work through the process of restructuring, or potential closure and dissolution," wrote the Chamber on their post.

The Chamber said they regretted the suspen