Chamber Members:
Good news today and then there is continual news that will make your head spin and lead you to wonder. The positive report is that the House has moved a bill to avoid a December 11 government shutdown. On the other hand, it has been quite the day of back-and-forth discussion and updates regarding what is happening with the federal aid talks. See more below for details.
*Daily Coronavirus update brought to you by Silver Cross Hospital
House Passes Stopgap Bill to Avoid Shutdown
The House passed today a weeklong stopgap bill to keep the government open through Dec. 18 before current funding expires Friday as lawmakers continue to negotiate a longer-term spending package and coronavirus relief.
The bill passed handily, 343-67, and now heads to the Senate for approval. It is expected to be quickly cleared for President Trump’s signature. The House passed 10 of the annual 12 appropriations bills earlier this year, but the Senate has yet to pass any of its versions of full-year spending bills.
The Latest on Federal Aid
Let’s see if this comes out in exact order of how the events have transpired as much in terms of negotiation are flying around. This was the commentary last night as far as a recap of the day’s events: No one seems to know what’s going on with coronavirus relief anymore.
In the span of an afternoon, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell suggested dropping discussions on the two biggest sticking points. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin offered a new proposal to Speaker Nancy Pelosi. A bipartisan group of senators is still working to finalize language on a $908 billion package. And President Donald Trump endorsed new stimulus checks. So, here is where things stand (at least at the time this was written).
White House Makes Offer to Democrats
The Trump administration made a $916 billion coronavirus relief offer to Democrats, opening yet another front in the multi-track effort to reach an agreement in talks that rank-and-file lawmakers have been leading in the final weeks of the year.
The proposal, announced in a brief statement by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, came after Democrats rejected an effort by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) to narrow the scope of a coronavirus relief bill by excluding aid for hard-hit state and local governments prioritized by Democrats and liability protections sought by Republicans.
At the same time, the White House is pushing Republicans to include a new round of direct payments of $600 per person in the emerging package, according to people familiar with the discussions, reviving prospects for checks to households in this round of aid. Those direct checks were included in the White House’s offer to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.), House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R., Calif.) told reporters.
The White House offer didn’t include the $300 per week in unemployment insurance that a bipartisan group had coalesced around, according to aides from both parties. Mr. Mnuchin said he had reviewed the proposal with President Trump, Mr. McCarthy, and Mr. McConnell.
Mrs. Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) reacted coolly to the fresh offer, highlighting its sharp cut in proposed spending on jobless benefits. In a joint statement, they said the proposal marked progress, but “must not be allowed to obstruct the bipartisan Congressional talks that are underway.”
Bipartisan Group Unveils Their Details
A bipartisan group of House and Senate moderates on Wednesday circulated more details of their $908 billion coronavirus relief proposal, but their summary did not include more specifics on two key issues where there is disagreement between Democrats and Republicans.
The summary, obtained by The Hill, lacks details on the $160 billion that would be provided to state and local governments, as well as on liability protection for businesses. In both cases, the document says there are agreements in principle “as the basis for good faith negotiations.”
State and local aid is strongly supported by Democrats, but many Republicans have reservations. On the other hand, liability protection is a priority for Republicans but faces opposition from Democrats.
While the new summary of the moderates’ proposal does not provide more details on state and local aid and liability protection, it does flesh out other parts of the outline that the authors of the proposal released last week.
According to the new summary, the proposal would extend unemployment insurance programs that are set to expire at the end of the month for 16 weeks and provide a $300 per week federal boost to benefits from the end of December into April.
The new summary also provides more details concerning the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a loan program for small businesses. According to the summary, the proposal would make businesses eligible for a second PPP loan if they have 300 or fewer employees and had revenue loss of 30 percent in any quarter in 2020. It also would make local chambers of commerce eligible for PPP loans, expand the types of expenses that PPP loans can be used for and be forgiven, and include set asides to ensure that the smallest businesses and businesses in underserved communities receive loans. Additionally, it would simplify the loan forgiveness process for businesses that received loans of $150,000 or less, and it would specify that businesses expenses paid with PPP loan proceeds are tax deductible.
In addition to including funds for the PPP, the bipartisan proposal would also include separate funding for live venue operators hurt by pandemic-related stay-at-home orders.
The proposal would extend the eviction moratorium until the end of January and provide $25 billion in rental assistance to state and local and Native American tribes. It would extend student loan forbearance provisions through the end of April.
Other areas of the proposal where the summary offers details include funds for health care and education providers, vaccine development and distribution, testing and tracing, and food assistance.
Momentum Stalls
Momentum appeared to stall Wednesday on a COVID-19 relief bill amid differences not only between the parties, but between Senate Republicans and the White House over what should be included in the legislation.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) accused Democratic leaders of blocking progress, casting doubt on reaching a deal this week. “At every turn they’ve delayed, deflected, moved the goalpost and made the huge number of places where Congress agrees into a hostage … for the few places where we do not agree,” he said on the Senate floor.
