Chamber Members:
It’s Tuesday, April 14 and we’re now about a month into our stay at home period. We wanted to share some encouraging news from another member regarding their PPP experience. “If there’s anyone who hasn’t applied yet, I recommend a local bank. We went through our local bank. We had to wait until Wednesday of last week for them to be able to submit, but we had a loan number the same day. And, we talked to them today and they were processing the loan. They anticipate we’ll be funded on Wednesday. Another reason to stay local.”
If you have a positive experience that you would like to share, please send it our way.
We have a new Video Conference to announce for this Friday morning:
COVID-19 Discussion with U.S. Congressman Bill Foster and Illinois State Representative Larry Walsh Jr.
Fri, Apr 17, 2020 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM (CDT)
Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://www.gotomeet.me/jolietchamber/april17coronavirusdiscussion
You can also dial in using your phone.
(For supported devices, tap a one-touch number below to join instantly.)
United States: +1 (571) 317-3112
– One-touch: tel:+15713173112,,963724549#
Access Code: 963-724-549
New to GoToMeeting? Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https://global.gotomeeting.com/install/963724549
One more reminder about our webinar tomorrow morning:
Wednesday, April 15 at 10 am hosted by Paul Hager and the Gordon Flesch Company. The focus will be on “Managing a Remote Workforce During COVID-19.” This is a free webinar and you can register here at https://bit.ly/JCWEB1 .
New reports are surfacing that there may be a way to strike a deal on interim coronavirus relief legislation this week that would provide more funding for businesses. The turn in optimism comes after talks focused on a separation of the loan program where funding is severely needed and funds for hospitals and local government as that funding is just beginning to go out now.
SBA Webinar Updates
Join us for an online event to hear updates on the SBA’s relief programs for small businesses impacted by COVID-19, including the Paycheck Protection Program. This event has space for everyone and will not sell out. Log-on information will be sent in your email confirmation and through Eventbrite’s Digital Links page.
Wednesday, April 15, 3:30 p.m.
The Minnesota District Office is hosting two events in Spanish this week.
COVID-19 Emergency Resources
We have shared the attached document before from the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, but it has a few small updates and it is a great form to review regarding funding, employee retention credit, delayed payment of employer payroll taxes, and more.
On Thursday, April 16 at 1:00 p.m., the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) will be hosting a webinar in Spanish about the resources available for small business owners impacted by the coronavirus. To register please click here. DCEO will email you the webinar link before the event. For more information, please contact Diana Alfaro, diana.alfaro@illinois.gov or Manuel Lopez, Manuel.Lopez@Illinois.gov.
Finally, a new announcement came from Governor Pritzker yesterday that will need some further analyzing. Workers that are employees of essential businesses will now automatically qualify for workers’ compensation benefits if they contract Coronavirus. Under the rules, if an essential worker contracts the disease, the presumption is the virus was caught while the worker was on the job and thus eligible for workers’ compensation benefits.
The fear here is this policy change will increase costs and require employers to pay for medical expenses and salary benefits for workers who test positive for the coronavirus even if there’s no proof that they got sick because of or at their place of work. Many of these businesses will have applied for relief funding just to make payroll, pay rent, and cover utilities and now will be looking at additional costs even if an employee encountered someone over the weekend while shopping. We’ll keep an eye on this developing topic.
Stay well,
Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce & Industry Staff and Board of Directors
Mike Paone
Vice President – Government Affairs
Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce & Industry
815.727.5371 main
815.727.5373 direct