Chamber Executive
Illinois Intelligence Report
March 17, 2020
Good morning #ChamberWorld! It's going to be a challenging week! Here is news you can use as an Illinois Chamber of Commerce professional:
Corona Virus information from chambers across the state:
From the Plainfield Area
Chamber:
Illinois is seeking an economic injury disaster declaration from
the Small Business Administration but the application requires data from every
county. If your business has been affected by COVID-19, please complete the
survey below:
From Effingham County Chamber
For the
safety of our members and their employees, the Effingham County Chamber of
Commerce has postponed and/or cancelled all events and programming effective
immediately through Tuesday, March 31. We will continue to monitor the
situation and make additional scheduling changes as needed.
The events
and programs impacted by this include: (subject to change)
Membership Meeting
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March 16th
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Postponed to
April 13th
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ERCA Executive Committee Meeting
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March 18th
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Next Meeting
April 15th
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DEBG Celebrating Women Event
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March 18th
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Cancelled
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Workforce Development Meeting
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March 19th
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Next Meeting
April 9th
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DEBG Ladies' Night Out
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March 20th
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Cancelled
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Business
After Hours - Legacy Harley Davidson
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March
19th
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Cancelled
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YBNext Annual Meeting
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March 24th
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TBA
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Community
of Excellence Breakfast
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March
25th
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Postponed
to
April 29th
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Ambassadors Meeting
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March
26th
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Cancelled
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Community
Development Meeting
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March
26th
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TBA
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Impact
2030 Steering Committee
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March
27th
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Next
Meeting
April 24th
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ERCA Workforce Readiness Committee Meeting
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April 1st
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TBA
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Summer
Activities Fair
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April
2nd
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TBA
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Updates on
new dates will be posted HERE as
they are available. We will continue to be actively engaged in the conversation
surrounding COVID-19 and provide our members with ongoing updates from the
Center for Disease Control and our local authorities.
A resource
page is being added to the Chamber website: HERE containing links to a
variety of resources provided by the Centers for Disease Control &
Prevention, Illinois Department of Public Health, US Small Business
Administration, Ready.gov,
and the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation. This page will be updated as
additional information becomes available. We recommend that you bookmark
it for easy access.
Member
businesses are encouraged to report any changes in services, open hours and
availability so that we may share this information with the public through our
Facebook page. Please email Kristin at kprobst@effinghamcountychamber.com.
Thank you!
Addendum to note:
Hello John,
My heart has been heavy the past few days as the full impact of how the corona virus is now impacting our communities and your businesses has become obvious. There have been crises in our country in the past but certainly none that impacted virtually every part of our lives like corona virus has. This situation requires swift action and sound ideas to make sure the impact to Effingham County businesses and residents is minimized.
As your chamber of commerce, we have an obligation to support your business with information, education and ideas on how to manage your business, develop new strategies and be prepared for when the threat to our health ends.
Here are specific actions the Chamber is taking to assist you in these trying times:
· A section has been added to our website www.effinghamcountychamber.com with many resources for you. We will keep adding resources as they are identified.
· Specific resources of importance:
· Tips for creating an emergency work from home policy
· How to remain connected to your customers
· A Business Continuity Planning Kit
· Grant and loan programs being established
· We are offering access to our Business Outreach Center mentors who can answer any questions you have and assist you with ideas on how to sustain your business.
· The Chamber has just launched "LOCAL LINK" – a new E-Newsletter delivered to local residents each Friday with news from businesses, updates on community events, links to job postings and more ways that we can connect businesses to the community. Check out the Facebook post for more information and to sign up.
· The Chamber office remains open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to assist you with your business needs. You can call us at 217-342-4147 or email me directly at nlansing@effinghamcountychamber.com.
Additionally, The City of Effingham has added a page to their website which has a list of restaurant hours, etc.:
Please review these links to various disaster assistance programs available to businesses:
· Disaster Loan Assistance: The Small Business Association has received authorization to provide small business assistance through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. Visit here to learn more.
· Illinois Department of Employment Security Benefits: Benefits may be available to some individuals whose unemployment is attributable to COVID-19. IDES recently adopted emergency rules to try to make the unemployment insurance system as responsive to the current situation as possible. Find out more here.
· Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity: This is a survey to assist in evaluating the State's request for a declaration of economic injury disaster from the SBA. Please take a moment to fill out the survey here.
· U.S. Department of Labor: Resources for employers and employees, including: workplace safety, wages, insurance flexibility, and more. Visit here for more.
· Facebook: Facebook Inc announced it plans to award $100 million in cash grants and ad credits for up to 30,000 small businesses in over 30 countries to address the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak. Find out more here.
Please take time, especially, to fill out the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity survey as this will help provide access to benefits that are being considered. Also, remember to update any changes to your business hours, services, etc. on your website and social media sites.
