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WCCTB COVID-19 Information Center

The Westmont Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau(WCCTB) is a voluntary organization of business and professional people dedicated to improving the economic environment of Westmont.  

The WCCTB is closely monitoring the developing effect of Coronavirus (COVID-19).
This page is a repository of information and links useful for businesses and residents.
It will be updated as more information becomes available.

SIGNS FOR YOUR BUSINESS
  • MASKS REQUIRED:  
             https://www.dupagehealth.org/DocumentCenter/View/6264/Face-Coverings-Required
  • DuPage Health Department Posters:
             https://www.choosedupage.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Stay-Safet-Toolkit_with_links.pdf
  • CDC Posters:
            https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/communication/print-resources.html?Sort=Date%3A%3Adesc

AUGUST 13, 2021
As part of Illinois’ COVID-19 economic recovery program, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) launched the $250 million Back to Business (B2B) grant program to support the continued recovery of small businesses across Illinois.

The first in a series of economic recovery programs by the administration, B2B will offer the hardest hit industries grants of $5K-$150K to help offset losses, bring back workers, and take continued steps to rebuild amid the fallout from the pandemic.

To reach the businesses most in need, DCEO will work alongside over 100 community navigators, 42 Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) and other outreach partners who have relationships with their local business community. These partners stand ready to help small businesses prepare and apply for funding with 1-on-1, and multilingual assistance in every region of the state.

Applications formally open on August 18, 2021


Click this link to learn more details on this grant program: https://www2.illinois.gov/dceo/SmallBizAssistance/Pages/B2B.aspx


$60B RRF Replenishment Act Introduced, 90-Second Update
Westmont Chamber Members, Am forwarding an important message from the National Restaurant Association asking for urgent support to increase RRF, please review and act today....


The Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) has been an incredibly effective recovery tool for the restaurant industry, but for too many owners, the $28.6 billion in funding won’t last long enough for them receive a dollar in disaster funding. The SBA estimates that they need at least an additional $50 billion just to fund the applications submitted before the application portal was closed.


We have been in close contact with the sponsors of the RESTAURANTS Act, and are pleased to announce that tomorrow, the RRF Replenishment Act will be introduced. This new legislation will direct $60 billion in funding to the SBA, allowing them to complete the mission and provide sorely needed recovery dollars for the restaurant industry. 


The work of these sponsors, Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS), Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), and Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) has been critical. But they need our help. This bill will not be brought to the floor for debate unless there is broad bipartisan support. Congress heard our voice when they created the RRF – they need to hear from us again to ensure it receives more funding. Many here in Washington think that the return to indoor dining means that the restaurants will be fully back to normal within a few months. The truth is that this industry is incredibly vulnerable and faces a long path to recovery. We need this bill.


If you care about the Restaurant Revitalization Fund and agree that the struggles of the restaurant industry warrant continued federal support, I urge you to weigh in with your representatives in Washington. Add your voice, share your perspective, and together we can move Congress to support our favorite local restaurants.


Hear more about the RRF Replenishment Act in my most recent 90-Second Video Update below. 


As always, we’ll keep you updated, and I welcome your feedback. Thank you!
Sean Kennedy 
Executive Vice President of Public Affairs
National Restaurant Association

-Gov. Pritzker Issues Guidelines for
Illinois Reopening on June 11

With Continued Progress on Vaccination Rates, All Businesses and Industries to Fully Reopen as State Concludes Restore Illinois Plan
Outdoor Mask Requirement to be Lifted in Schools Following CDC Guidance


SPRINGFIELD, June 4, 2021 -
Following weeks of steady decreases in new positive COVID-19 cases and with over 67% of residents age 18 and older receiving their first vaccine dose, Governor JB Pritzker is releasing guidelines for Phase 5 of the Restore Illinois plan, which will go into effect on June 11th and marks a full reopening of all businesses and activities. This guidance will mean businesses, large-scale events, conventions, amusement parks, and seated-spectator venues, among others, will be able to operate at full capacity for the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The State is also lifting the outdoor mask requirement in schools in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

This guidance comes as Illinois has recently reached a test positivity rate of less than 2 percent, more than half of the population has been fully vaccinated, and key hospitalization metrics have been declining since early May.

“After a tremendously challenging year, Illinois has now reached a defining moment in our efforts to defeat COVID-19,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Thanks to the hard work of residents across the state, Illinois will soon resume life as we knew it before – returning to events, gatherings, and a fully reopened economy, with some of the safety guidelines we’ve adopted still in place. As we fully reopen, this administration remains laser focused on ensuring a strong recovery for our small businesses and communities. Our FY22 budget invests $1.5 billion in small business relief, tourism, job-creating capital projects and more and we look forward to getting these dollars to communities across our state as quickly as possible.”

Upon entering Phase 5, fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing a mask except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance. The State will continue to recommend masking for unvaccinated persons, and require it for all people while traveling on public transportation, in congregate settings, in health care settings, as well as in schools, day cares, and educational institutions pursuant to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and CDC guidance. Businesses and local municipalities can put in place additional mitigations as they deem appropriate.

Under Phase 5, all sectors of the economy can resume at regular capacity.  Phase 5 also marks the return of traditional conventions, festivals, and large events without capacity restrictions. Large gatherings of all sizes can resume across all industry settings, and Phase 5 removes requirements that businesses institute mandatory social distancing in seated venues as well as daily health screenings of employees and visitors. Businesses and venues should continue to allow for social distancing to the extent possible, especially indoors. Businesses and venues may also continue to put in place additional public health mitigations as they deem appropriate, including requiring face coverings.

“This pandemic has robbed us of many of our freedoms such as going to ball games and concerts, celebrating graduations, weddings, and birthdays, going to dinner with friends, and even sharing a hug with loved ones we don’t live with,” said IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike.  “The vaccine is giving us our freedoms back and allowing us to move to Phase 5.  Let’s keep the vaccination momentum going so we can put this pandemic in the rearview mirror and not look back.”
While the entry to Phase 5 signals an end to business and activity specific guidance requiring social distancing, health screening and other required operational shifts, Illinois will continue to recommend face coverings for unvaccinated persons, as well as all individuals while (1) on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation and in transportation hubs, such as airports and train and bus stations; (2) in congregate facilities such as correctional facilities, veterans’ homes, and long-term care facilities, group homes, and residential facilities; and (3) in healthcare settings.
In addition, the guidance for schools is updated to align with the CDC guidelines, including lifting the requirement for individuals to mask outdoors in most situations.

The State’s advancement to Phase 5 builds on last month’s announcement of the return of conventions and leisure travel to the state. Just last week McCormick Place announced its plans to re-open, bringing 122 events, 1,000 workers and an expected 1.9 million convention goers to their halls. Additionally, the State has recently launched a new tourism campaign to welcome out of state visitors back into communities, helping support a return to leisure activity as well as the important economic activity stimulated by Illinois’ iconic attractions, hotels and tourism businesses.

“The State’s move to Phase 5 next week marks a significant milestone in our efforts to bring businesses and workers back safely and will play a key role in getting the economy back on track,” said DCEO Acting Director Sylvia Garcia. “Under Governor Pritzker’s leadership, we are making steady progress in stabilizing our businesses and communities hit hardest during the course of the pandemic. New investments in the Governor’s budget will ensure that the state continues to play a vital role in aiding in the emergency response, while laying the groundwork for a sustained economic recovery.”

