News Flash

The following COVID-19 informational resources may be of interest to area businesses. This page will be updated regularly. To sign-up for notification emails when this page is updated or for other Village emergency and informational notices register on the NotifyMe module. The Village COVID-19 general announcement page can be found here. 

NOTICE OF PENDING DEADLINES: Lowe’s/LISC Grant applicaitons close August 3rd.  PPP applications are scheduled to close August 8th.  Details on both follow.

• Reopening Guidance:
  • Restore IL Phasing Update: On July 15th In an effort to prevent resurgence of COVID-19 in Illinois, Governor Pritzker announced changes to the Restore IL plan. Counties have been grouped into areas that may be subject to further business operation restrictions should health figures indicate additional risk. Review the Plan for details on the new tiered approach for specific industries should health metrics dictate further action. The current Phase 4 Industry specific guidelines, signage and toolkits announced on June 22nd for Phase 4 continue to be available. 7-16-20 edit
  • Fitness Business Use of Public Property for Classes: interested businesses should complete the application and submit along with required documentation.
  • Temporary Outdoor Dining Application: Complete this application to request permission to offer temporary dining locations on public or private property at a restaurant, as needed due to COVID limitations on indoor dining service.
  • Other Reopening Guidance:
    • Reopening Guidance from the National Restaurant Association 4-29-20 edit
    • COVID-19 Re-Opening Best Practices Guide from the International Council of Shopping Centers. 5-4-20 edit
    • Cushman & Wakefield’s Recovery Readiness materials, including Retail Readiness Essentials, Recovery Readiness: A How-To Guide for Reopening Your Workplace, and Warehouse Readiness Essentials. 5-18-20 edit
• Financial Assistance:
  
  • Lowe’s/LISC Grant: Grants of $20,000 to small business owners to help meet their most immediate needs. Eligible expenses include: rent and utilities, payroll, debt to vendors, upgrading technology,  immediate operational costs, etc.  Priority will be given especially to entrepreneurs of color, women- and veteran-owned businesses. Application due August 3, 2020. Learn more about this program and apply here. 7-29-20 edit
    
    
  • CARES Act Resources for Business:  Note application for the Emergency Disaster Loan (EIDL) is applied for online through the SBA while other programs such as the Payroll Protection (PPP) are through financial institutions. Funds have been re-appropriated with changes to eligibility and extended terms.  07-08-20 edit
    
    • PPP: Acceptance of applications resumed July 6th with an August 8th application deadline. Program details here. To apply for the PPP, it is suggested you first contact your local banker. A list of lenders can be found on the SBA search module (note many listed will only take application from existing customers). Additional lenders accepting application from new or non-bank customers include firms such as Inland Bank, Great Lakes Credit Union, PayPal, Square, Betterfin, Kabbage, and Intuit-QuickBooks, as well as those listed in this article. A portion of the PPP loan may be forgivable. The SBA has released the PPP Loan Forgiveness Application-- this document includes a worksheet to calculate your PPP Loan usage, and information on on how to calculate your FTE total. 07-29-20 edit
    • EIDL and EIDL Advance: The EIDL online application has reopened. Additionally, the SBA announced that as of mid-July it is restoring eligibility for the EIDL Advance to those who did not check the box indicating the desire to be considered for the EIDL Advance of up to $10,000 and whose loan status is either withdrawn or declined.  The SBA will begin distribution of the Advance monies if the original application requested the funds. SBA’s EIDL program offers long-term, low interest assistance for a small business or non-profit. EIDL assistance can be used to cover payroll and inventory, pay debt or fund other expenses. Additionally, the EIDL Advance will provide up to $10,000 ($1,000 per employee) of emergency economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing temporary difficulties. Program application and details here.  07-08-20 edit
    • Subsidy for Current Loan Payments and Express Bridge Loans: The SBA will cover up to 6 months of principal and interest payments that are owed on most existing SBA loans. 5-7-20 edit
  • Illinois State Treasurer’s Small Business Relief Program: The program is an impact investment loan program to assist Illinois small business and non-profits negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. 5-7-20 edit
  • Employee Retention Credit: Treasury Encourages Businesses Impacted by COVID-19 to Use Employee Retention Credit. 5-7-20 edit
  • IL Department of Commerce (IL DCEO): guide of emergency funding sources from various agencies 5-7-20 edit
    • ILDCEO Small Business Loan; announced 3/25/20; loan continues but application temporarily halted for processing of existing submittals; hospitality grant application closed. 5-7-20 update
  • BIG Grants:  Application now closed. Beginning Monday, June 22^nd, the State of IL began accepting application for the Business Interruption Grant (BIG) Program. BIG is available for up to 3,500 businesses that experienced a limited ability to operate due to COVID-19 related closures. Specifically the program provides support to Bars & Restaurants, Barbershops & Salons, and Gyms & Fitness Centers. The program is administered through the IL Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity. There has been indication that additional rounds of BIG grants may be announced. This information will be shared here when available. View the program website for details.  edit 07-16-20
  • Lake County Small Business Recovery Grant Program: The County is reviewing applications with funds anticipated for release by check in mid-August.  Applicaitons were accepted for this program from July 7-July 20, 2020.  Eligible businesses may receive up to $30,000 to cover up to four months of occupancy costs and other related expenses, restrictions apply.  Information and application can be found here. A list of Frequently Asked Questions is available. 07-29-20 edit
  • Alternate Funding: explore alternative funding opportunities such as SBA Express Bridge Loans, Business for All Grant by Hello Alice, Salesforce Care for Small Business Grant, Sam Adams Restaurant Strong Fund, and the Restaurant Employee Relief Fund. 07-08-20 edit
    