Finally, and on a more personal note: It is easy to get distracted by negativity as many aspects of our lives have been affected. Our negative thoughts bring us down and it’s hard to see that there are still positive things happening around us. As you monitor news about the pandemic, look for trusted and truthful information. There’s a lot of hype and not all of it is accurate. Situations like this can and should bring out the best in us and we’ve seen that happen many times in Effingham County. This is a time for people to work together and do our best to keep each other safe. It’s a struggle to stay positive, but we will survive and at the end of this, we will be stronger personally and professionally. The Effingham County Chamber will continue to operate "business as usual" despite the crisis (to the extent that we are able and permitted), to ensure that our services to our members and the public continue without interruption.
Yours in Business,
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Norma Lansing, IOM, ACE
President & CEO
Illinois
#BestChamber Practices: Barrington Chamber of Commerce: Stay Calm, Stay
Sensible and Be Kind
A message from the president of the
Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce
Stay Calm, Stay Sensible,
and Be Kind!
Yesterday I stopped at the store to
simply get a few items - milk, fruit and yes one package of toilet paper. We
are a small household now, empty nesters, and need very little. People were
Coronavirus panic buying. I maneuvered my way around to get the few things I
wanted, then waited in a very long checkout line. While many people were reasonable
to some extent, there were several customers who had nothing but boxes and
boxes of toilet paper in their carts.
Come on folks! Please stay calm,
stay sensible, be reasonable, and most importantly, let’s still be kind!
State and local governments and
health organizations have asked us all to practice “Social Distancing” and of
course, follow the CDC guidelines for extra cleanliness, handwashing, wiping
down surfaces, staying home if sick and more. We have all read them by now.
Please be diligent and considerate. You can find the full recommendations
easily online.
To follow those directives, BACC is
postponing a number of events. The April 5 Family Expo will be rescheduled for
later this summer; and the March 17 Battlehouse Mixer will be rescheduled. We
have also asked our Networking Groups to take a break for the next two weeks.
Please check our website frequently for updates. A key reason to take these
actions locally, regionally and nationally is to help slow down the spread of
the virus and let local public health systems prepare.
While the health of our communities
is critically important; so is the health of our local businesses. This
situation is creating serious challenges for small business owners who rely on
us – especially restaurants and retailers for whom the effects of “social
distancing” will make it extremely difficult to pay their staff, rent, bills
and more.
So, please consider the following:
1. Stop by a local store and buy a
gift card; the holidays and Mother’s Day are coming up – we all need some
things
2. Order take-out, pick up or
delivery at a local restaurant
3. When you see social media posts
from a local business, comment, like and share to help them increase their
exposure
4. Use BACC to promote your news,
share news you see on our Facebook page, and like our posts; also comment when
we share some member news
5. Give a good review for a great
product, some great service, or great food you have had to recognize a local
business and send kudos their way
6. If you see someone struggling,
share supportive words, or a helpful tip based on experience; sometimes just
reaching out, responding and listening helps
7. Finally, let’s get out and
Shop/Dine/Support local as much as we can when we can
Let’s stick together and get
through this by thinking of others. At some point, our life will return to some
normalcy and we will all want to be out supporting one another.
So, stay calm, stay sensible, and
be kind! Thank you!
If you have questions about
anything, or need any assistance, feel free to call me at (847) 381-2525. Stay
healthy.
Suzanne Corr
BACC President
Naperville Rallies To Provide Local Restaurant Meals To Healthcare Workers & First Responders
Naperville Helps! Has been established to help support our community, health professionals and first responders during this challenging time. In order to do this, a GoFundMe page has been launched as the collection point for donations. All financial contributions will go towards the purchase of meals from local restaurants which will then be delivered to workers at Edward-Elmhurst Health, the Naperville Fire Department and the Naperville Police Department.
This goodwill gesture is spearheaded by the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Naperville Alliance. The goal is to support the business community and by doing so, provide meals to those working hardest to keep us safe.
“This idea came from a community member who just wanted to help our businesses and those working on the front lines,” said Kaylin Risvold, President and CEO of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce. “It took ONE IDEA, shared with us, to initiate this campaign. We know our incredible community will come together to support this effort because it benefits those who support us.”
“100% of the Naperville Helps! proceeds will go straight into our community. We have come together to do what we can to support the health care workers and those on the front lines while also supporting our restaurants who are facing new challenges,” said Katie Wood, Executive Director of the Downtown Naperville Alliance. “This way, those working to keep us safe can enjoy a nourishing meal - and Chamber Member and Downtown restaurants will enjoy increased business.”
NACC and DNA need monetary donations to begin meal deliveries on Monday, March 23, 2020. When Naperville Helps!, we can get through anything together. Thank you for your generosity.
From Joliet Chamber of Commerce: Letter to
members
Chamber Members:
As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, we would like to share some
updates with you regarding assistance programs and potential legislation. In addition,
with concern to all regarding health and safety, we have decided to keep the
Chamber office open for business with reduced hours of 9:00 a.m. through 3:00
p.m. We will ask however that anyone who wishes to meet in person please call
the Chamber office first as we will be closing to the public. We can be reached
at 815.727.5371.