Earlier this week the Governor announced another $1.5 billion in funds to be made available through the FY 22 budget to support business grants, tourism recovery, workforce recovery, affordable housing, violence prevention, capital projects, and other investments throughout Illinois communities. This builds on the State’s record $580 million investment last year to deliver thousands of business grants through the Business Interruption Grants program, which provided emergency relief dollars to business grants and childcare providers in over 98 counties statewide.
Businesses and communities can learn more about Phase 5 recommended public health practices by visiting IDPH’s website.
# # #
 
 Source: State of Illinois - Friday, June 4, 2021
CONTACT [email protected]



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
​
​May 17, 2021                                                                     Executive Order 2021-10

EXECUTIVE ORDER 2021-10
(COVID-19 EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 79)

Bridge Phase Order


WHEREAS, since early March 2020, Illinois has faced a pandemic that has caused extraordinary
sickness and loss of life, infecting over 1.35 million residents, and taking the lives of more than
22,000 residents; and,

WHEREAS, at all times but especially during a public health crisis, protecting the health and
safety of Illinoisans is among the most important functions of State government; and,
WHEREAS, social distancing, face coverings, and other public health precautions have proven
to be critical in slowing and stopping the spread of COVID-19; and,

WHEREAS, COVID-19 vaccines are effective at preventing COVID-19 disease, especially
severe illness and death; and,

WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) recently updated its
guidance for fully vaccinated people,1 indicating that they can resume numerous activities
without wearing a mask or staying 6 feet apart, except where required by federal, state, local,
tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance;
and,

WHEREAS, the CDC continues to advise that cloth face coverings or masks protect persons
who are not fully vaccinated from COVID-19; and,

WHEREAS, the CDC advises that schools continue to use the COVID-19 prevention strategies
outlined in the CDC’s Operational Strategy for K-12 Schools for at least the remainder of the
2020-2021 academic school year; and,

WHEREAS, the CDC continues to advise that day care providers continue to use COVID-19
prevention strategies, including masking and physical distancing, even after day care providers
and their staff are vaccinated; and

WHEREAS, in light of the continued spread of COVID-19 and the significant percentage of the
population that remains unvaccinated, I declared on April 30, 2021 that the current
circumstances in Illinois surrounding the spread of COVID-19 constitute an epidemic emergency
________________________________________________________________________
1 Individuals are considered fully vaccinated 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine. Individuals who do not meet these requirements, regardless of age, are not considered fully vaccinated.

2

and a public health emergency under Section 4 of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency
Act; and,

WHEREAS, the number of new COVID-19 cases has decreased in recent weeks, and the public
health metrics now allow for the State to relax some mitigation measures as more residents have
been vaccinated;

THEREFORE, by the powers vested in me as the Governor of the State of Illinois, pursuant to
the Illinois Constitution and Sections 7(1), 7(2), 7(3), 7(8), 7(9), and 7(12) of the Illinois
Emergency Management Agency Act, 20 ILCS 3305, and consistent with the powers in public
health laws, I hereby order the following, effective immediately:

Bridge Phase Order

1. Intent of this Executive Order. The intent of this Executive Order is to safely and
conscientiously, and in a manner consistent with CDC guidance, expand activities that
were limited during the prior mitigation Phases of the State’s response to the COVID-19
pandemic. This Executive Order supersedes Executive Order 2020-43, as amended by
Executive Orders 2020-55, 2020-59, and 2021-09.

2. Public health requirements for individuals. Individuals must take the following public
health steps to protect their own and their neighbors’ health and lives:

a. Social distancing. To the extent individuals who are not fully vaccinated are
using shared spaces when outside their residence, including when outdoors, they
must at all times and as much as reasonably possible maintain social distancing of
at least six feet from any other person who does not live with them.

b. Face coverings.2  Any individual who is not fully vaccinated and who is over age
two and able to medically tolerate a face covering (a mask or cloth face covering)
shall be required to cover their nose and mouth with a face covering when in a
public place and unable to maintain a six-foot social distance. This requirement
applies whether in an indoor space, such as a store, or in a public outdoor space
where maintaining a six-foot social distance is not always possible.

All individuals, including those who are fully vaccinated, shall be required to
wear a face covering consistent with CDC guidance, including (1) on planes,
buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation and in transportation hubs
such as airports and train and bus stations; (2) in congregate facilities such as
correctional facilities and homeless shelters; and (3) in healthcare settings.
_________________________________________________________________________
2 Throughout this Executive Order, any reference to a face covering requirement excludes those two years old and younger and those for whom wearing a face covering is not medically advisable. Guidance on use of face coverings from the Illinois Department of Human Rights is available here:

https://www2.illinois.gov/dhr/Documents/IDHR_FAQ_for_Businesses_Concerning_Use_of_Face-
Coverings_During_COVID-19_Ver_2020511b%20copy.pdf

Individuals in schools, day care settings, and educational institutions should
continue to follow separate guidance issued by the Illinois State Board of
Education, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, and the Illinois
Department of Public Health.

c. Elderly people and those who are vulnerable as a result of illness should take
additional precautions
. People who are not fully vaccinated and who are at high
risk of severe illness from COVID-19, including elderly people and those with a
health condition that may make them vulnerable, are urged to stay in their
residence and minimize in-person contact with others to the extent possible.

d. Gatherings. Because in-person contact presents the greatest risk of transmission
of COVID-19, Illinoisans who are not fully vaccinated are encouraged to continue
limiting in-person contact with others and to expand their social contact
cautiously. For residents who are not fully vaccinated, gathering remotely
continues to be the safest way to interact with those outside a household or
residence.

e. Go outdoors. Public health guidance suggests that the risks of transmission of
COVID-19 are greatly reduced outdoors as opposed to indoors. Where possible,
Illinoisans who are not fully vaccinated are encouraged to conduct their activities
outdoors.

3. Public health requirements for businesses, nonprofits, and other organizations. For the purposes of this Executive Order, covered businesses include any for-profit, non-
profit, or educational entity, regardless of the nature of the service, the function it performs, or its corporate or entity structure. Those entities must take the following public health measures to protect their employees, their customers, and all others who come into physical contact with their operations. Nothing in this Executive Order prevents these entities from undertaking stricter or additional public health measures; to the contrary, businesses are encouraged to prioritize the health and safety of their workers and customers, and may continue to require face coverings and social distancing, even for those who are fully vaccinated.

a. Requirements for all businesses. All businesses must:
    • ensure that employees who are not fully vaccinated practice social
    distancing and wear face coverings when social distancing is not always
    possible;
    • ensure that all spaces where employees may gather, including locker
    rooms and lunchrooms, allow for social distancing; and
    • ensure that all visitors (customers, vendors, etc.) to the workplace who
    are not fully vaccinated can practice social distancing; but if maintaining a six-foot social     distance will not be possible at all times, encourage
    those visitors to wear face coverings; and
    • continue to take all necessary steps to protect employees and customers
    by ensuring that any return to work plans adhere to all applicable public health guidance.

