Jim Grabowski spent 15 years as an ex-officio member of the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce & Industry's board of directors, showing up at ribbon cuttings, golf outings, and networking events alongside the business owners he worked with to shape the city's commercial corridors.

Now, days before his scheduled Aug. 2 retirement as city manager, the Chamber is giving him a formal send-off.

The ECCI announced Friday, July 31, that Grabowski is the 2026 recipient of its Good Works Award, which will be presented at the organization's 78th Annual Networking on the 9s Golf Outing on Friday, Sept. 18, at Sugar Creek Golf Course in Villa Park.

He's also an avid golfer.

The award has been presented annually since 2000 in memory of former Chamber President A.J. "Toche" Terrones, who led the organization for nearly a decade before his death. It recognizes individuals and organizations whose leadership and service have strengthened the Elmhurst community. The first recipient was Tom Coffey in 2000; recent honorees include Kevin Kost of Edward Jones Investments in 2025 and Eva Sanchez of See Your House Right Here in 2024. Mayor Scott Levin received the award in 2013, before his election.

The Chamber said Grabowski "leads by example" and called him someone the organization "can always count on," citing his regular participation in Chamber programs and his work building relationships between business leaders, city leadership, and elected officials across DuPage County.

"Serving the residents of Elmhurst has been both a privilege and the greatest honor of my professional career," Grabowski wrote in his June 2 retirement letter to Mayor Levin and the City Council, published by the Elmhurst Independent. "In my view, few professions have the opportunity to positively impact people's daily lives as much as municipal government."

Grabowski joined the City of Elmhurst in July 2011, becoming only the third city manager since 1953. He succeeded Thomas Borchert, who retired after 27 years in the role. In his retirement letter, Grabowski noted that Elmhurst's average city manager tenure is 24 years, compared to a national average of roughly seven, a figure he called evidence of the community's confidence in nonpartisan local government.

When the city announced his departure in late July, Mayor Levin praised Grabowski's tenure. "Jim has served Elmhurst with integrity, professionalism and a steadfast commitment to the best interests of our community," Levin said in a July 24 city news release. "We are deeply grateful for his leadership and the many contributions he has made during his more than 15 years as city manager."

Assistant City Manager Kent Johnson is set to begin serving as acting city manager on Monday, Aug. 3, while the City Council conducts a nationwide search for a permanent replacement.

The Sept. 18 golf outing features a maximum field of 72 golfers with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. Registration details are available through the Elmhurst Chamber's event page.