The addition of three new businesses to Morton were among the accomplishments celebrated at the Morton Economic Development Council’s second annual investor’s luncheon Jan. 12.

The event took place at the Best Western Ashland House, where investors learned about past projects in 2009 and previewed future goals for 2010.

“Without your help, none of the things we are doing would be possible,” MEDC executive director Jennifer Daly told the room full of investors.

Daly gave a presentation about MEDC’s progress in 2009.

Highly celebrated was the council’s success in bringing Millennia Professional Services to town. The company brought 20 jobs to the village and promised 20 more to come, Daly said.

Other business additions in 2009 were Mission Mart and the Verizon Network Store, which Daly said “cleaned up” a corner in town. There also was an expansion of Parker Fabrication, she said.

In total, the MEDC worked 40 clients in 2009— 15 were existing companies in Morton, and 25 were companies looking to come to Morton. Daly said 29 of the 40 projects were completed or still in progress, and 11 are “dead.”

Coming in 2010, Daly said the MEDC will help create funding for the downtown business district project.

In addition, they will take more steps to help Morton become a greener community, she said.

For instance, the MEDC has researched iCarpool, a ridesharing online company that allows workers to go online and search for carpooling options in the community.

“This is a huge issue for our larger companies where many people are commuting,” Daly said, adding the company is comparable to a “match.com for carpooling.”

Also at the luncheon, the second-annual Venture Award was given to an outstanding entrepreneur in Morton.

Tom Menold, owner of Menold Construction and Restoration and past recipient of the award, announced this year’s winner.

Katie VandenBerg, 30, owner of Eli’s Coffee Shop, 205 W. Jefferson St., received the award. VandenBerg started the business in 2005, while working another job.

“I am so lucky to be part of this community,” she said. “The idea of Eli’s has actually been in my head ever since I was about 16.”

It was at Eli’s where she met her husband, Ben VandenBerg, who was a customer there, she said.

Katie VandenBerg said she strives to make her company green by using soy and recyclable products.

The company will celebrate its fifth-year anniversary Feb. 2, and during that entire week, she will donate 10 percent of sales to the Morton Community Foundation, she said.

“I admire you all very much,” she told investors.

Daly noted the importance of the annual investors luncheon.

“We think the event is incredibly important,” Daly said. “I think our investors appreciate the update every year.”