The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), in
partnership with IDPH, has developed industry-specific guidance and toolkits to
help businesses operate safely and responsibly. These documents are available at:
https://dceocovid19resources.com/restore-illinois/restore-illinois-phase-4/. This
industry-specific guidance is supplemented and updated by the “Bridge Phase” guidance available at: https://dceoresources-ss-assets.s3.us-east-
2.amazonaws.com/public/Restore-Illinois/A-Bridge-to-Phase-5.pdf.

b. Requirements for retail stores. Retail stores must ensure all employees who are
not fully vaccinated practice social distancing and must take appropriate
additional public health precautions, in accordance with DCEO guidance, which
include:
    • provide face coverings to all employees who are not fully vaccinated and
    who are not able to maintain a minimum six-foot social distance from
    customers and other employees at all times;
    • cap occupancy at 60 percent of store capacity, or, alternatively, at the
    occupancy limits based on store square footage set by the Department of
    Commerce and Economic Opportunity; and
    • communicate with customers through in-store signage, and public service
    announcements and advertisements, about the social distancing and face
    covering requirements set forth in this Order.

c. Requirements for manufacturers. Manufacturers must ensure all employees
who are not fully vaccinated practice social distancing and must take appropriate
additional public health precautions, in accordance with DCEO guidance, which
include:
    • provide face coverings to all employees who are not fully vaccinated and
    who are not able to maintain a minimum six-foot social distance at all
    times;
    • ensure that all spaces where employees may gather, including locker
    rooms and lunchrooms, allow for social distancing; and
    • modify and downsize operations (staggering shifts, reducing line speeds,
    operating only essential lines, while shutting down non-essential lines) to
    the extent necessary to allow for social distancing and to provide a safe
    workplace in response to the COVID-19 emergency.

d. Requirements for office buildings. Employers in office buildings must ensure
all employees who are not fully vaccinated practice social distancing and must
take appropriate additional public health precautions, in accordance with DCEO
guidance, which may include:
    • provide face coverings to all employees who are not fully vaccinated and
    who are not able to maintain a minimum six-foot social distance at all
    times;
    • consider implementing capacity limits where the physical space does not
    allow for social distancing;
    • allow telework where possible; and
    • develop and prominently post plans and signage to ensure social
    distancing in shared spaces such as waiting rooms, service counters, and
    cafeterias.

e. Requirements for meetings, conferences, and conventions. Indoor venues and
meeting spaces can operate in a manner consistent with DCEO guidance.

f. Requirements for restaurants and bars. All businesses that offer food or
beverages for on-premises consumption—including restaurants, bars, grocery
stores, and food halls—may continue service for on-premises consumption, as
permitted by DCEO guidance. Such businesses continue to be permitted and
encouraged to serve food and beverages so that they may be consumed off-
premises, as permitted by law, through means such as in-house delivery, third-
party delivery, drive-through, and curbside pick-up. Establishments offering food
or beverages for on-premises consumption or for carry-out must ensure that they
have an environment where patrons who are not fully vaccinated maintain
adequate social distancing. All businesses covered in this section may permit
outdoor on-premises food and beverage consumption in accordance with DCEO
guidance and when permitted by local ordinances and regulations.

g. Requirements for fitness and exercise gyms. Fitness and exercise gyms may be
open in a manner consistent with DCEO guidance, which involves operating for
member workouts at a maximum of 60 percent capacity and with social distancing
and other precautions.

h. Requirements for personal services facilities. Personal services facilities such
as spas, hair salons, barber shops, nail salons, waxing centers, tattoo parlors, and
similar facilities may be open but must comply with capacity limits in accordance
with DCEO guidance and must ensure the use of face coverings and adherence to
social distancing requirements for individuals who are not fully vaccinated.

i. Requirements for outdoor recreation, youth day camps, and youth sports.
Businesses offering outdoor recreation, youth day camps, and youth sports may
be open but must ensure the use of face coverings and adherence to social
distancing requirements for individuals who are not fully vaccinated, and must
take other public health steps in accordance with DCEO guidance.

j. Requirements for places of public amusement. Places of public amusement
may continue services consistent with DCEO guidance for indoor and outdoor
recreation (including but not limited to arcades and driving ranges), museums and
aquariums, zoos and botanical gardens, theaters and performing arts, and outdoor
seated spectator events.

k. Requirements for film production. Film production may operate with
restrictions contained in DCEO guidance.

l. Minimum basic operations. All businesses may continue to:
    i. Perform necessary activities to maintain the value of the business’s
    inventory, preserve the condition of the business’s physical plant and
    equipment, ensure security, process payroll and employee benefits, or for
    related functions.
    ii. Perform necessary activities to facilitate employees of the business being
    able to continue to work remotely.
    iii. Fulfill online and telephonic retail orders through pick-up or delivery.

4. Exemptions. The following exemptions apply to the Bridge Phase mitigation measures,
as well as to the prior Phases and Tiers. I do not intend to rescind these exemptions
during the disaster proclamations issued due to COVID-19.

a. Free exercise of religion. This Executive Order does not limit the free exercise
of religion. To protect the health and safety of faith leaders, staff, congregants
and visitors, religious organizations and houses of worship are encouraged to
consult and follow the recommended practices and guidelines from the Illinois
Department of Public Health.3 Religious organizations are encouraged to take
precautions for their congregants and visitors who are not fully vaccinated to
ensure social distancing, the use of face coverings, and implementation of other
public health measures.

b. Emergency functions. All first responders, emergency management personnel,
emergency dispatchers, court personnel, law enforcement and corrections
personnel, hazardous materials responders, child protection and child welfare
personnel, housing and shelter personnel, military, and other governmental
__________________________________________________________________
3 This guidance is available at: https://www.dph.illinois.gov/covid19/community-guidance/places-worship-guidance


employees working for or to support the emergency response are exempt from
this Executive Order, but are encouraged to follow recommended public health
measures.

c. Governmental functions. This Executive Order does not apply to the United
States government and does not affect services provided by the State or any
municipal, township, county, subdivision or agency of government and needed to
ensure the continuing operation of the government agencies or to provide for or
support the health, safety and welfare of the public.

5. Social Distancing, Face Covering, and PPE Requirements. For purposes of this
Executive Order, social distancing includes maintaining at least six-foot distance from
other individuals, washing hands with soap and water for at least twenty seconds as
frequently as possible or using hand sanitizer, covering coughs or sneezes (into the sleeve
or elbow, not hands), regularly cleaning high-touch surfaces, and not shaking hands.

a. Required measures. Businesses must take proactive measures to ensure
compliance with Social Distancing Requirements, including where possible:

    i. Designate six-foot distances. Designating with signage, tape, or by other
    means six-foot spacing for employees and customers to maintain
    appropriate distance;

    ii. Hand sanitizer and sanitizing products. Having hand sanitizer and
    sanitizing products readily available for employees and customers;

    iii. Separate operating hours for vulnerable populations. Implementing
    separate operating hours for elderly and vulnerable customers;

    iv. Online and remote access. Posting online whether a facility is open and
    how best to reach the facility and continue services by phone or remotely;
    and

v. Face Coverings and PPE. Providing employees with appropriate face
coverings and requiring that employees who are not fully vaccinated wear
face coverings where maintaining a six-foot social distance is not possible
at all times. When the work circumstances require, providing employees
with other PPE in addition to face coverings.

6. Enforcement. This Executive Order may be enforced by State and local law
enforcement pursuant to, inter alia, Section 7, Section 15, Section 18, and Section 19 of
the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act, 20 ILCS 3305.

Businesses must follow guidance provided or published by the Illinois Department of
Commerce and Economic Opportunity regarding safety measures during Phase IV (as
modified by the Bridge Phase guidance), and the Illinois Department of Public Health,
local public health departments, and the Workplace Rights Bureau of the Office of the
Illinois Attorney General with respect to Social Distancing Requirements. Pursuant to
Section 25(b) of the Whistleblower Act, 740 ILCS 174, businesses are prohibited from
retaliating against an employee for disclosing information where the employee has
reasonable cause to believe that the information discloses a violation of this Order.

7. No limitation on authority. Nothing in this Executive Order shall, in any way, alter or
modify any existing legal authority allowing the State or any county, or local government
body to order (1) any quarantine or isolation that may require an individual to remain
inside a particular residential property or medical facility for a limited period of time,
including the duration of this public health emergency, or (2) any closure of a specific
location for a limited period of time, including the duration of this public health
emergency. Nothing in this Executive Order shall be construed as an exercise of any
authority to order any quarantine, isolation, or closure. Nothing in this Executive Order
shall, in any way, alter or modify any existing legal authority allowing a county or local
government body to enact provisions that are stricter than those in this Executive Order.

