Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – The annual Small Business Awards luncheon gives Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce president Mike Murphy a warm feeling.

“When you get a chance to see businesses network with each other, you go out and make a new friend. Go introduce yourself to someone you have never dealt with before, because it might lead into a new partnership or your business can use their business even though they might now be in the same industry they have a lot of the common challenges.”

Besides the awards Murphy said, there’s a bigger picture.

“We recognize people who go there every day, when it’s hot, cold, business is good or bad, they trudge through it and make sure their doors are open. When I talked about it last week, they’re not only providing you and me opportunities to have their services but most importantly, they are providing jobs.

“Sometimes we take them for granted.”

Murphy, appearing on the WTAX Morning Newswatch, added the Chamber is co-sponsoring Saturday’s fireworks show to celebrate America 250.