We’re here to help and pass on information as it becomes available. Please let
us know how we can be of assistance during this time. All of us can still
communicate electronically and we’re happy to share out any messages through
our social networks.
The U.S. House of Representatives approved the Families First Coronavirus
Response Act (H.R. 6201). The bill includes two new paid leave mandates on
employers with less than 500 employees. If passed:
- Businesses with less than 500
employees will be required to offer Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave
benefits to all employees. Eligible employees must have been on the
employer’s payroll for 30 days.
- Employers will receive a 100%
refundable tax credit from the federal government for qualified family
leave wages paid by an employer for each calendar quarter, but this is
capped at $200 per day and $10,000 for all calendar quarters.
- Businesses with less than 500
employees will be required to offer full-time employees 10 days (80 hours)
and part-time employees a two-week hourly average of paid sick leave, on
top of any other existing paid leave program, to quarantine or seek a
diagnosis or preventive care for COVID-19.
- Employers will receive a 100% tax
credit for all wages that are paid, but capped at $511 per day, and $7,156
altogether for each employee.
We’re keeping an eye on Senate action and
follow-up measures that will aid businesses in an effort to see immediate assistance. Illinois is seeking an economic
injury disaster declaration from the Small Business Administration but the
application requires data from every county. If your business has been affected
by COVID-19, please complete the survey below:
https://form.jotform.com/200717156003039
The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering designated states and
territories low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small
businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus
(COVID-19). Upon a request received from a state’s or territory’s Governor, SBA
will issue under its own authority, as provided by the Coronavirus Preparedness
and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act that was recently signed by the
President, an Economic Injury Disaster Loan declaration.
- Any such Economic Injury Disaster
Loan assistance declaration issued by the SBA makes loans available to small
businesses and private, non-profit organizations in designated areas of a
state or territory to help alleviate economic injury caused by the
Coronavirus (COVID-19).
- SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance
will coordinate with the state’s or territory’s Governor to submit the
request for Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance.
- Once a declaration is made for
designated areas within a state, the information on the application
process for Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance will be made
available to all affected communities as well as updated on our
website: SBA.gov/disaster.
- SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster
Loans offer up to $2 million in assistance and can provide vital economic
support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue
they are experiencing.
- These loans may be used to pay
fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid
because of the disaster’s impact. The interest rate is 3.75% for small
businesses. The interest rate for non-profits is 2.75%.
- SBA offers loans with long-term
repayments in order to keep payments affordable, up to a maximum of 30
years. Terms are determined on a case-by-case basis, based upon each
borrower’s ability to repay.
- SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster
Loans are just one piece of the expanded focus of the federal government’s
coordinated response, and the SBA is strongly committed to providing the
most effective and customer-focused response possible.
- For additional information, please
contact the SBA disaster assistance customer service center. Call
1-800-659-2955 (TTY: 1-800-877-8339) or e-mail disastercustomerservice@sba.gov
Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce &
Industry Staff and Board of Directors
Mike Paone
Vice President
Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce & Industry
mpaone@jolietchamber.com
815.727.5371 main
815.727.5373 direct
Geneva Chamber updates:
#staystronggenevail
The Geneva Chamber of Commerce is working diligently at
this time to get more information on closings and anything else related
to the pandemic. We will quickly relay this information to our
visitors and all of you.
Working together will be our greatest asset during the days ahead.
Please call our office at 630-232-6060 with any questions or comments.
We will do as much as we can to help our members during this
disruption. Below are links to resources that we hope will be
beneficial to you during this time.
When posting on Social Media, use
the hashtag #staystronggenevail
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Restaurants
Please click on
this Google Doc ASAP to update your status and information
so we can share on our
website and social media.
** If at any point your status does
change, please change on this document.
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Retail and
Service Industries
Please
click on this Google Doc ASAP to update your
status and information so we can share on our
website and social media.
** If
at any point your status does change, please change on this document
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Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce
The Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic
Opportunity (DCEO) is working diligently to secure access to helpful
resources for small businesses throughout the state of Illinois.
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The Small Business Administration (SBA) will work directly with
state Governors to provide targeted, low-interest loans to small businesses and
non-profits that have been severely impacted by Coronavirus (COVID-19). As a
part of this process, DCEO
needs to collect information from organizations that will be negatively
affected. This information will assist the DCEO in requesting an economic
injury disaster declaration from the SBA.
Small Business owners are asked to complete the following form
if they will be impacted by COVID-19. Please go to the following link and
complete the information requested.
Resources:
CDC (Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention)
1300 W. 2nd St, Rock Falls, IL 61071
815-626-2230
Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce
211 Locust Street, Sterling, IL 61081
P: 815-625-2400 | F: 815-625-9361
chamber@essex1.com
Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce
We are continuing to monitor the
COVID-19 public health crisis and will send regular updates with important news
and neighborhood updates. During this crisis, our office on Lincoln Avenue will
be temporarily closed to visitors, but we are online and available by phone to
help and support you and your business.
