Breaking News: Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Offering Support Hospitality Emergency Grant Program To help hospitality businesses make ends meet in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is launching the Hospitality Emergency Grant Program with $14 million drawn from funds originally budgeted for jobContinue reading
New Support Opportunity Illinois Bridge Loans/ Small Business COVID-19 Relief Program offers an investment of $250 million to community banks to give them greater ability to provide loans at ‘near-zero rates’. These funds were recently made available and can serve as a bridge loan to the Small Business Association loans. As we mentioned in prior briefs, SBAContinue reading
Is your business considered “essential” under Governor Pritzker’s Executive Order? NACC has received many calls from members regarding whether their business is considered essential under Governor Pritzker’s Executive Order issued last Friday (3.20.20). We recognize that the definition is quite broad. Read further using our resource below and/ or inquire with the Department of CommerceContinue reading
This just in… Governor Pritzker has issued a stay-at-home order for the State of Illinois starting at 5:00 p.m. (CST) tomorrow, Saturday, March 21st thru Tuesday, April 7th. You may review the Governor’s Executive Order here for a comprehensive list of essential businesses that are allowed to remain open. It’s 5 O’clock Somewhere The Illinois Liquor ControlContinue reading
Federal Assistance Approved H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act passed the Senate and President Trump signed it into law yesterday (March 18th). This bill provides, among other things, provisions to address Paid Sick Leave, Paid Family and Medical Leave, and Unemployment Insurance for displaced workers. In addition, it contains provisions for diagnostic testing for Coronavirus andContinue reading
Federal Assistance for Small Business & Not-For-Profits The Small Business Administration has authorized low-interest disaster loans for small businesses and non-profits (excludes religious organizations). You are eligible for up to two million dollars for working capital (which includes fixed debt, payroll, etc.) at an interest rate of 3.75% for businesses and 2.75% for non-profit agencies. Continue reading
Over the last year working in my role of government affairs at the Chamber, I have been involved in a number of methods of impacting policy at the local, state and federal level. Our advocacy has indeed taken several forms: We have supported the U.S. Chamber’s efforts to lobby congress for much-needed infrastructure funding by signing on asContinue reading
The 101st Illinois Legislative Session is underway. Governor Pritzker recently delivered his State of the State address and we were listening. Key issues he called for in the upcoming legislative session impacting the business community include: diversity and inclusion in hiring practices, clean energy legislation, and support of local government efforts to reduce property taxes and increase government consolidation. All ideas we haveContinue reading
Indulge me while I boast a bit about the NACC’s investment in advocacy for our Members. Our staff works in concert with an engaged Business Works Committee (formerly Legislative Committee) who carefully examine key legislation on our radar and create action plans to influence policy to support business growth for our Members. One example, a key pieceContinue reading
The United States, Mexico, and Canada are close to reaching an agreement to rebalance and modernize the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) into a 21st century, high-standard trade deal. The goal is for the new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to better serve the interests of American workers and businesses and support mutually beneficial trade leading toContinue reading