8. Savings clause. If any provision of this Executive Order or its application to any person
or circumstance is held invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, this invalidity does
not affect any other provision or application of this Executive Order, which can be given
effect without the invalid provision or application. To achieve this purpose, the
provisions of this Executive Order are declared to be severable. This Executive Order is
meant to be read consistently with any Court order regarding this Executive Order.

_______________________
JB Pritzker, Governor

Issued by the Governor May 17, 2021
Filed by the Secretary of State May 17, 2021


​

Gov. Pritzker Confirms Illinois will Enter Bridge Phase of Reopening Plan on May 14th
Illinois Providers Begin Administering COVID-19 Vaccine to Youth 12 Through 15 Years Old
CHICAGO –Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) confirmed today the entire state will move into the Bridge Phase of the Restore Illinois reopening plan tomorrow, Friday, May 14th. The Bridge Phase is the final step before the full reopening of Phase 5.
Under Bridge Phase, there are expanded capacity limits for businesses, dining, offices, events, conferences and gatherings. Barring any significant reversals in key COVID-19 statewide indicators, including increasing hospitalizations, Illinois could enter Phase 5 as soon as Friday, June 11th.
The state will continue to follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance on mask-wearing in Phase 5.
“Illinoisans have worked so hard over the past year and a half to keep their families and neighbors safe, and reaching Bridge Phase means that we’re closer than ever to a return to normalcy,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “To keep up this progress, I urge every eligible Illinoisan – now including 12 to 15-year-olds – to get vaccinated as soon as possible.”
More than 10.3 million vaccine doses have been administered to Illinoisans at mass vaccination sites, local health departments, pharmacies, federally qualified health centers, mobile clinics, and other locations across the state. Doctors’ offices are starting to administer vaccine to their patients.  Beginning today, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is available to youth ages 12 through 17 years after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday accepted the recommendation from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to expand the use of the vaccine. The Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are authorized for those 18 years of age and older.
“The more people who are vaccinated, now including our youth as young as 12-years-old, the quicker we can end this pandemic,” said IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike. “While more than 62% of adults in Illinois have received at least one dose of the vaccine, we still need more people to get vaccinated.  Please talk with your doctor or health care provider if you have questions about the vaccine and know the facts so that you can make the most informed decision.”
IDPH will continue to monitor the number of ICU hospital beds that are available, the number of patients who are hospitalized with COVID-19, and the number of people being newly admitted to the hospital because of COVID-19-like-illness.  Should the state see a significant increase in deaths, hospitalizations, and the number of people being admitted to the hospital because of COVID-19, the state will remain in the Bridge Phase instead of moving to Phase 5.
The State continues to partner with local health departments to offer vaccination clinics with religious groups, community-based organizations, mutual aid programs, neighborhood associations, and other organizations. To host a clinic in your community, sign-up at www.dph.illinois.gov/covid19/vaccinationclinics.
To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine, go to http://www.dph.illinois.gov/covid19/vaccine-faq.  To find information on vaccine locations, go to https://coronavirus.illinois.gov/s/vaccination-location. To find vaccination locations that currently have the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine authorized for use in individuals 12 years and older, go to https://www.vaccines.gov/.

Source: State of Illinois
​---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



May 13, 2021
TO: Westmont Restaurant Owners

If you have not yet looked at the Restaurant Revitalization Fund program, please review ASAP to access funding. The process to apply is outlined below...

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has begun delivering economic relief from the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) to more than 16,000 approved applicants. This first round of funding represents over $2 billion of relief awarded since last Monday’s program launch.
 
Following the 21-day priority period, all eligible applications will be funded in the order in which they have been received. While the SBA will continue accepting applications from any eligible establishment until funds are exhausted, the number of applications received so far is expected to exceed the funds authorized to the RRF.
 
Click here to read the full announcement from SBA.
 
Tomorrow, the IRA is launching a new call to action with the National Restaurant Association to urge Congress to replenish RRF funds as soon as possible. Stay tuned for more information.

  • Click here to review a step by step guide to RRF applications from the National Restaurant Association.
  • Click here to review a new next steps guide after operators apply for and receive an RRF grant.
  • Click here to review the FAQ sheet.
 
Please contact the SBA RRF support hotline at (844) 279-8898 with questions about applying.

Source: Illinois Restaurant Association

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March 19, 2021
​Please review this information shared by the Illinois Municipal League (IML) on plans released today by the State of Illinois to move into 5th and final phase of the  Restore Illinois reopening plan. This plan has an impact on every business and every resident and will determine when and how we reopen the State of Illinois. Please contact the Westmont Chamber if you have any questions on this plan.


Today, Governor JB Pritzker announced the creation of a “Bridge” transition period from Phase 4 to Phase 5. More information about that announcement is available in his press release via this link. When 70% of the state’s 65 and older population has received at least one dose of a vaccine, Illinois will move into the “Bridge” transition period.
 
The “Bridge” transition period restrictions are available via this link.
 
After a 28-day monitoring of the “Bridge” transition period, the state will be eligible to move into Phase 5, as long as 50% or more of Illinois residents, 16 and older, have received at least one dose of a vaccine. Phase 5 will remove capacity restrictions and other regulations in place under previous mitigations and during the “Bridge” transition period. The Governor’s presentation slides from today’s press conference are available via this link.
 
That means that if the state keeps on pace with vaccinations, community events, festivals and parades will be allowed to resume as soon as May. This could change if vaccination progress slows or if a resurgence of the virus occurs. 

Governor Pritzker has stated that he will not end the state’s face covering requirements until the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issues a declaration saying that it is safe to do so. The CDC’s website regarding face coverings is available via this link.

 
Regarding vaccinations, the Governor also announced that we are on track to meet President Joseph R. Biden, Jr.’s target to have vaccines available to all adults by May 1. In Illinois, all adults 16 and older will be eligible to receive a vaccine starting Monday, April 12. The Governor may announce other categories of vaccine recipients who will become eligible prior to that date.
 
It is recommended that all communities comply with the Governor’s executive orders and enhanced mitigations for the protection of their residents throughout this public health crisis. If a municipality wishes to deviate from the executive orders and enhanced mitigations, municipal officials should consult with their legal counsel or retained attorney prior to taking any formal or informal action that would conflict with the executive orders, as that could create liability exposure to the municipal government or those municipal officials.
 
IDPH is providing daily updates on their COVID-19 website (available via this link) regarding the metrics used to determine each phase of the Governor’s “Restore Illinois” plan (available via this link). Those metrics include COVID-19 admissions to the region’s hospitals, the region’s COVID-19 test positivity rate and the available surge capacity at the region’s hospitals. IDPH is providing metrics for each individual county (available via this link).
 
The State of Illinois’ central website for COVID-19 is available at coronavirus.illinois.gov.
 
INFORMATION SOURCE: The Illinois Municipal League (IML). IML will continue to distribute timely, reliable and pertinent information as it becomes available or on an as-needed basis. Please feel welcome to share these messages with others in your community. 


March 9, 2021

​Senate Passes $28.6B for Restaurant Relief in American Rescue Plan, House Vote Expected This Week

 
This weekend, the Senate passed the American Rescue Plan, which includes $28.6B for dedicated restaurant relief to help save countless small businesses and jobs. The rescue plan will now be sent to the House of Representatives, which is expected to pass it as soon as tomorrow, and then the package will go to President Biden, who will sign it into law.
 
