LOCAL UPDATES
- City Council will meet tonight with an emergency meeting following. We will provide an update tomorrow following that meeting.
- The 5th Avenue Workshop scheduled for April 6 has been postponed.
- To clarify, Governor Pritzker’s Executive Order for Bars and Restaurants to close as of 9:00 pm last night allows for delivery, drive-thru, curb-side pick-up, and carry-out/ take-out. Take-out is defined as a “consumer coming into the restaurant ordering, paying and getting their food and leaving.” (Thank you IL Retail Merchants Association for clarifying this for us and local enforcement entities) PLEASE support our restaurant members – we have made getting access to those restaurants offering these services easy – check here!
FEDERAL SUPPORT
While there are some roadblocks to the Coronavirus package being passed by Congress, the overall support for businesses and their employees looks promising in the House version of this bill. The House passed the bill March 14 and its awaiting Senate approval and President Trump says he is in support.
Some highlights of the bill include:
- Workers who lost their job (including restaurant workers who plan to return when restaurants re-open) would be able to collect unemployment benefits without having to wait a week and would be considered “looking for work” since they would plan to return to the restaurant.
- Requires private-sector employers with fewer than 500 employees and government employers to provide employees with two-weeks of paid sick leave. However, private-sector employers subject to the requirement are entitled to a fully refundable tax credit equal to 100% of the qualified sick leave wages paid by the employer. Also note: President Trump in his press conference yesterday said he would encourage the Senate to expand this coverage to employers who have more than 500 employees.
- For a more detailed analysis of the federal legislation as it is currently written, read the Coronavirus Supplemental Summary provided by our U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
The U.S. SBA is offering designated states and territories low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). With a call happening later this afternoon, we will be get clarification what exactly is available to Illinois and will direct you to resources/ links that apply tomorrow.
Stay tuned daily – as we will be providing updates on the local and federal response to COVID-19 and how it impacts our business community.
AUTHOR
Director of Government Affairs, Reba Osborne has worked in the policy arena for many years beginning with her first job out of graduate school working in the South Carolina Governor’s Office. In her role at NACC, she monitors legislation and engages in advocacy efforts at the local, state and federal level. She has lived in Naperville for 18 years where she raised three children. She enjoys biking and is an avid gardener.