Batavia Chamber of Commerce Announces 2025 Ole Award Honorees

Batavia Chamber of Commerce to Honor Businesses Who Exemplify Confidence and Investment in Batavia as Ole Award Winners

Seven Batavia businesses were named recipients of the 2025 Ole Award, with two organizations named Civic Impact Award winners. Businesses who had final city occupancy permits by December 31, 2025, were eligible for these honors.
 
All recipients will be honored at Inspire 2026: A Celebration of Those Who Inspire Us! event, scheduled for Thursday, April 23.
 
A committee of Batavia Chamber members, along with representatives from the City of Batavia and Batavia Chamber staff, evaluate all Batavia businesses who meet the permit timing qualifications. After deliberation, the committee selects those businesses whose investment and confidence in Batavia stands out as the year’s Ole Award winners.
 
The Ole honorees for 2025 and the appropriate category for their award are:

• New Construction – Industrial: Aldi Corporate Batavia, 1200 N. Kirk Road
• New Construction – Commercial: Earthmover Credit Union, 1998 McKee Street
• New Construction – Commercial: Ignite Medical Resort, 2349 Main Street
• Remodeling – Commercial: BEI Commercial Real Estate, Tower Business Center on Water Street
• Remodeling – Commercial: Dollar & Sense Bookkeeping, 236 Webster Street
• Remodeling – Commercial: Everdine’s Grilled Cheese Co., 227 W. Wilson Street
• Remodeling – Commercial: Tesla, Inc., 501 N. Randall Road 

The committee also chose to present Civic Impact Awards to the Batavia Interfaith Food Pantry & Clothes Closet, 916 First Street, and to the Batavia Park District for the Callahan Community Center, 150 Houston Street. The Civic Impact Award honors an organization or taxing body that has created an impactful new space that will serve, strengthen, and enrich the community for years to come.
 
“The Chamber is thrilled to recognize these deserving businesses,” said Margaret Perreault, president and CEO of Batavia Chamber of Commerce. “Some have continued to invest in Batavia through new construction, remodeling, and expansion, while others have chosen our community as the place to open a new location or pursue their entrepreneurial vision.
 
“We also want to shine a light on the remarkable projects completed by the Batavia Park District and the Batavia Interfaith Food Pantry,” Perreault added. “The committee believes their lasting value to the community merited special recognition through the Civic Impact Award.”
 
The public is invited to attend Inspire 2026 and honor the current generation of hard-working Batavia business owners. During the event, awards will be presented to the 2025 Citizen of the Year, Linda Schielke; the Spirit of Batavia, Batavia Woman’s Club; Civic Impact honorees; and Ole winners.
 
Inspire 2026 takes place on Thursday, April 23, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Revelry 675, 675 S. River St., Batavia. Tickets cost $85 per person, or $800 per table of ten and include dinner and a champagne toast. A cash bar, credit cards only, will be available and cocktail attire is suggested. Purchase tickets online at bataviachamber.org/events or call the Batavia Chamber of Commerce at (630) 879-7134.
 
For more information about any of these awards or the event, please call Margaret Perreault, president and CEO of the Batavia Chamber of Commerce, or Patti Anselme, special events coordinator, at (630) 879-7134. Sponsorship opportunities are also available for the Batavia Chamber’s annual signature celebration.
 
About the Ole Awards:
The Ole Award is an award started in 1976 by a group of people who had a love and passion for their community and wanted to promote the City of Batavia. The Ole Awards are given to businesses for significant improvement and investment either for new construction or for remodel in Batavia. Winners of this award are ones whose investment enhances the city’s economic and aesthetic futures and provides interest and excitement for the entire community through investing dollars in their properties and buildings. The Ole Award derives its name from a traditional Swedish name, Ole, to honor the hard-working Swedish settlers that were among the first to call Batavia home.