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the IRA, our state restaurant association partners, and National Restaurant Association have fiercely advocated for this critical financial support for the restaurant and hospitality community. We thank Senators Durbin and Duckworth, Illinois' Congressional delegation, and all our supporters and partners that have been engaged in our campaign to get us to this point.
 
This is an incredibly important milestone to get grants to restaurants, bars, caterers, and other hospitality businesses to help them pay rent, payroll, vendor expenses and more. 
 
Read more from the Washington Post:https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/03/07/restaurants-venues-covid-relief/?mkt_tok=MDc4LVpMQS00NjEAAAF7q_ZIOKEOJGrH5ewb7_7cDB6kHlYHS5Ls_zBS7Lj7crwCPSJosqulVnQH9fyjpUt2HA3FH6dMdwNj6Xt25IJfp-yjnmClIRGNwXR7mU6Y
 
We will share additional details about the $28.6B Restaurant Revitalization Fund this week. Below are high-level components of the relief fund:
 
  • Grant Maximum – $10 million per restaurant group, $5 million per individual restaurant.
 
  • Eligible Expenses – Payroll and benefits, mortgage, rent, utilities, maintenance, supplies including protective equipment and cleaning materials, food, operational expenses, covered supplier costs as defined by the SBA under the PPP program, sick leave, and any other expenses deemed essential by the Administrator.
 
  • Covered Period – Grants can be spent on eligible expenses from February 15, 2020 through December 31, 2021, and the Administrator may extend the period through two years from enactment if conditions warrant.

The Westmont Chamber of Commerce will share updates with our Members, be prepared to act on these grants quickly when they become available to maximize your opportunity to receive funding.

Source: Illinois Restaurant Association

February 3, 2021
CONTACT:
[email protected]
 Regions 8 and 9 Move to Phase 4SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today announced Region 8 (DuPage, Kane), and Region 9 (Lake, McHenry) are moving to Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois Plan effective today.  Additional information about which tier and phase regions are in can be found at the top of the IDPH website homepage.  
A Phase 4 Guidelines Overview can be found on the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity website.
Phase 4 Guidelines include the following:
RESTAURANTS AND BARS
• Indoor dining and drinking now permitted for parties of up to 10 people
• Seated areas should be arranged so that tables allow for 6 feet between parties; impermeable barriers may be installed between booths which are less than 6 feet apart
RETAIL AND SERVICE COUNTER
• Continue capacity limit of no more than 50% occupancy
PERSONAL CARE
• Continue capacity limit of no more than 50% occupancy
INDOOR/OUTDOOR RECREATION
• Reopening select indoor recreation facilities (e.g., bowling alleys, skating rinks); indoor playgrounds and trampoline parks should remain closed
• Indoor recreation to operate at lesser of 50 customers or 50% of facility capacity
MUSEUMS
• Capacity limit of no more than 25% occupancy
• Guided tours should be limited to 50 or fewer people per group
MEETINGS AND SOCIAL EVENTS
• Limit to the lesser of 50 people or 50% of room capacity
• Multiple groups may meet in the same facility if they are socially distanced and in separate rooms
IDPH will continue to closely monitor test positivity, ICU bed availability, and the number of people in the hospital with COVID-19.  Should data show regions trending in the wrong direction, based on the established mitigation metrics, regions could once again find themselves in a higher tier with increased measures.


Information about mitigation and resurgence metrics can be found on the IDPH website at http://www.dph.illinois.gov/regionmetrics.
 Attachments
  • Regions 8 and 9 Move to Phase 4

December 23, 2020
​Updated Guide on COVID-19 Relief Funds

The U.S. Chamber has created a new Guide to Small Business COVID-19 Emergency Loans to provide our Westmont Chamber of Commerce Members with the latest information and answers to FAQs about the changes that have been made to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) Program as part of the end-of-year pandemic relief package Congress has passed. Please contact the Westmont Chamber or your banking representative if you need additional information.

​October 23, 2020
Breaking News from DuPage County - New Grant Program Under Review
Application Submittal Timing Will be URGENT

DuPage County is considering the approval of a new grant program for restaurants and bars throughout the county. The Westmont Chamber is encouraging the County to approve this proposed grant program. Here are the basic grant program details along with criteria and eligibility restrictions as currently under consideration:
​
When: If DuPage County Board approves the grant program on October 27th, the program is expected to go live within one day.
 
How Much Funding is Available: $2.5 million in the grant program funding pool


Business Revenue Limit to Qualify: $4 million max revenue from the restaurant (2019)


Maximum Grant Available: $15,000 per approved grant


Employee Limit: No limit on number of employees


COVID-19 Loss Covered: 50% of revenue from Food and Beverage


Grant Participation: Eligible if you have NOT received county money from the current program


Stay tuned, the Westmont Chamber will keep our Members updated. As with the recent grant program, it is URGENT to apply for the grant ASAP to maximize your chance of being approved to receive the grant. With a limit of $2.5 million in funding available and grants awarded up to $15,000, the funds could be consumed by 166 grant applications.


If you have any questions, please contact me and as always the Westmont Chamber of Commerce is here to help.


​The following is information pertaining to restaurants that should be beneficial:
  • As the restaurant industry continues to be impacted by the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (IRAEF) has developed the  Restaurant Employee Relief Fund to provide financial support to restaurant workers in need.
    More information and applications for the Relief Fund can be found here
    Donations to the Relief Fund can be made here​
  • Phase 4 Indoor and Outdoor Dining Guidelines
  • Phase 4 Safety Guidelines
  • Phase 4 Overview
  • Hours of Operation During Phase 4 per Village of Westmont
Applications and information for the DCEO's Business Interruption Grant (BIG) program  can be found here.



Gov. Pritzker Releases Guidelines to Safely Reopen Additional Businesses and Industries as State Advances to Next Phase of Restore Illinois

Office of the Governor

JB Pritzker
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, Jun. 22, 2020  
CONTACT  [email protected]

Gov. Pritzker Releases Guidelines to Safely Reopen Additional Businesses and Industries as State Advances to Next Phase of Restore Illinois 
400,000 Illinois residents set to return to work as state moves into Phase 4 on June 26; New guidelines will allow key leisure, recreation and business sectors to safely reopen 
 CHICAGO – Governor JB Pritzker today released plans to safely continue reopening businesses and industries as Illinois moves into Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois plan. Working with public health officials and business representatives, guidelines were developed to keep workers and customers safe as the economy recovers. All four regions of the state are currently on track to move into Phase 4 on June 26 as the state continues to make significant progress in reducing new COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths, with the average 7-day statewide case positivity rate falling to just 2.5 percent as of June 20.
 Phase 4 allows for the safe reopening or expansion of several key business segments – such as health and fitness, movies and theater, museums and zoos, as well as indoor dining at restaurants. Phase 4 also allows for expanded gathering sizes, increasing the limit from 10 in Phase 3, to 50 people or fewer. This expanded gathering limit extends to key activities like meetings, events, and funerals. For full guidance and other resources visit: Illinois.gov/businessguidelines.
“Over the last four months, Illinoisans have pulled together with the common mission of keeping each other safe. By staying home and practicing social distancing, the rate of new COVID-19 cases continues to drop and each region throughout the state is prepared to move to Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois plan,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Science and data are the overarching guardrails for how Illinois will keep moving forward. By continuing to wear face coverings and following the guidance from health experts we can continue to safely reopen our economy and move forward together.
 “The state of Illinois has made great progress in slowing the spread of COVID-19, largely because of the measures our administration enacted to protect residents and communities during this public health crisis,” said Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike. “Our strategy to encourage social distancing and expand testing and contact tracing will enable Illinois communities to continue to take steps to reopen, to return to work and to resume daily activities.”
 The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) collaborated closely with local governments, businesses, and other stakeholders in the development of guidelines for Phase 4. In all, more than 150 businesses and regional partners were consulted on the guidelines developed with IDPH to ensure alignment with the State’s Restore Framework and the latest public health data.
“From the beginning, our administration has worked tirelessly to find solutions for businesses and communities impacted by this crisis so they can reopen safely,” said DCEO Acting Director, Michael Negron. “These new guidelines for Phase 4 represent our continued progress in overcoming the virus and will make way for hundreds of thousands more to return to work, and for more Illinoisans and Illinois businesses to come back into the economy.”
 To ensure businesses can reopen safely, the state released a common set of standards expected of all employers, while also outlining industry-specific guidelines using a risk-based approach to support unique operational needs of businesses across the state. Industry guidance will help businesses and residents feel safe in returning to many of these new activities that have been closed for the past several months.
Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois plan creates safety guidelines for the following permitted activities and businesses to resume, with capacity rules in place:


