Greater Roseland Chamber of Commerce (GRCC) is a Neighborhood Business Development Center (NBDC) and a local resource for your business.
We are all experiencing very trying times during this historic pandemic.
It is also a time for us to recognize that we need each other more now than ever before.
GRCC is available to help our
local business owners, aspiring entrepreneurs, community leaders, neighbors and friends during this very challenging time. Please check out the
links below for information about financial relief opportunities to assist
you and your business during this time.
Here are a few resources that you may find helpful.
City of Chicago Important Resources
The City of Chicago provides a host of vital resources to help during this very challenging time. See the link below for more information.
Mayor Lightfoot—Chicago Small Business Resiliency Loan Fund
Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot announced a new $100 million economic relief package to support Chicago's small businesses that are experiencing a temporary loss of revenue as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. Building on the administration’s ongoing efforts to help reduce the financial impact of this public health crisis on residents, the City is launching the new
Chicago Small Business Resiliency Loan Fund in partnership with the Catalyst Fund, chaired by Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin,
and other private sponsors
.
The new fund will provide more than $100 million in low-interest loans to severely impacted small businesses over the coming months, targeting historically under-resourced communities with an emphasis on minimizing hardship for those businesses and their employees.
The Mayor’s economic relief package is designed to provide much-needed cash flow relief for neighborhood entrepreneurs over the coming weeks and months and includes extended due dates for business-related tax payments until April 30, 2020.
Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP)
This is the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) resources page for City of Chicago Businesses, Consumers and Employees impacted by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Outbreak. BACP is working with Federal, State and County agencies to provide business support options, and the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) to communicate updated guidance for the businesses, consumers and employees affected by this crisis. This is a rapidly evolving situation, and this page will be updated regularly with new resources. For up-to-date health guidance, please visit
www.chicago.gov/coronavirus
.
BACP Labor Standards
The Office of Labor Standards is dedicated to promoting and enforcing Chicago’s labor laws. The Director of Labor Standards will lead the Office to process complaints, conduct investigations, mediate disputes, direct settlement proceedings, issue violations, and, if necessary, seek licensure discipline against employers. The Office was established in 2019 and seeks to engage communities and protect workers through a strong investigation and enforcement regime. The Office will track its performance to provide accountability and a roadmap to success.
Cook County Important Resources
Cook County Recovery
Cook County has launched a comprehensive initiative to provide economic relief to small businesses, non-profits, community service organizations and independent contractors (1099 workers) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Keeping American Workers Paid and Employed Act (CARES Act) is a historic $2.2 trillion federal stimulus bill and was recently signed into law. It includes several resources to assist individuals, families, hospitals, and businesses.
Today's economy networks are more important than ever, and Cook County is creating a variety of tools to connect and share resources that provide a strong web of support for businesses. Cook County has partnered with the
American Business Immigration Coalition
, the
Illinois Restaurant Association
,
and the
National Partnership for New Americans
to catalyze access to the SBA’s new $347 M Payroll Protection Program. Cook County and its partners will activate a network of local economic development organizations, Chambers of Commerce, Community Development Financial Institutions and local lending institutions to assist small businesses, non-profits and independent.
Cook County Government COVID-19 Taxes, Fines and Fees Relief Package
President Toni Preckwinkle has initiated a series of measures waiving various County fines, fees and deferring tax collections to help businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. With businesses facing so many challenges and difficulties created by the coronavirus, suspending these fines and fees is the right thing to do. It is our hope these measures provide much-needed relief. Waiving these fines and fees and deferring the County’s tax collection will assist our businesses in terms of cash flow to the tune of $35M during these trying times.
Other Important Resources
Small Business Administration – COVID-19
Our nation's small businesses are facing an unprecedented economic disruption due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. On Friday, March 27, 2020, the President signed into law the CARES Act, which contains $376 billion in relief for American workers and small businesses.
Hospitality Business Grant Program
To help hospitality businesses make ends meet in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, DCEO is launching the Hospitality Emergency Grant Program with $14 million drawn from funds originally budgeted for job training, tourism promotion, and other purposes. Grant funds are available to support working capital like payroll and rent, as well as job training, retraining, and technology to support shifts in operations, like increased pick-up and delivery. Bars and restaurants that generated between $500K and $1M in revenue in 2019 are eligible for up to $25,000, and bars and restaurants that generated less than $500K in revenue in 2019 are eligible for up to $10,000. Hotels that generated less than $8M in revenue in 2019 are eligible for up to $50,000.
National Restaurant Employee Relief Fund
The Restaurant Employee Relief Fund (“Fund”) was created to help restaurant industry employees experiencing extraordinary hardship in the wake of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. Through this Fund, grants will be made to restaurant industry employees who have been impacted by COVID-19, including a decrease in wages or loss of employment. Grants will be awarded as soon as possible to those individuals who meet the prescribed eligibility criteria, as reviewed and verified by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF). This Fund is operated by the NRAEF, whose mission is to attract, empower and advance today’s and tomorrow’s restaurant and foodservice workers.
Unemployment Benefits
Unemployment benefits may be available to some individuals whose unemployment is attributable to COVID-19. Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) recently adopted emergency rules to try to make the unemployment insurance system as responsive to the current situation as possible. See link below for details.
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)
The Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) authorizes up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses to pay their employees during the COVID-19 crisis
Small Business Administration – COVID-19
Our nation's small businesses are facing an unprecedented economic disruption due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. On Friday, March 27, 2020, the President signed into law the CARES Act, which contains $376 billion in relief for American workers and small businesses.
Facebook Small Business Grants Program
Facebook is offering $100M in cash grants and ad credits for up to 30,000 eligible small businesses in over 30 countries where we operate. We’ll share more details as they become available.
If you have any questions, concerns or need additional information please feel free to contact us at:
[email protected]
We are working remotely and will respond to your email as soon as we possibly can. Be safe, take care of yourself and your families.
Sincerely,
Andrea D. Reed, Executive Director
Greater Roseland Chamber of Commerce
Direct: (888) 587-6566