McConnell pointed to Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) swift rejection Tuesday evening of a new $916 billion proposal offered by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin that would provide $160 billion in funding to state and local governments, a priority of Democrats, but also give businesses “robust” liability protections for businesses and schools, a priority of Republicans.
The fresh uncertainty over negotiations that appeared to be picking up momentum last week put a damper on the stock markets, which plunged into the red shortly after McConnell spoke Wednesday.
While there was an uptick in the flurry of activity surrounding bipartisan talks, there’s so far little evidence actual progress is being made, even as Democratic and Republican leaders insist that Congress will not leave for the holidays without a deal.
Regardless of what happens now (if something does happen), when Biden is in office, Democrats are sure to keep pushing for a larger package. Speaker Pelosi has said whatever ultimately comes together before the holidays won’t be enough to qualify as fiscal stimulus, adding, Congress must pass something “bigger” next year.
Chicago Plans for Vaccine Distribution
Chicago’s vaccine distribution could begin next week, the city’s Department of Public Health said today. Pending final approval from federal regulators, the city expects to get 23,000 doses of Pfizer’s vaccine in its initial batch and receive additional doses each subsequent week. And the city plans to provide all vaccines free of charge.
It will be several weeks before Chicago’s estimated 400,000 health workers—doctors, nurses, and staff—are fully vaccinated; that will require 800,000 doses. City officials will allocate those first doses to all 34 acute and specialty hospitals in the city, where workers who treat COVID patients or “conduct high-risk procedures that put them at high risk”—described as “1A prioritization”—will be at the very front of the line.
Within weeks, the city plans to open vaccination clinics for other health care workers by appointment. In a call with reporters this morning, Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said in late December to early January, the city plans to stand up appointment-only “mass vaccination sites aimed at health care workers.” With the help of pharmacy “strike teams,” long term care facilities will also follow, she said.
“Much further down the line after 1A prioritization,” essential workers, people over 65 and those with underlying conditions will be prioritized. The federal government should offer much more detail about which essential workers will be prioritized and when, Arwady said.
Why Perks Won’t Help You Build Culture in the New Normal
BY KATIE BURKE, CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER, HUBSPOT
Most people think culture equates to perks. For the last decade, there’s been a lot of buzz around ping pong tables and beer on tap, especially in tech. But there’s always been a belief that amazing people would trade purpose for perks any day. Employees care much more about a company’s mission and values.
This shift is clearer than ever now that many offices have been closed through the pandemic, making perks a distant memory. What people truly need, and expect, from companies in order to do their best work today has been amplified by a tough and unpredictable year. The companies who have seen high employee engagement throughout 2020 are the ones that have emphasized empathy, kindness, and clarity to employees.
As we move into 2021, there are a few things that will become crucial in creating a great employee experience. The good news is, none of them require budget or swag, but they do require deep commitment from leadership.
Clear and Consistent Communication
Over 90% of employees say they’d rather hear bad news than be kept in the dark, and about 60% say they’re more productive when they know more about the business. Access to what leaders are thinking and transparency into how the business is performing have become key players in employee retention and engagement. So, whether you’re delivering an exciting update or communicating a tough change, employees need to know what to expect, when, and how their employers will look after them. For leaders, the key is finding ways to be transparent consistently so that everyone has equal access to information – that could be sending weekly updates or reserving part of your all-hands meetings for ask me anything sessions.
Emphasis on Diversity & Inclusion
In 2020, employees looked to their organizations for support and leadership in response to racial injustices deeply rooted in society. People want to know how much their organizations care about addressing systemic racism and creating real change in their companies and communities. They don’t want to just hear employers talking about commitment, either. They are looking for companies and leaders who not only take a stand, but deliver on what they promise. As Tariq Myers, Vice President Strategy at Jumpstart said on a panel for HubSpot employees this summer, “Brands saying ‘Black Lives Matter’, and not having that match the internal experience has been a shock to the system for people. Independent of right now, what we say we stand for internally has to match the brand experience; belonging is the highest return on engagement.”
Flexibility in How and Where we Work
It’s not just where we work that has changed in 2020, but how we work. We’re all learning how and when we’re most productive in new settings and environments, and I think that will ultimately lead us to a more productive and balanced future of work. We’ll see more companies investing in asynchronous communications and tools, in remote-inclusive teams, and in managers who are great at building high-performing remote or hybrid organizations.
Mental Health and Well-Being
Our 2020 Remote Work Report found that 46% of those surveyed report working more than 8 hours a day, and 25% agree that since Covid-19, their mental health has negatively affected work performance. By creating space for conversations about mental and physical health, and encouraging employees to unplug, you can help to normalize the importance of taking care of yourself, especially when navigating a global pandemic. We can only do our best work when we’re our best selves, and employees increasingly look to their organizations to actively support health and wellness as a result.
