27th Ward news & updates
June 26, 2020
“SummerDance In Place” Offers At-Home Dance Parties Across Chicago Featuring House Music, Salsa, Swing, Bollywood and More
Reimagined Series presents 30-minute dance lessons followed by 60 minutes of music on Wednesdays, July 1–29, at 5:30pm, and Saturday, July 4, at 5pm

CHICAGO, IL — Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) today announced the full lineup for “SummerDance in Place,” a new citywide, at-home version of the summertime tradition, Chicago SummerDance. Presented by DCASE with the Chicago Park District, the reimagined series is filmed in Millennium Park and at Chicago Park district locations, featuring skyline views and iconic imagery that residents have been missing. Chicagoans are encouraged to plan smaller, socially-distant dance parties in their homes and backyards, on front porches and elsewhere with up to 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors — and connect via the broadcast or social media.
Following the traditional SummerDance model, each program will start with a 30-minute dance lesson, followed by 60 minutes of music performed by local artists. Dance and music styles include House, salsa, swing, Bollywood and more every Wednesday in July at 5:30pm. There will be a special Fourth of July edition on Saturday, July 4 at 5pm at  youtube.com/ChicagoDCASE .
On July 8, 15, 22 & 29, media partner WTTW will expand access to the program by airing and streaming the same “SummerDance in Place” dance lessons and music on WTTW Prime (11.2), also at 5:30–7pm.
“For more than 20 years, the joy of Chicago SummerDance has united residents and visitors alike — both professional and citizen dancers — to celebrate a diverse range of dance and music styles,” said Mark Kelly, Commissioner of DCASE. “Of course, things are different this summer, but we’re finding new ways to kick up our heels and get our groove on virtually — and in small groups — while prioritizing health and safety.”

“For more than 20 years, the joy of Chicago SummerDance has united residents and visitors alike — both professional and citizen dancers — to celebrate a diverse range of dance and music styles,” said Mark Kelly, Commissioner of DCASE. “Of course, things are different this summer, but we’re finding new ways to kick up our heels and get our groove on virtually — and in small groups — while prioritizing health and safety.”
The special edition of “SummerDance in Place” on July 4 at 5pm is part of the City of Chicago’s Fourth of July programming. Signature events to celebrate Independence Day also include the Virtual Chosen Few Picnic & House Music Festival (12–9pm at  chosenfewdjs.com ) and the Grant Park Music Festival’s virtual Independence Day Salute (6:30–7:30pm,  gpmf.org ). These free special events are presented by the City of Chicago and its partners in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
“SummerDance in Place” is produced by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events in collaboration with the Chicago Park District. Additional support was provided by the Millennium Park Foundation and WTTW.
For more information, visit  ChicagoSummerDance.org  and join the conversation on social media using #ChicagoSummerDance.

Like many other cultural presenters, the City of Chicago and DCASE made the difficult decision to cancel the Chicago SummerDance programs that take place in Grant Park and other Chicago Park District locations out of an abundance of caution related to large public gatherings. Chicago will move into Phase 4 – ‘Gradually Resume’ – of its Protecting Chicago plan on Friday, June 26, allowing for additional businesses and public amenities to open with limited capacities and appropriate safeguards. Although progress has been made in order to move to Phase 4, all residents should continue to abide by important guidance including: physically distancing and wearing a face covering; limiting non-business, social gatherings to 50 persons for indoor events and 100 for outdoors; staying at home if you are considered vulnerable, feel ill or have come into contact with someone with COVID-19; and getting tested if you have symptoms. For more information and updates on the City’s response to COVID-19, text COVID19 to 78015, email  [email protected]  or visit  chicago.gov/coronavirus .
 
SummerDance in Place Schedule
View all programs at  youtube.com/ChicagoDCASE

Wednesday, July 1, 5:30–7pm
House
Music: DJ Deeon
Dance Instruction: Imania Detry
Special Fourth of July Edition
Saturday, July 4, 5–6:30pm (Please note the time.)
Salsa
Music: Afinca’o
Dance Instruction: Latin Street
Part of the City of Chicago’s Fourth of July programming including the Virtual Chosen Few Picnic & House Music Festival (12–9pm at  chosenfewdjs.com ) and the Grant Park Music Festival’s virtual Independence Day Salute (6:30–7:30pm,  gpmf.org )
Wednesday, July 8, 5:30–7pm
Bollywood & Bhangra
Music: DJ iLLEST
Dance Instruction: Bollywood Groove
Wednesday, July 15, 5:30–7pm
Swing
Music: The Flat Cats
Dance Instruction: May I Have This Dance
Wednesday, July 22, 5:30–7pm
Cumbia
Music: Carpacho y Su Super Combo
Dance Instruction: Latin Rhythms
Wednesday, July 29, 5:30–7pm
Line Dancing
Music: DJ Chico (Adrian Kirkland)
Dance Instruction: Fre2Dance
 
