Click HERE to view video presentation of Special President’s Message Update on COVID-19 for May of 2020
Dear Members:
While willingly adhering to Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker’s “Stay at Home” Executive Order May 30 extension, business leaders and elected officials across our state are speaking out in opposition to a longer-than-expected timeline within the Governor’s five-phase Restore Illinois plan developed in partnership with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).
In his May 11 letter to the Governor, Elmhurst Mayor Steve Morley requested that Elmhurst and the rest of suburban DuPage County be removed from the plan’s Northeast Region—which includes the City of Chicago and similarly more urban areas of Cook County—in order for our local businesses to open earlier than the June 26 projection, possibly not even then.
Mayor Morley has asked the Governor to allow Elmhurst and DuPage County to move to the plan’s “Recovery Phase” (Phase 3) as soon as the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic public health-based requirements are met, which are on track within “a matter of weeks, if not days.”
In addition, the DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference will send a letter to the Governor “asking him to take a more balanced approach and not a one-size-fits-all approach” to allowing local businesses to reopen, according to Naperville Mayor Steve Chirico, Conference President.
Illinois is currently in the Flattening Stage (Phase 2), allowing non-essential retail stores to do curbside pick-up and delivery. Restaurant and bars still open for business have been feeding hungry patrons via walk-in takeout, curbside pick-up, drive-thru and delivery since their service for dine-in customers was closed down two months ago.
A list of some Elmhurst 90 restaurants and bars is available via our Chamber website’s special “Dine Out” From Home page, which features the name, address, phone number, hours of operation, both menu and online ordering (if an option) hyperlinks, and service delivery options for each of business, whether member or not. Visit elmhurstchamber.org for more information.
Many local restaurant and bar owners want the Governor to restore dine-in service by the start of June—even if public health-mandated limitations or restrictions are required—a position strongly advocated by the Illinois Restaurant Association (IRA), which on May 7 called for a plan modification to allow dine-in service in a limited capacity during Phase 3.
The Governor’s plan underestimates the restaurant industry’s ability to reopen and operate safely with enhanced public health measures in place, according to IRA President and CEO Sam Toia,
Public health and safety have always been and continue to be the top priorities for every owner, operator, and employee in the restaurant industry. Illinois’ restaurants are fully capable and ready to resume dine in service with limited occupancy, six feet between tables, personal protection equipment (PPE) for employees, and many other preventative measures.
We at the Elmhurst Chamber concur with our local elected officials and industry representatives that the time has come for us to conduct more business as “unusual.”
Federal Relief Legislation
Nancy Pelosi (D-California 12 District), Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, proposed legislation May 12 appropriating $3 trillion more in federal COVID-19 financial aid.
The HEROES ACT proposes $1T in financial relief for states and cities, $200 billion in “hazard pay” for essential workers, $25B for the U.S. Postal Service, $10B more in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) disaster loans towards under-served businesses and not-for-profit organizations, $3.6B for local officials to conduct elections in November, $600 million to local police departments for salaries and equipment, and $600M in virus aid to state and federal prisons.
The $1T appropriation includes $375 billion for small suburban and rural municipalities not included in earlier relief bills.
The $10B appropriation in additional PPP funding will allow chambers of commerce, business and trade associations, and other 501(c)(6) NFP organizations to apply for financial relief via the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
Individually, The HEROES Act provides monies to extend the $600-per-week boost to Unemployment Insurance benefits and a new round of $1,200 cash payments to taxpayers.
County Relief Legislation
DuPage County announced on May 12 the launching of Reinvest DuPage, a grant relief program developed in partnership with Choose DuPage for small businesses and independent contractors. The program will provide grants to sustain some businesses impacted by COVID-19. The online-only application portal is expected to launch on Monday, May 18, at 9 a.m.
DuPage County will fund this initial program with $7 million of the $161 million in monies received under the $2.2 trillion federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Choose DuPage will administer the plan with support from DuPage County and local banking and financial experts.
The program will provide grants of up to $15,000 for DuPage County-based businesses with fewer than 15 full-time employees and less than $1.5 million in annual revenues. Grant monies may be used for payroll, rent, mortgage payments, utilities, and other expenses necessary to maintain operations.
Please note that applicants are ineligible if they have received financial assistance from the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) administered through the SBA, any state hospitality grant, or any local loan or grant program.
Finally, our Chamber will continue to work diligently (and safely) to help Elmhurst businesses both sustain operations financially and keep their workforce employed during this Pandemic health care and economic crisis.
To paraphrase former four-term Elmhurst Mayor Tom Marcucci, “Lights on, even if restricted, is always better than lights off.”