Message and Resources from the Joliet Chamber regarding COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease)
The Joliet Chamber Staff and the Board of Directors are actively monitoring the continuing developments regarding the spread of COVID-19. At this time, we encourage all of our Chamber Members and their employees to educate themselves to the fullest in order to understand all of the facts surrounding this coronavirus disease.
We also encourage everyone to follow recommendations from trusted healthcare institutions and centers. We urge you as employers to consider steps that can be taken to prepare for potential impact on your workplace and your employees.
Please be aware of issues that may develop such as: leaves of absence, privacy, working remotely, and workforce reduction. We will continue to update our membership with any changes on the local, State and Federal level. Here are some useful links to review and share:
- Will County Health Department
- Illinois Department of Health
- COVID-19 updates from the World Health Organization
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) Workplace Tips for Employees
- Guidance For Employers To Plan and Respond To Coronavirus
- Facts from the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions
Additional resources from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention:
Again, we encourage all to constantly review facts regarding COVID-19 by utilizing the above links. A common message has been we’re all in this together, so let’s support one another, continue to do business local and with fellow Chamber members, and follow recommendations from the health professionals. Finally, you will be receiving a packet in the mail of upcoming Chamber programs and events. We plan to take each program and event on a case by case basis as the safety and well-being of our Chamber members, as well as the community, is of utmost importance. Please check our social media, your email, and our Chamber website for any updates.
We thank you all for your continued patience and support as we navigate this situation together.
Sincerely,
Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce & Industry Staff and Board of Directors

Virtual Conference Series: Town Hall Meeting – A Follow Up Discussion (Video Recording)
Virtual Conference Series: City of Joliet Status Report on Projects & Programs (Video Recording)
Virtual Conference Series: Anti-Sexual Harassment Training (Register Here)
Virtual Conference Series: The Renaissance Continues – Updates from the Joliet City Center Partnership (Video Recording)
Click here for presentation slides: https://jolietchamber.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/The-Renaissance-Continues_CCP-slides.pdf
Virtual Conference Series: 2020 Meet the Candidates Forum (Video Recording)
Virtual Conference Series: State of the County Address with Will County Executive Denise Winfrey (Video Recording)
Virtual Conference Series: Community Disaster Preparedness: Red Cross Ready Rating (Video Recording)
Virtual Conference Series: Government Affairs Coffee Series – Progressive Income Tax Discussion with Leslie Munger (Video Recording)
Virtual Conference Series: Answers to COVID Questions Moving Forward (Video Recording)
Virtual Conference Series: Government Affairs Legislative Coffee with U.S. Congressman Bill Foster and Jason Keller, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago (Video Recording)
Video link to information on the Main Street Lending Program through the Fed
Virtual Conference Series: Child care: Increasingly vital to our workforce & economy (Video Recording)
Slide Presentation can be downloaded here: ReadyNation PPT 8.5.2020
Additional Resources:
Child Care Restoration Grants: $270 million for licensed providers with reduced capacity and experiencing business interruption-
Application info: https://tinyurl.com/ILGrantApp
Background: https://tinyurl.com/
*Note: Aug. 14 application deadline
Info on ordering Personal Protective Equipment for child care providers (only pay shipping): https://tinyurl.com/ILPPEhelp
Virtual Conference Series: Challenge Accepted! Now What Questions to Ask (Video Recording)
Slide Presentation can be downloaded here: CHALLENGE ACCEPTED PRESENTATION
Virtual Conference Series: Introduction and Overview of the new Small Business Development Center & Phase 4 Economic Resurgence Tools & Tips (Video Recording)
Virtual Conference Series: Supporting Employee Mental, Emotional and Social Health (Video Recording)
Virtual Conference Series: Will County Update – Pandemic Funding, Ballots by Mail, and Census Information (Video Recording)
Virtual Conference Series: Diversity & Inclusion in the Workplace…in the World (Video Recording)
Virtual Conference Series: Town Hall Meeting – Focusing on Recovery from the COVID-19 Pandemic and Moving Forward into the Next Phases (video recording)
Virtual Conference Series: Illinois Special Session Recap (Video recording)