Waterloo Chamber: Together we are STRONGER: Stay Calm and Shop
Local
From Margaret Perrault, President
Batavia Chamber: SBA Update
From Robert Steiner, District
Director, Illinois District, U.S. Small Business Administration:
I am contacting you to share
proactive measures the US Small Business Administration is taking to address
the challenges small businesses face due to the impacts of the coronavirus
(COVID-19). While the situation is rapidly evolving, I’d like to share what
resources are available now and those that are in the pipeline.
What’s happened so far
The SBA has received authorization
to provide small business assistance through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan
(EIDL) program. This program can provide low interest loans of up to $2M to
businesses and private non-profits. The attached document discusses the
Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program and provides high level
information related to the loan caps, use of proceeds, and interest rates. It’s
important to recognize that the state has not yet received a declaration, so
the EIDL program is not yet available to Illinois businesses and non-profits.
What’s next
SBA is working with the State of
Illinois to support their efforts to submit the Governor’s request for a
declaration. To accomplish this, the state is identifying businesses who have
experienced substantial economic injury. This step is important as a county can
only qualify if they either, have an identified business that has suffered
economic injury, or the county is contiguous to a declared county. Once the
state has pulled together its request, it goes to SBA for review. Once a
disaster is declared, the EIDL becomes available for businesses located in
declared counties.
How you can help
· Help the
state identify affected businesses – You can directly help the disaster
declaration process through your assistance in identifying affected business.
The state of Illinois has created a portal to assist with this at: https://form.jotform.com/200717156003039
· Stay
informed – The Illinois District will send out updates as the situation
evolves. We plan to share information via webinars, through our twitter
(@SBA_Illinois), and via email (www.sba.gov/updates). In
addition, you can find continually updated information on this situation at www.sba.gov/coronavirus.
· Direct
impacted small businesses to SBA – Even in the absence of a declaration, SBA
has a broad range of programs that can help small businesses through these challenging
times including business advisory and lending services. Call or email the
Illinois District Office or go to www.sba.gov/il for
more information. Local staff stand ready to assist.
To reach the District or Branch
Office, please use the following contact information:
· Chicago
Office: 312-353-4528
· Springfield
Branch: 217-747-8249
· Email: Illinois.DO@sba.gov
Contact for Harriet Parker, Manager,
Illinois Small Business Development Center:
· Phone:
630-906-4143
Email: hparker@waubonsee.edu
Illinois #BestChamber practices: Western DuPage Chamber
There is so much information available about the spread and impact
of COVID19, and information seems to be changing by the hour.
Stay up to date with the latest, factual information that directly
impacts you, your business, and your employees.
From McLean County Chamber of Commerce
COVID-19 Update - March 16, 2020
After discussion with our members impacted by the COVID-19
outbreak, the Chamber is compiling a library of resources for businesses on
available tools to use during this time.
We
want to know what questions your business or organization is facing because of
the virus. Submit them via the form below and we'll do our best to find
resources to best answer your needs.
The
Chamber remains open and available to serve as a resource. Please don’t
hesitate to contact
us should
you have additional concerns or requests.
BNPrepared.org
Together, across the globe, we are all braving uncharted territory. As a member of the McLean County Chamber of Commerce, we want to assure you that we’re working hard on your behalf to bring leaders and influencers together to provide resources, address concerns, and prepare our community for the global event we’re currently facing.
With that mission in mind, the McLean County Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Council for the Bloomington-Normal Area, and the Bloomington-Normal Area Convention and Visitors Bureau announce the unveiling of a new website, BNPrepared.org, to serve as a portal addressing the concerns of employers, employees, families, and visitors of McLean County. BNPrepared.org will be regularly updated with current and accurate information available to all in McLean County and the surrounding area.
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Contribute Resources - Ask Questions - Share Your Impact
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This event is ever-evolving with new guidelines and data available by the hour. Our community will get through this together with clear communication and sharing our knowledge and assets. BNPrepared.org allows community members to both submit resources that others might find helpful, as well as ask questions that have yet to be answered. In addition to sharing resources, employers will find a COVID-19 Impact Survey through the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity that will provide the data needed for financial relief programs.
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Connecting with others digitally is more important now than ever. Let us support your social media efforts – tag us on Facebook so we can highlight your best practices for pandemic preparedness, business interruption plans, and how your business is modifying delivering products and services. You can also send us your press releases or best practices. Help us share your stories!
Once you’ve taken care of yourself, your family, and your loved ones, take a moment to think of other businesses or community organizations that need our support to survive. Consider shopping locally online, calling in your orders, picking up take-out – but above all, be there for each other. The best way through this is together.
The Chamber remains open and available to serve as a resource. Please don’t hesitate to contact us should you have additional concerns or requests.
