Grundy Reporter

In a Dec. 16 Facebook post, Rep. Jackie Haas (R-Kankakee) cheered the businesses, organizations, and citizens recently honored by Kankakee County Chamber of Commerce.

"My staff attended the 2022 Kankakee County Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Gala while I was in Springfield. Congratulations to all of the businesses who won awards and for your contributions to the district! Small Business of the Year— CANDY & CAKE; Large Business of the Year—Peoples Bank of Kankakee County; New Business of the year—Rise & Thrive Wellness; Nonprofit of the year—United Way of Kankakee & Iroquois Counties; Innovation and Technology—Carlile Group; Manufacturer of the Year—Nucor Steel; Ambassador of the Year—Annie Mitchell; Presidents Award—John Keigher," Haas posted.

Haas shared a Facebook post by the Kankakee County Chamber of Commerce, which wrote this: "We would like to introduce the 2022 Annual Gala award winners! Thank you for supporting the Chamber and having a huge impact on our community.

The annual gala was held Nov. 30, with 385 individuals in attendance.

The Small Business of the Year, Candy & Cake, had this to say after the event. "Candy and Cake had a great time celebrating the Kankakee Chamber of Commerce last week at their Annual Gala. Thank you for the honor of naming Candy and Cake the Small Business of the Year 2022!!! I would like to thank the chamber who has always supported us. I would also like to thank our customers who support us and are always loyal to Candy and Cake. And also I would like to thank our amazing staff who show up every day, working from their hearts always with a smile on their face. I am really so proud of how far we’ve come and how hard we have worked from being a home bakery business to a full service restaurant and catering business that has been involved in many events and has become part of the community. This award means a lot to us and we are so glad to be a part of this amazing community. It’s been a long journey and it could not have been done without all of you so thank you so much from the bottom of our hearts."