Virtual Conference Series: What You Need to Know for Phase 3 / Reopening, PPP Forgiveness & Possible Changes, and Liability Protection (video recording)
Virtual Conference Series: Reshaping Your Workplace w/ Rightsize Facility (video recording)
Virtual Conference Series: Filling the knowledge and skills gap…how JJC can help through a registered apprenticeship program (video recording)
Virtual Conference Series: State of Illinois Update as we move toward Reopening with Representative Mark Batinick (video recording)
Virtual Conference Series: COVID-19 Report From Inside Our Local Hospitals (video recording)
Virtual Conference Series: Making the Most of your Membership Profile (Video Recording)
Virtual Conference Series: City Update with Joliet Mayor Bob O’Dekirk (video recording)
Virtual Conference Series: COVID-19 Perspectives from a Public Health Professional – Sue Olenek of the Will County Health Dept. (video recording)
Virtual Conference Series: Federal Update on Funding Infusion & Next Phase w/ Congressman Foster (video recording)
Virtual Conference Series: CARES Act Update with US Chamber of Commerce (video recording)
Virtual Conference Series: COVID-19 Discussion with U.S. Congressman Bill Foster and State Representative Larry Walsh Jr. (video recording)
Useful documents to guide you through questions and answers from the COVID-19 crisis
PPP Borrower Application Form (revised 1.8.2021)
PPP Second Draw Borrower Application Form (1.8.2021)
Summary of Emergency Relief Pkg
Emergency Relief Section by Section
ASAE_December-2020-COVID-Relief-Package
Small Biz Majority New-Stimulus Presentation Slides
Will County Economy Overview Dec 2020
WCWC Business Services Webinar Dec 2020
Tier-3-COVID-19-Resurgence-Mitigations
ComEd Small Biz Assistance release FINAL
Tier-2-COVID-19-Resurgence-Migitations
COVID outbreak report IDPH 11.6.2020
BIG Program Certifications and Requirements – Round 2 9-17
PPP Loan Forgiveness Application Form 3508S
PPP Loan Forgiveness Application Form 3508S Instructions
Updated Heroes Act One Pager_0
Updated Heroes Act State and Local_0
PPP Forgiveness Application 3508EZ
PPP Loan Forgiveness Application Form EZ Instructions
Emergency Grant Phase II – CCP
Will County Small Business Grant Assistance Program
Letter to Governor on Region 7
Restaurant Full BlueprintforRevival
Restaurant BlueprintforRevivalOnePager
B.I.G. Eligbility Requirements 6.23.20
B.I.G. Application Questions 6.23.20
DCEO Business Interruption Grant (BIG) Program_Final External Summary
uscc_ppp_forgiveness-guide 6.17.20
PPP Loan Forgiveness Application (Revised 6.16.2020)
PPP-Forgiveness-Application-3508EZ
PPP-IFR-Revisions-to-First-Interim-Final-Rule
Grants for Female Owned Businesses
Paycheck-Protection-Program-Frequently-Asked-Questions_05 27 20
ILL Phase 3 Toolkit for reopen
Illinois Chamber of Commerce Responsible Reopening and Rehiring Legislation
SBA Form 3508 PPP Forgiveness Application
uscc_covid19_main-street-lending-program
Restore Illinois – A Public Health Approach To Safely Reopen Our State
PR_Restore Illinois_A Public Health Approach To Safely Reopen Our State
IL DCEO Essential Business FAQ on stayathome continuance
Paycheck-Protection-Program-Frequently-Asked-Questions 5.3
Letter to Gov from women of the House Republican Caucus
USChamber_reopeningtheeconomy ltr
uscc_coronavirus_unemployment-insurance
uscc_coronavirus_health-coverage
uscc_coronavirus_independent-contractors
Responsible Reopening_US Chamber
ILWorkComp-Emergency_Amendment_Only
Paycheck-Protection-Program-28 Frequently-Asked-Questions
DCEO COVID_19 Emergency Resource UPDATED
COVID19 Employee Health Screening Form
IDES_Security_Waiving_Penalty_for_Employers
Paycheck-Protection-Program-Frequenty-Asked-Questions_USTreasury
Application for Paid Leave COVID-19
uscc_coronavirus_fmla_paid-leave-programs-guide
Federal Stimulus Unemployment Benefits FAQ_IDES
uscc_covid19_employee-retention-tax-credit
uscc_covid19_sb-economic-injury-disaster-loans
corona_virus_smallbiz_loan_final_USCofC_update
Borrower-Paycheck-Protection-Program-Application-sample
PPP Borrower Information Fact Sheet
DCEOCOVID-19EmergencyResourcesforBusiness
UScofc_corona_virus_smallbiz_loan_final_chklist
IDFPR_Announces_Help_for_Consumers_Press_Release
usf_chamber CARES Act fact sheet
final—one-pager—keeping-workers-paid-and-employed-act
COVID-19_ Guidance_for_Large Biz
US CofC Phase_3_Bipart_Summary_FINAL (CARES Act)
IL Treasurer SmallBizCOVID19ReliefProgram Due April 1
HR 6201 summary Families First Coronavirus Response Act
YouTube (Friday) Video Update Playlist
Latest COVID-19 Updates
Coronavirus update for 1.15.2021 – New State Mitigation Tier Info, PPP Openings, and the Biden Plan
Chamber Members: Today’s update shares the Governor’s announcement of regions moving back mitigation tiers as well as changes going forward on indoor dining allowances. Additionally, the SBA opens the application process further for PPP applications and an article...
