Chamber Members:
Hopefully everyone had a great weekend and is adjusting to the time change from yesterday on this Monday. We’re one day away from the election if you haven’t noticed from all the commercials, mail, and discussions. We’ll say it one more time … make sure you get out and vote and be flexible with employees so that they can do so as well.
See below for the updates of the day as the entire state has now been placed under additional mitigations.
*Daily Coronavirus update brought to you by Silver Cross Hospital
Election Day 2020
Watch for results to start being discussed around 7 and 8 pm as states close the polling places. Surely by now you’ve seen the predictions and various commentary on what can / will happen.
If you’re watching keep an eye on the following states: Texas, Pennsylvania, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Don’t forget to pay close attention to our local races on the county, state, and federal level as well. Look forward to a recap this week of how things are “leaning” as nothing will be officially final for a while.
State of Illinois Under Additional Mitigation Measures
All regions in the Illinois reopening plan will soon be under tighter restrictions as positivity rates for the coronavirus climb. The final region to avoid the more restrictive measures will be under stricter rules starting Wednesday, officials announced Sunday.
The region, stretching from Kendall and McLean counties to the Iowa border, hit a rolling seven-day positivity rate of 8.5% last week. The region has had an average rate of 8% or above for three consecutive days, triggering the additional measures, Governor Pritzker’s office announced Sunday. As of Sunday, the region’s positivity rate was 9.3%, officials said.
“I know that the vast majority of people in this state want to keep themselves safe, their families and children safe, their parents and neighbors and friends,” Pritzker said in a news release. “I have always maintained enormous faith in the people of Illinois to do what’s right for each other. As cases, hospitalizations and deaths are rising across our state, across the Midwest and across the nation, we have to act responsibly and collectively to protect the people we love.”
When the restrictions take effect in Region 2, all 11 regions will be under the rollbacks in the governor’s plan, which include a ban on indoor dining and bar service, bar and dining service ending at 11 p.m. and at least a 25-person cap on gatherings. The restrictions do not apply to polling places.
New Changes to Main Street Lending Program
The Federal Reserve has lowered the barriers on its lending program for smaller businesses as part of an effort to broaden the appeal of the sparsely used facility. In another pair of tweaks to its Main Street Lending Program, the Fed on Friday said it is reducing the minimum loan size to $100,000 from $250,000 and will ease restrictions on debt for companies already participating in the Paycheck Protection Program.
Aimed at helping small- and medium-sized firms get through the Covid-19 pandemic, the program thus far has issued nearly 400 loans for a total of $3.7 billion. The total capacity of the MSLP is $600 billion, thanks to $75 billion in collateral from the Treasury Department that can be leveraged up.
In a release, the Fed said the changes are “two important ways to better target support to smaller businesses that employ millions of workers and are facing continued revenue shortfalls due to the pandemic.”
The other change apart from the minimum loan requirement exempts up to $2 million in PPP loans when computing applicants’ debt loads. The Fed also said it is adjusting fees “to encourage the provision of these smaller loans.”
Main Street loans are aimed at companies with fewer than 15,000 employees or with 2019 revenue of $5 billion or less. In addition to the program, the Fed also has been buying corporate debt and issuing loans and liquidity injections across a variety of markets.
Illinois Department of Insurance announces the start of ACA Marketplace Open Enrollment
Illinoisans can now shop for health insurance on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Health Insurance Marketplace. Open Enrollment began Sunday, November 1 and runs through December 15, 2020. The Illinois Department of Insurance (IDOI) recommends consumers begin their search at getcoveredillinois.gov to find accurate information to help compare health plans, get free enrollment help and even financial assistance (if they qualify).
On the ACA Marketplace, consumers can choose from among three different “metal” levels that represent a range of coverage and costs: Gold, Silver, and Bronze. Anyone who was enrolled in a plan last year will be automatically enrolled into the same plan or a similar one offered by the same insurer for the upcoming 2021 plan year.
Get Covered Illinois (GCI) is the official health marketplace or “exchange” for Illinois consumers to purchase quality, affordable health insurance, facilitated by the federal government.
Go to the Get Covered Illinois (GCI) website to find the right health plan for you and get free assistance from a certified application counselor to help you through the process: https://getcovered.illinois.gov/en
Visit the Illinois Department of Insurance to view the 2021 Analysis of the Illinois Exchange Plan: https://insurance.illinois.gov/HealthInsurance/ConsumerHealth.html
Technical Assistance for the Business Interruption Grant Program
Illinois DCEO is hosting a technical assistance session on Wednesday, November 4, 2020 from 9:30 am – 10:30 am. Business owners and others can join as they walk through the actual BIG application and answer questions on the program. This is open ended, so you can come and go as needed for assistance. To register for this session, click https://illinois.webex.com/illinois/onstage/g.php?MTID=e2795d522185ae675e022522d259cf5dd
Friday Feature with US Small Business Administration’s Stephen Konkle
In this Friday feature, Stephen Konkle with the SBA will discuss how small businesses who have a PPP loan of $50,000, or less can be forgiven. This webinar is for loan officers and small businesses.
When: Friday November 6, 2020, 10:00 am Central Time.
Where: https://illinois.webex.com/illinois/onstage/g.php?MTID=e00e451a3c4f80f24afdd9979eb45fe3a
Ready to Grow Your Business?
The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at JJC is offering assistance for existing businesses during these times.
21 Topics in 21 Minutes for 2021 Growth
In less than 30 minutes, the SBDC will help you prioritize key 2021 business plans whether it is for your people, your product, your marketing, your sales, your money, or the impact of this crisis. In this short, one-on-one exercise, we will help you determine up to three of the biggest opportunities for growth in the year ahead. We will offer no-cost tools to develop your strategy for success in those areas. Email us at SBDC@JJC.edu and we will send you a link for registration.
Will County Small Business Assistance Grant
https://willcountyillinois.com/CARES-Act/Local-Business-Assistance
Business Interruption Grant
https://www2.illinois.gov/dceo/SmallBizAssistance/Pages/C19DisadvantagedBusGrants.aspx
SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION PROGRAMS
ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER LOANS (EIDL)
Expanded by the CARES Act, the EIDL program has been around for a couple of years and is intended to provide economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue during a declared disaster. Here’s our step-by-step guide.
DEBT RELIEF PROGRAM
The SBA will pay 6 months of principal, interest, and any associated fees that borrowers owe for all current 7(a), 504, and Microloans in regular servicing status as well as new 7(a), 504, and Microloans disbursed prior to September 27, 2020.
EXPRESS BRIDGE LOANS
These loans allow small businesses who currently have a business relationship with an SBA Express Lender to access up to $25,000 quickly.
Click here for the Small Business Administration’s website, where you’ll find additional programs as well as more resources and guides for coronavirus-impacted businesses.
Finally, we are announcing today that our next virtual conference will be on Thursday, November 12th. The topic is an extremely important one as all should know by now that by the end of this year it is mandatory for ALL offices to go through anti-sexual harassment training. We have partnered with Marji Swanson from the offices of Mahoney, Silverman, & Cross, LLC to deliver this session that fulfills your requirement. Unfortunately, it does not apply to bars and restaurants as that training is an industry specific one. Webinar will begin at 11 am and last approximately one hour. You may register here:
http://jolietchamber.chambermaster.com/events/details/2020-webinar-november-12-anti-sexual-harassment-training-5974
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
mpaone@jolietchamber.com
815.727.5371 main
815.727.5373 direct