Illinois Governor Announces COVID-19 Mitigation Updates

Illinois Governor Announces COVID-19 Mitigation Updates

Following a decrease in Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic test positivity rates and hospitalizations throughout our state, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker announced today that regions across the state are now eligible to move out of Tier 3 mitigations—the strictest tier of Illinois’ Resurgence  Mitigation Plan—initially implemented shortly before Thanksgiving.

IRA Seeks Support To Reopen Limited Indoor Dining

IRA Seeks Support To Reopen Limited Indoor Dining

The Illinois Restaurant Association (IRA) is seeking support in urging Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and state leaders to take a more pragmatic approach to Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic mitigations that allow for limited indoor dining that will protect the public health of patrons, while saving the livelihoods of restaurants and bars, and their employees.

SBA Reopens PPP Loans For Small Businesses, NFPs

The United States Small Business Administration (SBA) today (January 11) reopened the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan portal featuring website updates with new details including the application form and the Interim Final Rule for the program changes recently signed into law with the $9 billion Emergency Coronavirus Relief Act.

ECCI President/CEO Delivers Annual ‘State of Our Chamber’ Address

ECCI President/CEO Delivers Annual ‘State of Our Chamber’ Address

Quite simply, the Coronavirus Pandemic of 2020 ranks as the most-challenging of times over my 21-year tenure as ECCI’s President and CEO and three decades of Chamber service—more so than the Great Recession of 2007-09 or even the 9-11 terrorist attacks of 2001, which unfolded while our Board of Directors were attending their regular monthly meeting in Community Bank of Elmhurst’s Hammersmith Community Room.

$900B Federal Relief Package Expands PPP Eligibility To Chambers

Last on December 21, the United States House of Representatives and then U.S. Senate passed the Omnibus Appropriations and Emergency Coronavirus Relief Act (House Resolution 133) by an overwhelming majority in both Congressional chambers, appropriating another $900 billion in financial assistance to small businesses—including chambers of commerce, trade association and other 501(c)(6) not-for-profit organizations—unemployed workers and individual income taxpayers.