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From Sauk Valley Chamber
Questions: contact Diana
Verhulst, Chief Executive Officer
or Pam Martinez Director
of Programs and Services, United Way of Whiteside County
COVID-19 Urgent Food Delivery
March
16, 2020 — UNITED WAY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY is working directly with
its
area partners and agencies through Whiteside County Healthier Communities
Partnership
to transport emergency food to elders who are shut in or unable to enter
food
venues in Whiteside County during the COVID-19 restriction period as
defined
by the State of Illinois or Whiteside County. Please only use these services
in
an emergency. Services will be available between 7:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. only
and
will cease once emergency restrictions are lifted.
The
following food delivery options will be available at no charge:
1)
Golden Meals (Meals on Wheels) may provide meals delivered to you (you
must
call in advance) Monday thru Thursday from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. Thursday is
a
double meal. Call 815-626-4442 to order your food.
2)
Pickup and delivery of prepaid food you have ordered from restaurants or
select
grocery stores for delivery to your door (food will be left at your door) via
one
of our local partners or volunteers. Call UWWC at (815) 441-7456* between
7:30
a.m. and 7:30 p.m. with your name, address and name of food source,
confirmation
of payment, and your phone number. The following grocery stores
will
take your order online: Wal-Mart (Sterling) (order and pay at Wal-Mart online
only,
subject to availability). We cannot be responsible for the store’s packaging,
keeping
food hot, or item selection in your order. We’ll just get it to you. We have
limited
partners so please be aware it could take time.
3)
If restaurants cannot deliver to your home, we will get your order delivered
and
left at your door. We cannot guarantee its warmth. Follow the same protocol
for
#2, above: Call us at (815) 441-7456 between 7:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. with
your
name, address and name of restaurant, confirmation of your payment to
them,
and your phone number.
Questions
can be directed to Pam or Diana at United Way of Whiteside County at
(815)
625-7973 between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.
(*Phone
services provided by Royal Neighbors Rock Falls Camp 100.)
United
Way of Whiteside County is a 501 c 3 charitable organization fighting for the
education, health and
financial
stability of all people. We are located at 502 1st Avenue, Sterling, Ill.
815-625-7973.
The Batavia Chamber of Commerce, the City of
Batavia and Batavia MainStreet are contacting each restaurant and bar in
Batavia to update their hours and services
– In wake of the impending closure
of all dine-in patronage at Batavia restaurants and bars, a comprehensive list
of hours and accessibility by these businesses is being developed. The document
is a
Google
document spreadsheet that can be viewed by anyone and will be updated
whenever new information is received.
The Batavia Chamber of Commerce,
the City of Batavia and Batavia MainStreet are contacting each restaurant and
bar in Batavia to share what their plans are. This list and any updates will be
posted on each of the representative entity’s website and social media via
the
Google
Doc. Please look for this list here:
The three organizations encourage
everyone to continue to support these local restaurants. All businesses must
close their dine-in and walk-in functions as of 9 p.m. tonight. Take-out will
be via curbside pickup only. Delivery is an option with many of the businesses,
too. Restaurant Madness, scheduled to begin on Sunday, March 22 has been
cancelled.
Please watch for any updates on the
above listed links. It is the intention of these organizations to keep the
public and businesses informed and to support in any way possible as everyone
works together to be healthy and safe.
For more information, contact one
of these organizations:
Batavia Chamber of Commerce,
Margaret Perreault, president and CEO: (630) 879-7134, Ext. 1
Batavia MainStreet, Sherri Wilcox
Dauskurdus, executive director: (630) 761-3528
City of Batavia, Laura Newman, city
administrator: (630) 454-2000
Champaign County Chamber: Important information and Tele-Commuting Tips
Good morning. We are aware that you are being inundating with information on COVID-19. Given the quickly changing landscape, there could potentially be a scenario where non-essential companies are asked to close. If this is the case, we want to be proactive and provide you with some information to consider as you prepare your employees to work from home.
· Be realistic about whether every job can be done remotely.
· Ask your employees to outline what they can work on from home. Have them start to put together the necessary office materials they will need to accomplish the work they have outlined.
· Call your insurance provider to make sure you are properly covered for remote employees.
· Clearly outline your expectations regarding communication.
· Do your employees have the necessary equipment and technology to work from home.
· Is the home-based are a safe area for the employee to work.
· Consider having your staff sign a simple Work from Home agreement so that the expectations are agreed and understood by everyone.
· Set up a platform such as Slack or Teams to make communication easier.
We are attaching a Telecommuting Policy and Procedure template from the Society of Human Resource Management that you can tweak to make your own.
Your chamber staff is working diligently to keep our COVID-19 resources available at your fingertips. We have created a one-page resource list that you can find at
www.champaigncounty.org. You can also find updates and resources through our social media.
Additionally, we know that in times of uncertainty people get scared. The fear causes people to restrict their spending. But consumer spending accounts for 70 percent of American economic growth. While shopping online is typically a message you do not hear from a chamber, we do have many small, local businesses (retail, bars and restaurants) that sell products and gift cards online. If you are practicing social distancing and encouraging your employees to do so as well, please think about how you might be able to help support local businesses through online purchasing.