  • Meetings and events: Venues and meeting spaces can resume with the lesser of up to 50 people OR 50% of overall room capacity. Multiple groups are permitted given facilities have space to appropriately social distance and can limit interaction between groups. This includes activities such as conferences and weddings.
  • Indoor and Outdoor recreation: Revised guidelines to allow select indoor recreation facilities (e.g., bowling alleys, skating rinks), as well as clubhouses to reopen. Indoor recreation to operate at lesser of 50 customers OR 50% of facility capacity with outdoor recreation allowing group sizes of up to 50, and permitting multiple groups given facilities have space to appropriately social distance and can limit interaction between groups; concessions permitted with restrictions.
  • Indoor Dining: Indoor dining can reopen with groups of 10 or less, with tables spaced 6-feet apart in seated areas and with standing areas at no more than 25% of capacity.
  • Museums: Can reopen with no more than 25% occupancy, and with interactive exhibits and rides closed; guided tours should be limited to 50 people or fewer per group; museums should have a plan to limit congregation via advance ticket sales and timed ticketing; concessions permitted with restrictions.
  • Zoos: Can reopen with no more than 25% occupancy, and with interactive exhibits, indoor exhibits, and rides closed; guided tours should be limited to 50 people or fewer per group; zoos should have a plan to limit congregation via advance ticket sales and timed ticketing; concessions permitted with restrictions.
  • Cinema and Theatre: Indoor seated theaters, cinemas, and performing arts centers to allow admission of the lesser of up to 50 guests OR 50% of overall theater or performance space capacity (applies to each screening room); outdoor capacity limited to 20% of overall theater or performance space capacity; concessions permitted with restrictions.
  • Outdoor seated spectator events: Outdoor spectator sports can resume with no more than 20% of seating capacity; concessions permitted with restrictions.
    Film production: Allow no more than 50% of sound stage or filming location capacity; crowd scenes should be limited to 50 people or fewer.

Industries with revised guidelines in Phase 4:
 
  • Youth and Recreational Sports: Revised guidelines allow competitive gameplay and tournaments; youth and recreational sports venues can operate at 50% of facility capacity, 20% seating capacity for spectators, and group sizes up to 50 with multiple groups permitted during practice and competitive games given venues have space to appropriately social distance and can limit interaction between groups; concessions permitted with restrictions.
  • Health and fitness centers: Revised guidelines allow gyms to open at 50% capacity and allow group fitness classes of up to 50 people with new safety guidelines for indoors, with multiple groups permitted given facilities have space to appropriately social distance and can limit interaction between groups.
  • Day camps: Water-based activities permitted in accordance with IDPH guidelines; no more than 50% of facility capacity with group size of no more than 15 participants in a group, unless participants changing weekly.
 
Additionally, retail, service counters, offices, personal care (including salons, barber, nail salons), manufacturing and other industries allowed to reopen in Phase 3 will continue to operate at a reduced capacity.
 
To help businesses prepare to reopen and remain in compliance with new guidelines over the next two weeks, DCEO has released a new set of downloadable materials. Business toolkits are complete with signage, training checklists and other resources to help business owners and workers implement safety procedures and adhere to the latest capacity restrictions. Materials for businesses and operators pertaining to Phases 3 and 4 of the Restore Plan, can be found at Illinois.gov/businessguidelines.
During Phase 4, common public health standards remain in effect – including the use of face coverings and social distancing. Industry-specific guidelines may vary but are designed to help employers, workers and residents feel safe in transitioning to the next phase of reopening the state. All industries should continue to conduct regular cleanings, employee health screenings upon entry and mid-shift, and allow employees who can continue working from home to do so.

The state’s move to Phase 4 of the plan is expected to bring approximately 400,000 additional Illinoisans back to the workplace across all industries. While Phase 4 marks the return of 7 percent of the state’s workforce, it accounts for about $30 billion in annual GDP returned to operations and represents continuous progress towards fully reopening the state’s economy.

Phase 4 guidelines were designed by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) in coordination with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to ensure that as more activities and businesses resume operations, policies are in place to protect the health and safety of Illinois residents. 

To help businesses that have been impacted or closed as a result of COVID-19, earlier this week Governor Pritzker announced an additional $85 million will be made available through two new grant programs designed to help alleviate the burden for businesses hit hardest by COVID-19. The new Business Interruption Grants Program (BIG) will make $60 million available for up to 3,500 businesses experiencing losses and/or unable to fully reopen until Phase 4 or 5. This program is earmarked specifically for restaurants which haven’t been permitted to allow outdoor dining, health and fitness centers, barbershops and salons, and other businesses located in disproportionately impacted areas (DIAs) of the state.

 The second initiative, the Distressed Capital Program brings forward $25 million in Rebuild Illinois capital funds to help those businesses sustaining damages as a result of events related to civil unrest begin to restore and repair. Both programs will give priority to minority-owned businesses, or businesses located in DIAs. Together, these programs mark over $150 million in assistance made available since the onset of COVID-19 to help businesses with urgent needs. More information on these programs and other available grant opportunities can be found on DCEO's website.

“Today’s announcement confirms that the state of Illinois is ready to safely reopen,” said Sam Toia, President and CEO, Illinois Restaurant Association. “As one of the most highly regulated industries when it comes to health and sanitation standards, restaurants are ready and equipped to safely welcome guests back for dine-in service, and with the world-class hospitality diners have missed. These guidelines will also greatly help restaurants begin to recover from this catastrophic business period. We commend Governor Pritzker and his team on a well-informed approach that keeps public health the priority while acknowledging restaurants’ expertise and giving our industry hope for a rebound.”

“We think the state's Phase IV guidelines are a good step forward to getting the film production industry back to work and to where we were before the shut down,” said Mark Hogan, Business Manager/Secretary Treasurer of IATSE Local 476 Chicago Studio Mechanics. “We are making the safety of our crews priority number one, and we will work within these guidelines to ensure everyone on a production remains safe and healthy."

"As a minority woman in a male dominated industry, the State's minority owned business grant presents boundless opportunities for the continued growth and competitiveness of my company -- all while we continue to navigate the impacts of this crisis,” said Edith De La Cruz, President of Antigua Construction.  “State assistance will allow me to move from a small storefront operation to a new company headquarters with dedicated space for project management, estimating and a training center. I am grateful to the Governor and the State of Illinois for their continued guidance on reopening and for putting in place programs to help minority and women owned businesses succeed.”

“When we learned we were awarded a $10,000 DCEO Hospitality Emergency Grant, we were not only thankful, but relieved,” said Casa Mia Lounge and Restaurant owner Phil Hoffman.  “The grant helped us get through May, and now new state guidance allows us to look forward to Phase 4 and fully reopening when it is safe to do so.”

