"While I am extremely disappointed that we couldn't hold the event this year, the safety and well-being of our attendees and vendors are our top priorities," Sen. Dale Fowler saidl. | Facebook
"While I am extremely disappointed that we couldn't hold the event this year, the safety and well-being of our attendees and vendors are our top priorities," Sen. Dale Fowler saidl. | Facebook
Illinois state Sen. Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg) and the Southern Illinois Chambers of Commerce have postponed Southern Illinois Made Expo due to concerns related to COVID-19.
An uptick in cases through the southern Illinois region prompted Fowler and the Chamber to postpone the event which was originally scheduled to take place on Oct. 9 and 10 at the Marion Pavilion, Harrisburg Register reported.
The event has been postponed until next year and will now be held July 23-24 2022 at the same venue.
"While I am extremely disappointed that we couldn't hold the event this year, the safety and well-being of our attendees and vendors are our top priorities," Fowler said, according to Harrisburg Register. "This event is expected to bring in hundreds of attendees, and while I look forward to the day that can happen, it's just not realistic now."
Operation Honor Guard was selected to be the charity that the Expo would support.
"Senator Dale Fowler is a true friend of Southern Illinois. I am sure it was a hard decision for him to postpone the Southern Illinois Made Expo. He put the health of his communities first, and shows his true concern and commitment to the people of Southern Illinois," Rich Darby, the Chief Operating Officer of Operation Honor Guard, said, according to a Sept. 18 Facebook post shared by Fowler. "We support his decision and look forward to any support we receive on behalf of Senator Fowler and the SI Made Expo."
According to the Facebook post, organizers are still looking to support Operation Honor Guard.
Fowler has been in the news lately, speaking out against the recently-passed clean energy bill, according to North Egypt News.
"This energy proposal was an opportunity to recognize the importance of our coal industry and work collaboratively to establish an energy package that would protect jobs, safeguard Illinois’ energy portfolio and ensure we have reliable energy for Illinoisans," Fowler wrote in a Sept. 13 Facebook post. "Disappointingly, the opportunity was missed and it will have costly consequences for Illinoisans."
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