Even without this year’s office closures and series of stressful events, creating a great employee experience will always be about the intangibles – the empathy we show employees, the leadership we offer, and the communities we create. That’s why I believe that to build a strong culture in 2021, we need to first listen to what our employees need. It’s fewer snacks and a lot more compassion.
Program Notices & Reminders
ComEd Bill Assistance
Small-business customers can visit ComEd.com/SmallBizAssistance or call 1-877-4-COMED-1 (1-877-426-6331) to learn more or apply for the Small Business Assistance Program.
ComEd’s bill-assistance programs also include flexible payment options for residents, financial assistance for past-due balances and usage alerts for current bills. Any customer who is experiencing a hardship or difficulty with their electric bill should call ComEd immediately at 1-800-334-7661 (1-800-EDISON-1), Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. to learn more and enroll in a program.
Business Interruption Grant
Funds still remain and the program is still open for application. Please visit:
https://www2.illinois.gov/dceo/SmallBizAssistance/Pages/C19DisadvantagedBusGrants.aspx
SBA EIDL
Low-interest Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are still available to Illinois small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small aquaculture businesses and private nonprofit organizations.
The SBA has opened a Virtual Business Recovery Center to apply online using the Electronic Loan Application via the SBA’s secure website at https://DisasterLoanAssistance.sba.gov/. Business owners and residents should contact the SBA Customer Service Representatives at
(800) 659-2955 for assistance in completing their applications. Requests for SBA disaster loan program information may be obtained by emailing FOCE-Help@sba.gov.
Tell Congress to Make PPP Loans Deductible – Call to Action
The Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020, or PPP, was passed in order to provide small businesses across the United States crucial relief during widespread government shutdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These loans can be forgivable when proceeds are used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest and utilities. Congressional leaders intended for PPP funded expenses to be deductible like other business expenses.
Despite the intent of Congressional leaders, additional legislation is needed to make PPP funds used to pay business expenses deductible. The failure to allow these deductions will have a devastating impact on small businesses struggling to keep their doors open and retain their employees.
Are you a small business owner who thought salary and expenses paid by PPP loans would be deductible? In partnership with the Small Business Advocacy Council (SBAC), we’re asking you to please contact your Congressional leaders and ask them to sponsor and strongly advocate for legislation that makes salary and other businesses expenses paid for by a PPP loan deductible!
You can contact your Senators and House Representative here: https://oneclickpolitics.global.ssl.fastly.net/messages/edit?promo_id=10057
See below for two articles for further information / aid on PPP forgiveness and deductibility
7 Resources for PPP Loan Forgiveness Help
https://www.uschamber.com/co/run/business-financing/ppp-loan-forgiveness-resources?utm_medium=Email&utm_source=SFMC&utm_campaign=MO_Newsletter&utm_content=2020_11_25
Will You Owe Taxes on Your Paycheck Protection Loan?
https://www.uschamber.com/co/run/finance/tax-implications-of-paycheck-protection-loans
SBDC at JJC Update
Here is a list of upcoming programs delivered from the Small Business Development Center through Joliet Junior College:
Video Marketing for Small Business
Date: 12/10/20
Time: 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM (CST)
Video production once meant bringing in a full production crew to produce a television commercial. Now, a child can produce a quality video on their phone. And that video is a very important component to your website, social media pages, product information, as well as your local advertising. Learn the benefits of video marketing and hear from Mike Puglitsch at Acclaim Media about how easy the process can be. https://ilsbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/33572
Website Development
Date: 12/15/20
Time: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM (CST)
A website is more than just a placeholder to occupy property in cyberspace. Your website should be the central point that your social media, SEO, email marketing, pay per click ads, content, CRM…. orbit around to generate business for your business. Join Jason McCoy from WSI to discuss how to develop a website that meets your needs. https://ilsbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/33652
21 Topics in 21 Minutes for 2021 Growth
Date: Scheduled one-on-one session
In less than 30 minutes, the Illinois Small Business Development Center at Joliet Junior College 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.
Finally, we will host our next Virtual Conference TOMORROW, December 10th.
Town Hall Meeting – A follow up on the last 6 months
Please join the Joliet Chamber for an interactive virtual conference with community leaders from various business sectors including education, healthcare, and governmental affairs, for a follow-up conversation to the last Town Hall Meeting.
Panel of Speakers will include Dr. Arvid Johnson from the University of St. Francis, Ruth Colby from Silver Cross Hospital, Sue Olenek from the Will County Health Department, Barry Kolanowski from Senior Services Center, and Mike Paone from the Joliet Chamber. Here is the link to register: http://jolietchamber.chambermaster.com/events/details/2020-webinar-december-10-town-hall-meeting-5978
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