Our goal is to be your resource. We are also working with other chambers across the state to create a unified list of ideas that we can advocate for to help our members. We want our members to be prepared, safe and healthy. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions.
Thank you. We are in this together.
Laura E. Weis, IOM, ACE
President & CEO
Telecommuting Policy and Procedure
Telecommuting Policy and Procedure
Objective
Telecommuting allows employees to work at home, on the road or in a satellite location for all or part of their workweek. [Company Name] considers telecommuting to be a viable, flexible work option when both the employee and the job are suited to such an arrangement. Telecommuting may be appropriate for some employees and jobs but not for others. Telecommuting is not an entitlement, it is not a companywide benefit, and it in no way changes the terms and conditions of employment with [Company Name].
Procedures
Telecommuting can be informal, such as working from home for a short-term project or on the road during business travel, or a formal, set schedule of working away from the office as described below. Either an employee or a supervisor can suggest telecommuting as a possible work arrangement.
Any telecommuting arrangement made will be on a trial basis for the first three months and may be discontinued at will and at any time at the request of either the telecommuter or the organization. Every effort will be made to provide 30 days’ notice of such change to accommodate commuting, child care and other issues that may arise from the termination of a telecommuting arrangement. There may be instances, however, when no notice is possible.
Eligibility
Individuals requesting formal telecommuting arrangements must be employed with [Company Name] for a minimum of 12 months of continuous, regular employment and must have a satisfactory performance record.
Before entering into any telecommuting agreement, the employee and manager, with the assistance of the human resource department, will evaluate the suitability of such an arrangement, reviewing the following areas:
· Employee suitability. The employee and manager will assess the needs and work habits of the employee, compared to traits customarily recognized as appropriate for successful telecommuters.
· Job responsibilities. The employee and manager will discuss the job responsibilities and determine if the job is appropriate for a telecommuting arrangement.
· Equipment needs, workspace design considerations and scheduling issues. The employee and manager will review the physical workspace needs and the appropriate location for the telework.
· Tax and other legal implications. The employee must determine any tax or legal implications under IRS, state and local government laws, and/or restrictions of working out of a home-based office. Responsibility for fulfilling all obligations in this area rests solely with the employee.
If the employee and manager agree, and the human resource department concurs, a draft telecommuting agreement will be prepared and signed by all parties, and a three-month trial period will commence.
Evaluation of telecommuter performance during the trial period will include regular interaction by phone and e-mail between the employee and the manager, and weekly face-to-face meetings to discuss work progress and problems. At the end of the trial period, the employee and manager will each complete an evaluation of the arrangement and make recommendations for continuance or modifications. Evaluation of telecommuter performance beyond the trial period will be consistent with that received by employees working at the office in both content and frequency but will focus on work output and completion of objectives rather than on time-based performance.
An appropriate level of communication between the telecommuter and supervisor will be agreed to as part of the discussion process and will be more formal during the trial period. After conclusion of the trial period, the manager and telecommuter will communicate at a level consistent with employees working at the office or in a manner and frequency that is appropriate for the job and the individuals involved.
Equipment
On a case-by-case basis, [Company Name] will determine, with information supplied by the employee and the supervisor, the appropriate equipment needs (including hardware, software, modems, phone and data lines and other office equipment) for each telecommuting arrangement. The human resource and information system departments will serve as resources in this matter. Equipment supplied by the organization will be maintained by the organization. Equipment supplied by the employee, if deemed appropriate by the organization, will be maintained by the employee. [Company Name] accepts no responsibility for damage or repairs to employee-owned equipment. [Company Name] reserves the right to make determinations as to appropriate equipment, subject to change at any time. Equipment supplied by the organization is to be used for business purposes only. The telecommuter must sign an inventory of all [Company Name] property received and agree to take appropriate action to protect the items from damage or theft. Upon termination of employment, all company property will be returned to the company, unless other arrangements have been made.
[Company Name] will supply the employee with appropriate office supplies (pens, paper, etc.) as deemed necessary. [Company Name] will also reimburse the employee for business-related expenses, such as phone calls and shipping costs, that are reasonably incurred in carrying out the employee’s job.
The employee will establish an appropriate work environment within his or her home for work purposes. [Company Name] will not be responsible for costs associated with the setup of the employee’s home office, such as remodeling, furniture or lighting, nor for repairs or modifications to the home office space.
Security
Consistent with the organization’s expectations of information security for employees working at the office, telecommuting employees will be expected to ensure the protection of proprietary company and customer information accessible from their home office. Steps include the use of locked file cabinets and desks, regular password maintenance, and any other measures appropriate for the job and the environment.
Safety
Employees are expected to maintain their home workspace in a safe manner, free from safety hazards. [Company Name] will provide each telecommuter with a safety checklist that must be completed at least twice per year. Injuries sustained by the employee in a home office location and in conjunction with his or her regular work duties are normally covered by the company’s workers’ compensation policy. Telecommuting employees are responsible for notifying the employer of such injuries as soon as practicable. The employee is liable for any injuries sustained by visitors to his or her home worksite.
