Hello West Town Businesses,

I hope you are continuing to stay safe and healthy and are doing what you can to make it through this difficult time.

Please make sure to read through this newsletter for a consolidated list of COVID-19 related business resources, upcoming online events, and information about West Town Bingo.

The West Town Chamber is here to support you. Please feel free to email us at [email protected] if you have any questions. Thank you! ♡

Sincerely,

Sara Bemer

Membership Director

West Town Chamber of Commerce

The Chamber recently released West Town Bingo! With this initiative, participants are being encouraged to support any West Town business in our service area (Division to Hubbard, Halsted to Kedzie) all while sheltering in place. Example bingo tiles include "Shop online with a West Town retailer", "Do a virtual West Town workout class", "Buy art from a West Town gallery", etc.

Please help spread the word and share this program on your own social media, so we can get as many residents to participate as possible. Click here for a folder with the bingo card, information on how to play, and accompanying rules. West Town Bingo is happening now through May 31st.

Join our Chamber Members Only Facebook Group !

Our goal is that this will be an effective forum for communication among you--the Members of the West Town Chamber. COVID-19 updates, webinars, and fact sheets sent to us by various other agencies and government entities are posted here every day .

We know you are busy! Please use this place to communicate with your fellow West Town business owners ! We will also be posting up to date info in the group and reminding you of events coming up. Make sure you fill out the Membership Questions when requesting to join the group, so we know which business you are representing.

If your email inbox has been anything like ours, it seems like every day there are hundreds of messages coming in of new COVID-19 related grant opportunities, loan criteria, webinars, and safety guidelines!

The Chamber has taken all of this information and put it in one document, available here. We will be updating this document in real-time, so make sure to continue to check it for the latest information and resources.

The Chamber has two surveys that we want to circulate to the business community. Please take one or both by May 3rd if they apply to you.

Survey: Businesses Access to COVID-19 Funding

Have you applied for  or  plan on applying for any COVID-19 related loans, grants, or financing options? If so, please take this survey so we can hear more about that experience:  http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07eh1a22shk90bx2a4/start

Survey: Bulk PPE Ordering

The Chamber  may  have the opportunity to purchase PPE items, specifically non-N95 masks and mini bottles of hand sanitizer. If we purchased these items in bulk, would you be interested in buying a smaller quantity that fits your business' needs? If so, please take this survey:  http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07eh1dc3ewk91vclxr/start

The City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection’s FREE business education workshops are now available as webinars! To register, visit: chicago.gov/businessworkshops

Message from Rosa Escareno - BACP Commissioner:

On Thursday, April 23 ^rd , Governor Pritzker  announced an extension of the Illinois Stay at Home Order to the end of May . Under this extension, there will be important modifications to the Stay at Home Order that will come into effect on May 1 ^st . These modifications provide increased flexibility for certain businesses and important new guidelines to protect workers and consumers. This email provides an overview of the changes that will become effective May 1 ^st  and will last through the month of May. Please note that these rules are subject to change- please visit  www.chicago.gov/coronavirus  for updates.

1.   NEW Requirement to Wear Face Coverings

Effective May 1 ^st , all individuals over the age of two that can medically tolerate face covering will be required to wear a face covering over their nose and mouth when they are:

2.   NEW Categories of Businesses Considered Essential

The following businesses will be considered essential and may re-open beginning May 1 ^st :

These businesses will be added to the full list of essential businesses under the previous Stay at Home Order, which can be found on the Frequently Asked Questions tab at  www.chicago.gov/coronavirus . All essential businesses must follow the social distancing requirements outlined in number four below.

3.   NEW Permissible Activities for Non-Essential Businesses

Beginning May 1 ^st , retail stores that are not designated as essential may re-open to fulfill online or telephone orders. These orders must be completed through pick-up outside of the store or through delivery. All non-essential businesses engaged in minimum basic activities such as these must follow the social distancing requirements outlined in number four below.

4.   NEW Requirements for all Businesses to Protect Employees and Consumers

Effective May 1 ^st , all businesses are required to take the following steps to the greatest extent possible:

This applies to all essential businesses and non-essential businesses that are engaged in minimum basic operations. These requirements are in addition to existing requirements to designate six-foot distances, have hand sanitizer and sanitizing products available, designate separate operating hours for vulnerable populations and post online whether a facility is open and how best to reach the facility.

5.   New Requirements for Retail Businesses to Protect Employees and Consumers

In addition to the requirements outlined in number four above, all retail businesses are required to take the following steps to the greatest extent possible beginning on May 1 ^st:

6.   NEW Requirements for Manufacturers to Protect Employees

In addition to the requirements outlined in number four above, all manufacturing businesses are required to take the following steps to the greatest extent possible beginning on May 1 ^st:

Please be advised BACP has been and will continue to enforce the Stay at Home Order. Citations for businesses violating the order, including the social distancing requirements, can range up to $10,000 per offense. The modifications in the new Stay at Home Order are essential to building on the lifesaving progress our State has made over the last month. Thank you for your observance of the Order.

Thank you to everyone who tuned into last week's webinar with

David Hardin of Cultivate Advisors! Incase you missed it, click here for the power point.

A big THANK YOU to David Hardin for hosting this webinar and for lending his expertise! Please make sure to reach out to David directly if you have any questions, as he is offering free 1-2 hour advising session to the West Town business community (more info below in the "Business to Business Deals" section).

