At last year’s annual Chamber of Commerce dinner, Charleston Mayor John Inyart announced McDonald’s was going to close to build a new structure.

On Saturday, Inyart will deliver the State of the City Address at the annual dinner in the Grand Ballroom of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

Inyart is currently working on his speech so no details were available on the content of the speech.

“I hope to have some good news to share and will also highlight some projects that are already going on in the city,” he said.

Inyart has been giving the 5-7 minute speech at the dinner for the last two years.

The Charleston Area Chamber of Commerce is a members organization that is not a function of the government.

Executive Director Cindy Titus said funding for the chamber comes from members and fundraisers such as the dinner.

The main purpose of the chamber is to allow businesses to network with each other.

It allows “one united voice” in advocating business issues, Titus said.

The chamber maintains a directory of all of its members, which it maintains at its Web site. When new residents move in the area, the chamber provides them with information on members.

Only members of the chamber are used for business referrals, Titus said.

The chamber also provides seminars, which are provided at a discount to their members.

While the dinner is a fundraiser, outgoing president of the chamber Diane Hoadley will give a summary of the past year, and incoming president Mike Brown will speak on the year ahead. The gavel will be passed on to Brown.

Hoadley will speak about how the chamber provided seminars for those interested in starting a business, offered leadership courses and developing a retail initiative in Charleston.

The chamber worked with state organizations to defeat the gross receipts tax.

Hoadley will also acknowledge the people for their support of the chamber.

Awards will also be given at the dinner.

William E. Hill, retired Charleston School District superintendent, will receive the Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award.

The Small Business of the Year Award will be given to Pro-Mow Lawn Care, Inc.

“This is only the fourth year we’ve awarded the Small Business of the Year,” Titus said.

Titus will also announce the Diplomat of the Year, which is not released prior to the dinner.

The Mardi Gras-themed dinner also features a silent auction.

The items range from gift certificates, tickets to see “Jesus Christ Superstar” and gift baskets.

Matt Hopf can be reached at 581-7945 or at mthopf@eiu.edu.