• Various Resources & Guidance:
  
  • Personal Protective Equipment:  Feel free to reference this Business Supply/Resource Guide which provides a list of PPE suppliers you might use to acquire items needed for your employees. Refer back to this link for regular updates to include additional suppliers. If your business offers supplies and wishes to be added, email Barbara at Lake County Partners. 5-15-20 edit
  • COVID Testing for Employees: the Lake County Health Department has provided a testing location list. 5-5-20 edit
  • The Small Business Development Center at CLC has counselors available for virtual meetings to discuss your business finances, employee concerns, and more. Schedule here. 4-16-20 edit
  • Commercial Real Estate Guidance for landlords/tenants/borrowers from the CCIM Institutue, CBRE Financial Council, and Cushman & Wakefield. 4-14-20 edit
  • Family First Act - Employee Poster
  • IL Dept of Revenue Relief:  Information on deferred payments for restaurants and bars, and other relevant filing details.
  • IRS information to help taxpayers and businesses affected by the corona-virus
  • The U.S. Department of Labor has resources to help workers and employers prepare for the COVID-19 virus, including use of the Family and Medical Leave Act.
  • Unemployment Insurance: The IDES  offers various guidance on their website.  A video offering applications instructions is available. Additional questions you have may be answered in the 4-21-20 FAQ Guide 5-15-20 edit
  • Manufacturing: The IL Manufacturers Association and IL Manufacturer Extension Center are both offering important manufacturer guidance and working to help manufacturers produce, supply and distribute emergency goods. 4-14-20 edit
  • Orange "Open" or "Open - Delivery & PickUp" signs are available for businesses to post in their storefront window. They can be picked up in the Police Department lobby, 200 E Cook Ave.
• Restaurants & Liquor Service:
  • Restaurant Rally: Visit Lake County is organizing a Lake County Restaurant Rally July 31-August 9, restaurants in partner communities may participate regardless of membership in the tourism buruea.  Restaurants must register by July 10th.  For more information about the Rally, email VLC Business & Community Development Manager John Maguire or call 847.662.2700.
  • Libertyville Restaurants Open for Service: the Village dining website is being regulary updated to reflect local restaurants and those with outdoor service
  • Libertyville restaurants wishing to sell at the Libertyville Sunset Foods location should email their coordinator, Imani Harris.
  • Free legal guidance from the IL Restaurant Assoc, see provider list. 4-17-20 edit
  • FDA has issued a Best Practices Guide for all food related establishments 5-18-20 edit
  • Lake County Health Department has enacted bi-weekly phone briefings for the business community, to be held each Tuesday and Thursday from 11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. to provide the latest updates and answer questions. Recordings of previous briefings are now saved online here. 4-14-20 edit
  • Liquor Sales: Various guidance has been issued by the IL Liquor Commission, including the FAQs document dated 5-11-20, Compliance Directive - 3/16/20, 3-19-20 Sales Guidance, 3-19-20 License Renewal Extension, and IL Executive Order No. 5, issued 3/16/20 (includes restaurant clarification). 5-15-20 edit
  • Restaurant Strong Fund through the Gregg Hill Foundation offering grants to employees, application available. 4-16-20 edit
  • National Restaurant Association has a relief fund offering grants to employees on a first-come, first-serve basis. Applications not currently being accepted. 4-16-20 edit
  • Places for Eating Tax: this tax has been repealed, see letter from Village Finance Director.
  • Non-Home Rule Sales Tax: This tax will be effective July 1st as per public referendum, and will be collected by IDOR, view IDOR letter for collection guidance.
• Health & Safety:
  • Lake County Health Department
  • IL Dept of Public Health (IDPH) has various resources on their website and they has issued guidelines specific to certain business types, including Large Corporations, Daycare Providers, Oral Health, Hotels, Funeral Homes, etc. 
  • Mental Health & Other Assistance: If you, or someone you care about, are feeling overwhelmed with emotions like sadness, depression, or anxiety, or feel like you want to harm yourself or others call: 911; or Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746. (TTY 1-800-846-8517). If you or your staff need assistance finding food, shelter, rent or utility assistance, or other essential services, CALL 211 or TEXT your zip code to 898211 to speak with someone who can help 24/7. For more information, visit https://211lakecounty.org/. 4-14-20 edit
  • OSHA: Protecting Workers During a Pandemic
  • CDC: Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers 
  • CDC: Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection Recommendations
  • WHO: Phishing Emails & Scam Alert