Wednesday, May 6th

2 p.m. - 3 p.m.

via Zoom (Register to obtain meeting info)

About the Speaker: 

Dan Johnson is a trial lawyer at Waskowski Johnson Yohalem LLP and represents businesses and individuals in commercial disputes.

Before starting WJY five years ago, Dan was a partner at a 500+ lawyer, international law firm in the global insurance group, representing insurance companies in business insurance coverage disputes with their customers. At WJY, they represent the insurance customers in disputes with the insurance companies.

Dan is also a West Town resident and past President of the East Village Association.

Thursday, May 7th

11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

via Zoom (Contact Kace Wakem for meeting info)

Wednesday, May 13th

4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

via Zoom (Register for log-in info)

Thursday, May 14th

10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

via Zoom

Given the growing concerns around COVID-19, the West Town Chamber's Board of Directors made the difficult decision to cancel the following 2020 summer festivals: Do Division Street Fest, West Fest Chicago, and Chicago Brewing District’s Dancing in the Streets.

The health and safety of the community, festival patrons, vendors, performers, and everyone who works to put these events together is of paramount importance to our organization. The Chamber looks forward to bringing back our summer events when it is safe to do so. The 2020 fall and winter West Town Chamber events are still being planned as scheduled until future safety guidelines are released.

We will be sharing additional plans for 2020 virtual and digital fest programming and promotions soon. @dodivisionstreetfest @westfestchicago @dancinginthestreetschi

To read the full statement about these festival cancellations, click here.

Michele Taylor Photography is offering her services free of charge for anyone that would need visual imagery for their websites, social media, blogs, marketing collateral, etc!

To set up an appointment, you can contact Michele here.

Ground Lift Media's "Digital Marketing Consults" program was created to support local businesses/creatives with their customer outreach and online marketing needs during the quarantine. We understand that just keeping the 'doors open' is the main focus for many, but we hope to offer a path towards growth during the slowdown.

For this program, Ground Lift Media will consult with members of your team on best practices for efficient Facebook / Instagram ads placement, ways to inspire customer interaction from afar, how to leverage your available communication channels and website for maximum effect, and we'll also review methods for pivoting brand strategies during these difficult times.

The cost of this is FREE. We want to see our neighborhood come back to life, and this is our way of supporting the local business community!

If you would like to schedule a consultation for your business, please visit http://groundliftmedia.com or email [email protected].

In response to the current COVID-19 Pandemic, Chicago-headquartered small business advising firm, Cultivate Advisors, is offering free 1 and 2 hour advising sessions to help business owners navigate through the next 30-60 days.

As experts in partnering with small business owners 1:1 to weather these kinds of storms, Cultivate Advisors can help you manage cash flow and find innovative ways to survive and then thrive in the next few months.

Email David to get your free advising session scheduled today.

Candice C. Cusic Photography has started "Save Local Businesses: West Town." Her goal for this project is to photograph (from a distance) local West Town business owners in front of their shops, share their stories, and provide a face behind their closed doors and dark windows.

If you want to participate in this project and receive a complimentary photo from Candice, along with a social media post highlighting your story and business during this difficult time, please sign up here. We will be sharing these posts and your stories on our West Town Chicago social media pages as well.

Chris Hunt, owner of Seek Vintage, is her first featured post.

Fulton Street Collective's heART Support is designed to shine an artistic light on local businesses with an emphasis on both promotion and artistic creativity.

For their Chalk Sketching program, Fulton Street Collective (FSC) will send one or two of our artists out to local bars/restaurants who are trying to stay financially afloat with delivery and take-out during this difficult time. Chalk murals are made on the sidewalk directly in front of the business in order to garner attention and present an impactful message of inspiration and assurance, with a unique endorsement.

It is FSC’s hope that shining a creative spotlight on prospective businesses will increase attention and sales.

The cost for this is free. It is FSC’s way to support the community through a grass-roots endeavor.

If you would like FSC’s heART Support at your business, please email [email protected].

The SSA has four grant opportunities, open year round, that you can take advantage of if you are located in the West Town SSA! They are available until the money runs out:

Please take a look at the applications by clicking on the grant you are interested in. If you would like to discuss the program or have any questions regarding the applications, please contact SSA Program Director, Kace Wakem at [email protected].

There are several highly active neighborhood associations within West Town that meet regularly and would love to have representatives from local businesses attend! Their contact info is in the links below so reach out, attend an upcoming meeting, and introduce yourself and your business.

Lesley Timpe, Squasht Boutique - President

Evan Muellner, Pie-Eyed Pizzeria - Vice President

Julia Skuibida, American Family Insurance - Secretary

Greg Whipple, American Eagle Bank - Treasurer

Jen Brown, Hangout Lighting - Director

Victoria Kolar, Soundscape Studios - Director

Joe Lauer, Penelope's - Director

Karen Woodbury, The Superior Street Center for the Arts - Director

2020 West Town SSA Commissioners

Michael Van Dam, Residential Property Owner

Chris Hunt , Seek Vintage

Jenny Rossignuolo , Urban Source 

Steven Tobiason , Epic Spices

Sara Dulkin, Chicago Truborn

Adam Williams, Reach Fieldhouse

Candice Cusic, Candice C. Cusic Photography

Nora McCarthy, Gallery 2052

2020 West Town Chamber of Commerce Staff

Kara Salgado, Executive Director

Susan Aldous, Operations Director

Kace Wakem, SSA Program Director

Sara Bemer, Membership Director

Deana Martin, Bookkeeper