COVID-19 Updates & Resources

Resurgence Mitigations (as of 2/3/21)
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Region 8 Moves To Restore Illinois Phase 4 Sans Mitigations

As a result of declining Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic case metrics, Region 8 (including DuPage County) has moved out of Tiered Mitigations and fully into Restore Illinois Phase 4, effective immediately.
 
Phase 4 restrictions without mitigations for restaurants and bars to accommodate seated parties of up to 10 patrons and a maximum occupancy of 25 percent for standing areas capacity, and allow for socially-distanced bar seating between patrons of unrelated parties.
 
Region 8 has moved from Tier 3 to Tier 2 to Tier 1 Mitigations within Phase 4 in the past month as the number of positive tests, hospitalizations and deaths have dropped, and the number of available hospital beds have risen.
 
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (IDCEO) has posted an updated version of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

​HELPFUL  RESOURCES:

• Coronavirus Relief Options
• Guide to Coronavirus Paid Leave Programs
• Paycheck Protection Program
• Employee Retention Tax Credit Guide
• Coronavirus Small Business Guide
• Coronavirus Response Toolkit

​LOCAL LINKS:​

• Local Small Business Assistance
• Village of Burr Ridge
• Village of Willowbrook

State Grant Programs

Business Interruption Grants Program (BIG)

Round 2:  A $220 million second round of BIG aims to provide relief for all types of small businesses, but with a particular focus on businesses downstate, in disproportionately impacted areas (DIAs), and for heavily impacted industry and regions – representing businesses that have been unable to reopen or operating at a severely diminished capacity since the spring.  
The second wave of funds includes the following provisions to ensure a wide distribution of funds geographically and across business type:

• Heavily Impacted Industries - $60 million for heavily distressed industries, such as movie theatres, performing arts venues, concert venues, indoor recreation, amusement parks, and more.
• Disproportionately Impacted Areas - $70 million set aside for DIAs, defined by zip codes identified by the General Assembly for communities that are most economically distressed and vulnerable to COVID-19.  A map of DIAs is shown below.
• Downstate Communities – DCEO has committed to ensuring that at least half of all remaining funds, totaling more than $100 million, are reserved for businesses in downstate and rural communities of Illinois.
• Priority Businesses– Apart from the $60 million for heavily impacted industries, applications from the following types of businesses will be prioritized for review for remaining funds:  businesses directly affected by regional mitigations implemented by the state or local governments, independently owned retail, tourism- and hospitality-related industries including accommodations, and more.
• Agriculture - $5 million of the remainder of funds will be set aside for livestock production disruptions. Applications will be available in the coming weeks from the Illinois Department of Agriculture.
• Grants and Loan Forgiveness for Illinois Small Business Emergency Loan recipients - As authorized by the General Assembly, DCEO will offer grants for businesses that have incurred eligible costs to offset loans received under the Illinois Small Business Emergency Loan program.  This round of loan forgiveness and grants will go to businesses that have received loans or remain on the wait list and the program will sunset going forward as DCEO and its partners focus on making BIG awards.

Businesses outside the categories listed above are also eligible to apply and receive funding under the program but may be reviewed later than priority businesses. All businesses will receive a decision on their grant application within four to six weeks of application submission.

Apply Now: Business Interruption Grant Application 

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Additional Grant Resources

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker on June 17 joined members of the Black, Latino and Asian Caucuses of the state legislature and small business owners to announce a package of more than $900 million in state grant programs to support communities and businesses impacted by the pandemic and recent civil unrest.
 The package funded more than 10 programs and four state agencies to help working families and small businesses who have been hit the hardest by Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic’s economic impact, which was compounded by recent property damage and civil unrest.
To ensure families and businesses receive ongoing support to maintain their livelihoods, the new package of grant programs operate with equity requirements, ensuring that disproportionately impacted areas (DIA) receive their fair share of support.
EMERGENCY RENTAL/MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

• Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA)

NEW BUSINESS INTERRUPTION GRANTS PROGRAM

• Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (IDCEO) 

DISTRESSED CAPITAL PROGRAM
The IDCEO’s new economic recovery program will provide $25 million to support Illinois businesses that have sustained property damage as a result of civil unrest during the recent protests and demonstrations on or after May 25, 2020.
 
The Distressed Capital Program will reimburse the costs to repair structural damages, including repairs to storefronts and entrances, improving electrical systems, and restoring exterior work.
 
The program will prioritize small businesses, women and minority-owned businesses, underinsured or uninsured businesses, businesses that have a high community impact – such as grocery stores – and businesses in communities that have experienced historic disinvestment.
 
The Rebuild Distressed Communities NOFO will solicit applications from regional and local organizations that will perform outreach, coordinate local qualified vendors, and provide funds to cover the cost of repairs and building improvements for businesses in their region. The Distressed Capital Program also includes provisions to ensure BEP-certified contractors, including minority- and women-owned businesses, are the first in line to do the repair work.
 
IDCEO will invite applications for the Distressed Capital Program with a NOFO made available on Monday, June 22.​
POVERTY ALLEVIATION STRATEGIES

• Illinois Department of Human Services

• Illinois Department on Aging

​Small Business Relief Grant Program

A program to support DuPage County small businesses and independent contractors impacted by COVID-19.
In an effort to assist small businesses and independent contractors impacted by COVID-19, DuPage County in conjunction with Choose DuPage is providing grants to use for employee retention payroll, utilities, and rent.

CRITERIA
Small businesses with fewer than 15 full-time employees and less than $1.5 million in annual revenue may apply for a grant up to $15,000.
Independent contractors with more than 50% of their annual income coming from 1099 work, and an annual income of less than $100,000 may apply for a grant up to $7,500.

Businesses and contractors that have received other funds intended for this purpose (i.e. PPP, EIDL) are not eligible. Additionally, no member of the DuPage County Board or the Chairman, Choose DuPage Board, members of the grant decision committee, or the immediate family members thereof shall be eligible for this grant.

For further information about this program and to see if you qualify please visit: Choose DuPage

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