 “The advertising industry is anxious to begin filming commercial work again and progressing to phase 4 will allow many more productions to consider filming in Illinois safely,” said Lisa Masseur, AICP Midwest President and EP / Founder of Tessa Films. “We look forward to the influx in business and getting back to work safely with the local talent and crew in IL.”

 “The Illinois State Alliance of YMCAs surveyed thousands of our members across the state and participated in countless peer learning discussions with Y’s across the country who have reopened safely.  We are grateful to DCEO for allowing us the opportunity to share this feedback as they solicited input for reopening fitness centers and youth sports programs safely during Phase 4,” said Mike Wennekamp, President of the Illinois State Alliance of YMCAs and CEO of Two Rivers YMCA. "As the leader in making healthy lifestyles accessible to everyone in Illinois, regardless of income or background, our top priority is always the safety of every YMCA constituent, employee and guest.”
 “No one works harder to promote health and fitness than the 58,000 Illinoisans of the health club and fitness studio industry,” said Steven Schwartz, CEO of Midtown Athletic Clubs and Chair of the Illinois Fitness Alliance.  “Clubs and studios are excited to welcome their members back to a safe and clean environment to resume their fitness routines.  A strong immune system is the best defense and nothing takes a bigger toll on your body than a sedentary lifestyle.  Our industry is made up of small businesses and we’ve been taken to the brink.  These guidelines are a first step for clubs and studios to get back on their feet.  We appreciate The Governor’s team of DCEO and IDPH staff working with us to safely reopen.  We are committed to making Illinois stronger!”

 “Today's announcement marks the first steps forward for our cultural sector to begin its gradual reopening process for museums, cinemas, and performing arts venues,” said Claire Rice, Executive Director, Arts Alliance Illinois. “We look forward to continuing to work with Illinois public health officials as Phase 4 progresses, to prioritize health and safety while exploring every possible opportunity to get our incredible creative community working and fully contributing to the innovation and inspiration economy across our state once again.”

“Very early during this pandemic, DCEO was ray of light during a time when no one knew what was happening, what was next,” said Johanna Torres, CEO of the Language Loop, LLC.  “Thanks to DCEO’s guidance and immeasurable support, my small business was able to obtain funds from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program that we desperately needed to continue providing our language training services. We also appreciate the guidance provided to businesses like our so that we can make plans to reopen in a way that's safe for our employees as well as customers.”
​

 Click here for Phase 4 Guidelines Overview





June 17, 2020: Gov. Pritzker announces $900 Million Package of Equity-Driven Community and Business Grant Programs.
Programs include funding for Emergency Rental Assistance, Emergency Mortgage Assistance, Distressed Capital Program, Poverty Alleviation Strategies, and the New Business Interruption Grants Program mentioned below. Click here for the full press release
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June 17, 2020: ILLINOIS BUSINESSES - NEW BUSINESS INTERRUPTION GRANT PROGRAM
Application opens June 23rd 

The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) will launch the first round of Business Interruption Grants (BIG) by providing $60 million to businesses experiencing losses or business interruption as a result of COVID-19 related closures. The BIG Program is available for up to 3,500 businesses that experienced a limited ability to operate due to COVID-19 related closures. DCEO will begin distributing funds to qualifying businesses in early July. The total program funding will amount to at least $540 million in grants for small businesses, $270 of which has been set aside for childcare providers, and is funded by the CARES Act.

In the first wave of grants, priority will be given to small businesses that have been heavily restricted or completely shut down during the pandemic and are located in DIAs. Businesses eligible for the program must have experienced extreme hardship, demonstrated by eligible costs or losses in excess of the grant amount, since March and may continue to face depressed revenues or closure. Businesses must also have been in operation for at least three months prior to March 2020. An emphasis will also be placed on those businesses that are located in areas that have experienced recent property damage due to civil unrest, exacerbating the economic impacts of COVID-19.

Specifically, the program includes support for:
  • Businesses in DIAs - $20 million for businesses that are located in a subset of DIAs that have recently experienced significant property damage, providing 1,000 grants of $20,000 each
  • Bars and Restaurants - $20 million for bars and restaurants unable to offer outside service, providing at least 1,000 grants of up to $20,000 each
  • Barbershops and Salons - $10 million for barbershops and salons, providing 1,000 grants of $10,000 each
  • Gyms and Fitness Centers - $10 million for gyms and fitness centers that have lost significant revenue due to COVID-19, providing 500 grants of $20,000 each

DCEO will make the application for BIG available on Monday, June 22.

The Illinois SBDC at SIU will get more information on this program as it comes available. 

If you have any questions or need assistance when this program becomes available, you can reach us at 
[email protected] or 618.536.2424.
 
Copyright © 2020 Illinois Small Business Development Center at SIU, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website.

Our mailing address is:

Illinois Small Business Development Center at SIU
1740 Innovation Dr
Carbondale, IL 62903-6102

RESTORE ILLINOIS - PHASE 3 PLAN
​
Phase 3 Guidelines for Reopening Business and Returning People to Work Safely (click here)

NEW MODIFICATIONS TO PAYROLL PROTECTION PROGRAM SIGNED BY PRESIDENT
President Donald Trump signed into law the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Flexibility Act of 2020, which provides borrowers with greater flexibility in spending PPP funds without compromising forgiveness eligibility.

The act makes the following amendments to the PPP to provide relief to borrowers:
Covered Period Extension - Extends the covered period during which borrowers must spend the PPP funds to be eligible for forgiveness from 8 weeks to 24 weeks.
Loan Repayment Terms - Extends the minimum loan term for unforgiven PPP loans
from 2 years to 5 years.

Payroll Costs vs. Non-Payroll Costs - Reduces the forgiveness portion of PPP funds that must be spent on payroll costs from 75% to 60%, and raises the non-payroll cost limitation from 25% to 40%.

Payroll Tax Deferment - Permits borrowers to defer payroll taxes without being penalized while still remaining eligible for loan forgiveness.

Rehiring Safe Harbor - Extends the rehiring safe harbor by 6 months to provide borrowers with additional time to restore payroll levels or rehire employees without facing a reduction in the amount of forgiveness for which they are eligible. The original date was June 30, 2020, and the new date is Dec. 31, 2020.

Inability to Hire - Provides loan forgiveness eligibility exemptions for borrowers that are not able to rehire an employee or a replacement. There are also exemptions for loan forgiveness eligibility for borrowers
that are not able to return to the same level of business due to
complying with COVID-19-related orders or circumstances.

We anticipate the U.S. Small Business Administration and Treasury to release a new forgiveness application form and a new round of FAQs over the next 1
to 2 weeks.
SOURCE: Employco, Westmont, Illinois
​

SBA Releases PPP Loan Forgiveness Application and Instructions (May 18, 2020)
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has released the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness Application and Instructions. The new 11-page document includes references to "several measures to reduce compliance burdens and simplify the process for borrowers, including:"
  • Incurred or Paid - Borrowers have increased flexibility to include eligible payroll and non-payroll expenses paid or incurred during the 8-week period.
    • Payroll costs incurred but not paid during the borrower’s last pay period of the 8-week period are eligible if paid on or before the next regular pay date.
    • Non-payroll costs (e.g., utilities) can be paid on or before the next regular billing date, even if the billing date is after the 8-week period.
  • 8-week Period - Borrowers have an 8-week (56 day) period to use as the covered period.
    • The 8-week period for borrowers with semi-monthly (or less frequent) payroll will start on the same day as the PPP funds were received. Example: if funds were received on Monday, April 20, the first day of the period is April 20 and the last day is Sunday, June 14.
    • The 8-week period for borrowers with bi-weekly (or more frequent) payroll includes an alternative option. These borrowers can elect to start their 8-week period on the first day of the first pay period following the receipt of the PPP funds. Example: if funds were received on Monday, April 20 and the first day of the next pay period is Sunday, April 26, the alternative period start date would be April 26 and the last day is Saturday, June 20.
  • Full-Time / Full-time Equivalent (FTE) - Full-time employee counts are established based on a 40-hour work week. To calculate the average FTE, divide the average number of hours paid per week by 40, and round the total to the nearest tenth. The maximum for each employee is capped at 1.0. A simplified method that assigns a 1.0 for employees who work 40 hours or more per week and 0.5 for employees who work fewer hours may be used at the election of the Borrower.
  • Owner Compensation Limit - Amounts are capped at the lesser of the 8-week equivalent of their 2019 compensation for any owner-employee or self-employed individual/general partner, or $15,385 (the 8-week equivalent of $100,000) per individual. This prevents an owner from increasing his/her compensation during the 8-week period.