Telecommuting is not designed to be a replacement for appropriate child care. Although an individual employee’s schedule may be modified to accommodate child care needs, the focus of the arrangement must remain on job performance and meeting business demands. Prospective telecommuters are encouraged to discuss expectations of telecommuting with family members prior to entering a trial period.
Time Worked
Telecommuting employees who are not exempt from the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act will be required to accurately record all hours worked using [Company Name]’s time-keeping system. Hours worked in excess of those scheduled per day and per workweek require the advance approval of the telecommuter’s supervisor. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in the immediate termination of the telecommuting agreement.
Ad Hoc Arrangements
Temporary telecommuting arrangements may be approved for circumstances such as inclement weather, special projects or business travel. These arrangements are approved on an as-needed basis only, with no expectation of ongoing continuance.
Other informal, short-term arrangements may be made for employees on family or medical leave to the extent practical for the employee and the organization and with the consent of the employee’s health care provider, if appropriate.
All informal telecommuting arrangements are made on a case-by-case basis, focusing first on the business needs of the organization.
Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives: Coronavirus Resource Guide
Updated
Details
related to the Coronavirus outbreak are evolving daily. We are working with
chamber leaders across the country to learn more about how chambers of commerce
are responding to bring you practical resources you can use. Check our Coronavirus
Resource Guide frequently for updates. Recent additions
include templates chambers can use as a starting point for communicating with
members, staff, event participants and more. If you haven't already done so,
please complete our
brief survey to help us tailor our resources to meet
the greatest needs in the chamber community.
Guidance for Businesses and
Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): from the Small
Business Administration (SBA)
Guidance for Businesses and
Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Health and government officials are working together to maintain
the safety, security, and health of the American people. Small businesses are
encouraged to do their part to keep their employees, customers, and themselves
healthy.
Content
Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program
The SBA will work directly with state Governors to provide
targeted, low-interest loans to small businesses and non-profits that have been
severely impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The SBA’s Economic Injury
Disaster Loan program provides small businesses with working capital loans of
up to $2 million that can provide vital economic support to small businesses to
help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing.
Find more information on the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans
at: SBA.gov/Disaster.
Guidance for Businesses and Employers
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers the
most up-to-date information on COVID-19. This interim guidance is based on what
is currently known about the
coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). For updates from CDC, please see the
following:
The following interim guidance may help prevent workplace
exposures to acute respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, in non-healthcare
settings. The guidance also provides planning considerations if there are more
widespread, community outbreaks of COVID-19.
Actively encourage sick employees to stay home
Separate sick employees
Emphasize staying home when sick, respiratory etiquette and hand
hygiene by all employees
Perform routine environmental cleaning
Advise employees before traveling to take certain steps
Check the CDC’s
Traveler’s Health Notices for the latest guidance and recommendations
for each country to which you will travel. Specific travel information for
travelers going to and returning from designated countries with risk of
community spread of Coronavirus, and information for aircrew, can be found on
the CDC
website.
Additional Measures in Response to Currently Occurring Sporadic
Importations of the COVID-19:
Employees who are well but who have a sick family member at home
with COVID-19 should notify their supervisor and refer to CDC guidance
for how
to conduct a risk assessment of their potential exposure.
If an employee is confirmed to have COVID-19, employers should
inform fellow employees of their possible exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace
but maintain confidentiality as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA). Employees exposed to a co-worker with confirmed COVID-19 should refer to
CDC guidance for how
to conduct a risk assessment of their potential exposure.
Common Issues Small Businesses May Encounter:
Capital Access – Incidents can strain a small business's financial
capacity to make payroll, maintain inventory and respond to market fluctuations
(both sudden drops and surges in demand). Businesses should prepare by
exploring and testing their capital access options so they have what they need
when they need it. See SBA’s
capital access resources.
Workforce Capacity – Incidents have just as much impact on your
workers as they do your clientele. It’s critical to ensure they have the
ability to fulfill their duties while protected.
Inventory and Supply Chain Shortfalls – While the possibility
could be remote, it is a prudent preparedness measure to ensure you have either
adequate supplies of inventory for a sustained period and/or diversify your
distributor sources in the event one supplier cannot meet an order request.
Facility Remediation/Clean-up Costs – Depending on the incident,
there may be a need to enhance the protection of customers and staff by
increasing the frequency and intensity by which your business conducts cleaning
of surfaces frequently touched by occupants and visitors. Check your
maintenance contracts and supplies of cleaning materials to ensure they can
meet increases in demand.
Insurance Coverage Issues – Many businesses have business
interruption insurance; Now is the time to contact your insurance agent to
review your policy to understand precisely what you are and are not covered for
in the event of an extended incident.
Changing Market Demand – Depending on the incident, there may be
access controls or movement restrictions established which can impede your
customers from reaching your business. Additionally, there may be public
concerns about public exposure to an incident and they may decide not to go to
your business out of concern of exposing themselves to greater risk. SBA’s Resources Partners and
District Offices have trained experts who can help you craft a plan
specific to your situation to help navigate any rapid changes in demand.