Coronavirus update for 1.14.2021 – Biden Aid Plans Unveiled, Jobs Report, and Additional Updates
Chamber Members: Today is the day to share the weekly jobs report. We also have information regarding an announcement by President-elect Biden tonight regarding his plan for pandemic relief. In addition to this news, see below for some vaccine updates, some bills that...
Coronavirus update for 1.13.2021 – Impeachment Update, New Speaker, US Chamber Policy, and FFCRA Reminder
Chamber Members: Busy day today as impeachment vote takes place, state Senators and Representatives are sworn in and then the new general assembly begins with the first item of business in the House being the election of speaker. Also, we share below the policy items...
Coronavirus update for 1.12.2021 – Updates on Vaccine Distribution, Small Business Predictions, & PPP Reminder
Chamber Members: Hopefully by now you are all aware that the PPP application has been released for both first time draws and second time draws. If not, links are below and you can always visit our resource page on the website for the documents and archived updates....
Coronavirus update for 1.11.2021 – PPP App Released, Tax Decoupling, Speaker Race, and Impeachment
Chamber Members: Good news to begin the week! Governor Pritzker announced today that regions meeting metrics are still on course for rolling back to Tier 2 mitigations on Friday, the 15. Following up from the announcement on Friday, this week the PPP application...
Coronavirus update for 1.8.2021 – PPP Reopens Next Week, Economy/Jobs Report, and Lame Duck Opens
Chamber Members: A big announcement to wrap up quite a first full week of the year. Today, the SBA announced that the PPP application period will open next week. See below for the full press release. After nearly nine months away, the Illinois General Assembly...
Coronavirus update for 1.7.2021 – Election Confirmation, Unemployment Issues, and Mask Order Reissue
Chamber Members: In the early hours of the morning, it was confirmed that Joe Biden is the official President-elect. We’ll now turn focus on what the possibilities will be in his first 100 days of office with a Democrat led House and Senate behind him. Back in...
Coronavirus update for 1.6.2021 – Senate Tilt, Capitol Stir, Tier 2 Roll Back?, Lame Duck, and more
Chamber Members: Well, yesterday this update did say we were in for some interesting hours ahead of us. The Georgia elections wrapped up last night and it looks as if there are two unofficial winners that will change the balance of the Senate (actually a perfect 50/50...
Coronavirus update for 1.5.2021 – The Georgia Decision, More on Vaccines/Testing, and a Census Report
Chamber Members: Today continues an interesting week of events after a new Congress was sworn in on Sunday, as control of the Senate will be decided in Georgia and then we turn attention to what’s shaping up to be the most dramatic Electoral College count in...
Coronavirus update for 1.4.2021 – Hello 2021: PPP notes, State news, Vaccine news, and more
Chamber Members: Welcome to 2021! We hope that all of you enjoyed some much deserved time off to recharge and get ready for a new year. In reality we flip the page on a new month and year, but the same issues remain. We’ll undoubtedly face many new issues as well,...