Small Business Relief Grant Program - A program to support DuPage County small businesses and independent contractors impacted by COVID-19.
In an effort to assist small businesses and independent contractors impacted by COVID-19, DuPage County in conjunction with Choose DuPage is providing grants to use for employee retention payroll, utilities, and rent.
Applications will be accepted online beginning Monday, May 18th.  
Click here to register for informational webinar
Click here to visit the website
​


DuPage County Launches Reinvest DuPage program (May 12, 2020)
Click here for Press Release
Small Business COVID-19 Relief Program 
The Business Invest - Illinois Small Business COVID-19 Relief Program (“Program”) is an impact investment loan program under which the State Treasurer has made up to $500 million in deposits available to banks and credit unions throughout the state, at near-zero rates, to assist Illinois small business and non-profits negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.  
Click here for more info

DCEO Layoff Aversion Funding Available​The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is making Statewide Rapid Response funds available to support small businesses facing the financial impacts from COVID‐19. Grant funds are now available to support employers with layoff aversion activities.
The funding range for COVID‐19 Layoff Aversion funding is $5,000 ‐ $50,000 per employer. Funds may be used to support:
  • Cleaning Sanitation Services
  • Computer Software and Hardware
  • Call Center / Remote Work Environments
  • Cross‐Functional and/or Transitional Training
  • Production of Essential Goods and Services Needed to Support COVID‐19 Response
  • Industry Sector Strategy Partnership
  • COVID‐19 Response Activities
Please follow the links below to view the full details of the Layoff Aversion Grants, F&Q and to apply for funding:
  • IE Assistance in Response to COVID-19 Presentation
  • IE Assistance in Response to COVID-19 FAQ
  • IE Assistance in Response to COVID-19 Application

View Illinois Executive Order 2020-30 
issued April 23, 2020


​
MAY 1st Stay-at-Home Order

IMPORTANT UPDATE: We have an important goal to keep our Members updated on key information and resources related to COVID-19.  The Stay-at-Home Order has been extended by Governor J.B. Pritzker.  He has announced he will extend Illinois’ stay-at-home order through May 30th. The current order expires April 30th. The new order will be filed next week and takes effect May 1st.  Highlights of the changes to the stay-at-home order from the Governor’s press release:

• OUTDOOR RECREATION: State parks will begin a phased re-opening under guidance from
the Department of Natural Resources. Fishing and boating in groups of no more than two
people will be permitted. A list of parks that will be open on May 1 and additional guidelines
can be found on the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Golf will be permitted under
strict safety guidelines provided by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic
Opportunity and when ensuring that social distancing is followed.

• NEW ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES: Greenhouses, garden centers and nurseries may re-open as
essential businesses. These stores must follow social distancing requirements and must
require that employees and customers wear a face covering. Animal grooming services may also re-open.

• NON-ESSENTIAL RETAIL: Retail stores not designated as non-essential businesses and
operations may re-open to fulfill telephone and online orders through pick-up outside the
store and delivery.

• FACE COVERINGS: Beginning on May 1, individuals will be required to wear a face-covering or a mask when in a public place where they can’t maintain a six-foot social distance. Face- coverings will be required in public indoor spaces, such as stores. This new requirement applies to all individuals over the age of two who are able to medically tolerate a face-covering or a mask.

• ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES AND MANUFACTURING: Essential businesses and manufacturers will
be required to provide face-coverings to all employees who are not able to maintain six-feet
of social distancing, as well as follow new requirements that maximize social distancing and
prioritize the well-being of employees and customers. This will include occupancy limits for
essential businesses and precautions such as staggering shifts and operating only essential
lines for manufacturers.

• SCHOOLS: Educational institutions may allow and establish procedures for pick-up of
necessary supplies or student belongings. Dormitory move-outs must follow public health
guidelines, including social distancing.

• HEALTH CARE PROCEDURES: The Illinois Department of Public Health will also be issuing guidance to surgi-centers and hospitals to allow for certain elective surgeries for non-life- threatening conditions, starting on May 1. Facilities will need to meet specific criteria, including proper PPE, ensuring enough overall space for COVID-19 patients remains available, and testing of elective surgery patients to ensure COVID-19 negative status.

Worker’s Compensation Emergency Rules Lawsuit Filed: A coalition of business interests filed a lawsuitthis week in Sangamon County Circuit Court challenging the Worker’s Compensation Emergency Rules that will require employers to pay workers’ compensation benefits if an employee is diagnosed with
COVID-19 without proof the illness was contracted at the workplace. The Illinois Manufacturers
Association and the Illinois Retail Merchants Association argue that the Commission did not have the
authority to make the changes through emergency rule; rather those type of substantive changes must
be made legislatively.

Please contact the Westmont Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau Staff via email with any questions, comments or recommendations that we can provide back to our Chamber Board and State Leadership.

Larry Forssberg
Executive Director

Source: DMMC

COVID-19 Small Business Loans
  • Small businesses can apply for federal COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loans through the U.S. Small Business Administration.
  • Applicants will apply directly to the SBA, which is estimating it will take about 21 days to process the applications. Once approved, they are expecting about another five to seven days to disperse the funds directly from the U.S. Treasury to the applicant.
  • You can find out more information in the SBA's Three-Step Disaster Loan Process Sheet, one pager. presentation and the governor's press release

Payroll Tax Credits
The U.S. Treasury Department, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and the U.S. Department of Labor (Labor) announced that small and midsize employers can begin taking advantage of two new refundable payroll tax credits, designed to immediately and fully reimburse them, dollar-for-dollar, for the cost of providing Coronavirus-related leave to their employees. You can find out more in the press release.
​

Outside Resources 
Center for Disease Control (CDC)  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html 

DuPage Health Department   https://www.dupagehealth.org//  

Illinois Department of Public Health http://www.dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/diseases-and-conditions/diseases-a-z-list/coronavirus

World Health Organization https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019  


More Links
For more information on COVID-19 in Illinois please see the Illinois Coronavirus Response website.
For more information on COVID-19 business updates please see the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Combating the Coronavirus website.
For more information on IRS Coronavirus Tax Relief see the following pages:
  • IRS Coronavirus Tax Relief
  • IRS Paid Sick Leave for Workers
  • IRS Filing and Payment Deadline Extension

​For more information on Unemployment resources please see COVID-19 and Unemployment Benefits 
​

WESTMONT COMMUNITY INFORMATION 

List of Westmont Restaurants Open For Your Business!

List of Westmont Grocery Stores with Special Hours For Seniors

List of Westmont Businesses Open


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Westmont Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau
One South Cass Avenue, Suite 101
Westmont, IL 60559
630-960-5553

[email protected]
www.westmontchamber.com
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