Marketing – It’s critical to communicate openly with your
customers about the status of your operations, what protective measures you’ve
implemented, and how they (as customers) will be protected when they visit your
business. Promotions may also help incentivize customers who may be reluctant
to patronize your business.
Plan – As a business, bring your staff together and prepare a plan
for what you will do if the incident worsens or improves. It’s also helpful to conduct
a tabletop exercise to simulate potential scenarios and how your business
management and staff might respond to the hypothetical scenario in the
exercise. For examples of tabletop exercises, visit FEMA’s website at: https://www.fema.gov/emergency-planning-exercises
SBA Products and Resources
SBA works with a number of
local partners to counsel, mentor and train small businesses. The SBA has 68 District
Offices, as well as support provided by its Resource Partners, such as SCORE
offices, Women’s Business Centers, Small Business Development Centers and
Veterans Business Outreach Centers. When faced with a business need, use
the SBA’s Local Assistance
Directory to locate the office nearest you.
Access to Capital
SBA provides a number of loan
resources for small businesses to utilize when operating their business. For
more information on loans or how to connect with a lender, visit: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans.
How to get access to lending
partners? SBA has developed Lender Match,
a free online referral tool that connects small businesses with participating
SBA-approved lenders within 48 hours.
7(a) program offers loan
amounts up to $5,000,000 and is an all-inclusive loan program deployed by
lending partners for eligible small businesses within the U.S. States and its
territories. The uses of proceeds include: working capital;
expansion/renovation; new construction; purchase of land or buildings; purchase
of equipment, fixtures; lease-hold improvements; refinancing debt for
compelling reasons; seasonal line of credit; inventory; or starting a business.
Express loan program provides
loans up to $350,000 for no more than 7 years with an option to revolve. There
is a turnaround time of 36 hours for approval or denial of a completed
application. The uses of proceeds are the same as the standard 7(a) loan.
Community Advantage loan pilot
program allows mission-based lenders to assist small businesses in underserved
markets with a maximum loan size of $250,000. The uses of proceeds are the same
as the standard 7(a) loan.
504 loan program is designed to
foster economic development and job creation and/or retention. The eligible use
of proceeds is limited to the acquisition or eligible refinance of fixed
assets.
Microloan program involves
making loans through nonprofit lending organizations to underserved markets.
Authorized use of loan proceeds includes working capital, supplies, machinery
& equipment, and fixtures (does not include real estate). The maximum loan
amount is $50,000 with the average loan size of $14,000.
Exporting Assistance
SBA provides export loans to
help small businesses achieve sales through exports and can help these
businesses respond to opportunities and challenges associated with trade, such
as COVID-19. The loans are available to U.S. small businesses that export
directly overseas, or those that export indirectly by selling to a customer
that then exports their products.
Export Express loan program
allows access to capital quickly for businesses that need financing up to
$500,000. Businesses can apply for a line of credit or term note prior to
finalizing an export sale or while pursuing opportunities overseas, such as
identifying a new overseas customer should an export sale be lost due to
COVID-19.
Export Working Capital program
enables small businesses to fulfill export orders and finance international sales
by providing revolving lines of credit or transaction-based financing of up to
$5 million. Businesses could use a loan to obtain or retain overseas customers
by offering attractive payment terms.
International Trade loan
program helps small businesses engaged in international trade to retool or
expand to better compete and react to changing business conditions. It can also
help exporting firms to expand their sales to new markets or to re-shore
operations back to the U.S.
Government Contracting
More specifically:
8(a)
Business Development program serves to help provide a level playing
field for small businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged
people or entities, and the government limits competition for certain contracts
to businesses that participate. The 8(a) program offer and acceptance process
is available nationwide, and the SBA continues to work with federal agencies to
ensure maximum practicable opportunity to small businesses. 8(a) program
participants should stay in touch with their Business Opportunity Specialist
(BOS).
HUBZone program
offers eligibility assistance every Thursday from 2:00-3:00 p.m. ET at
1-202-765-1264; access code 63068189#. Members of the HUBZone team answer
questions to help firms navigate the certification process. For specific
questions regarding an application, please contact the HUBZone Help Desk at hubzone@sba.gov.
If a situation occurs that will
prevent small businesses with government contracts from successfully performing
their contract, they should reach out to their contracting officer and seek to
obtain extensions before they receive cure notices or threats of termination.
The SBA’s Procurement Center Representatives can assist affected small
businesses to engage with their contracting officer. Use the Procurement
Center Representative Directory to connect with the representative
nearest you.
Local Assistance
SBA works with a number of
local partners to counsel, mentor, and train small businesses. The SBA has 68
District Offices, as well as support provided by its Resource Partners, such as
SCORE offices, Women’s Business Centers, Small Business Development Centers and
Veterans Business Outreach Centers. When faced with a business need, use
the SBA’s Local Assistance
Directory to locate the office nearest you.
Key PPP updates include: 
