The recently opened Nehring Cultural and Tourism Center in downtown DeKalb, the former home of one of the community’s most influential families’ bank, also house the Dekalb Chamber of Commerce and Main Street Dekalb.

Chamber of commerce President Scott Ellenberger believes the building is a perfect fit for the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce.

“One of our primary functions is to promote and market the community,” he said. “We’re often the first point of contact for people or businesses considering a move to DeKalb.”

Ellenberger added both organizations housed in the building have literature on many towns in DeKalb County, Chicago, Chicago suburbs, some smaller communities in northwestern Illinois and information from the State of Illinois Tourism Bureau. The Chamber of Commerce maintains a Web site at www.dekalb.org.

“There is an increasing demand for information about local hotels, restaurants and banquet halls,” Ellenberger said.

Members of the chamber pay dues to the organization in exchange for its services.

Ellenberger said the chamber has members as far away as Rockford and Aurora that do business in DeKalb.

The chamber once was located in the vacant storefront at 127 E. Lincoln Highway before moving about five years ago to the second story of the Royal Travel & Tours building, 122 N. First St.

Sharon Smith, of the DeKalb Confectionary, 149 N. Second St., said she thought the chamber’s move to the NCTC building was great and made the chamber more visible.

The chamber shares the first floor with Main Street DeKalb, a merchant association. Main Street DeKalb is similar to the chamber, but it only serves businesses in the downtown area.

Smith said she approves of the way the restoration has progressed.

“I have nothing but good things to say about both the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce and Main Street,” Smith said. “Both have great front windows that take you back to the fifties.”

The Nehrings founded Nehring Electrical Works and were major stockholders in First National Bank, which formerly occupied the building.

The NCTC, 164 East Lincoln Highway, opened Aug. 16.

It was one year ago this month that Shirley Nehring, widow of Paul M. Nehring, donated the old First National Bank of DeKalb Building to the DeKalb Park District.

It was three years ago this month that Paul M. Nehring died at age 87 and 28 years ago this month that his father, Paul A. Nehring died at 91, making the timing of the donation meaningful to the Nehring family.