Year of Chicago Music
Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) have designated 2020 and 2021 as the Year of Chicago Music. This citywide, year-long focus on music is one of the first of its kind in the U.S. The City of Chicago and its partners working with the local music industry will launch a marketing campaign for Chicago music; provide additional financial grants for musicians and music projects; encourage dialog around inclusion and equity; and call on civic, philanthropic, arts and business leaders to support the music industry. Recognizing that in response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the music industry has moved to #dostuffathome, DCASE is partnering with Do312 to highlight local music venues and musicians who are now sharing "Music in the Key of Chicago" on virtual platforms. Start exploring music in the key of Chicago at  yearofchicagomusic.org  and  do312.com/yearofchicagomusic , and join the conversation on social media using #YearofChicagoMusic and #ChicagoMusic.
The Department of Planning and Development (DPD) will open the  Small Business Improvement Fund  (SBIF) this summer for applications in 17  Tax Increment Financing  (TIF) districts.
Applications will be accepted for businesses located within the boundaries of the following TIF districts from 9 a.m. on Wednesday, July 15 to 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 14:
Applications will be accepted in the following TIF districts from 9 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 3 to 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 4:
The SBIF program uses revenue from TIF districts to help owners of commercial and industrial properties to repair or remodel their facilities for their own business or on behalf of tenants.
Program participants can receive grants for 25 to 75 percent of project costs, with a maximum grant of $100,000 for commercial properties and $150,000 for industrial properties. The grants are administered by SomerCor on the City's behalf and do not have to be repaid.
Learn More and Apply
DPD and SomerCor will host two webinars this summer to review program requirements and the application process:
  • 1 to 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, July 15 | Register
  • 1 to 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 5 | Register
Advance registration is recommended, however, the meetings can also be live streamed the day of the meeting on  DPD's YouTube page .
For additional information, including program rules and the application, visit  www.somercor.com/sbif . Questions can be directed to Silvia Orozco at  [email protected] .
June 26, 2020
City Of Chicago's Landmark Labor Laws Coming Into Effect July 1, 2020
Hundreds of thousands of workers will receive increased minimum wage and Fair Workweek protections on July 1; “City for Workers” campaign to ensure all workers are aware of their critical protections as they return to work in phase four

CHICAGO – Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot along with Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) Commissioner Rosa Escareno today reminded all of Chicago’s businesses and workers about the critical labor protections that are coming into effect on July 1, 2020. Under the new protections, the Chicago Fair Workweek Ordinance will give predictable schedules to low-income workers in certain industries throughout Chicago. Furthermore, Chicago’s minimum wage will increase from $13.00 to either $13.50 or $14.00 per hour, depending on the size of the business, on the path to $15.00 per hour by 2021. Together, these landmark labor laws reflect Mayor Lightfoot’s ongoing commitment to Chicago’s most vulnerable workers and are part of her mission to lift all Chicagoans out of poverty and economic hardship.
 
“These new protections are the result of a long-time collaboration between businesses, industry groups and other organizations across healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, and retail industries,” said Mayor Lightfoot. “Now more than ever, we must ensure that Chicago’s workers are not only protected but that they have the stability, fairness and reliability they deserve.”
 
With more than 200,000 workers going back to work in phase four of the Protecting Chicago reopening framework, Mayor Lightfoot and BACP today also launched the  “City for Workers” campaign . Through this effort, BACP’s Office of Labor Standards will use a data-driven approach to target communities with high proportions of essential and vulnerable workers covered by Chicago’s labor laws and to provide them with information and resources to take advantage of these protections. In addition to the new minimum wage and fair scheduling provisions, this campaign will inform residents of Paid Sick Leave requirements and the new  Anti-Retaliation Ordinance . Passed in May, this legislation prohibits employers from retaliating against workers for staying home while sick or exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19. 

"Chicago is proud to be a City for Workers,” said Rosa Escareno, BACP Commissioner. “We are committed to protecting and keeping safe our most vulnerable, and that commitment cannot waver even as we face unprecedented challenges. As we enter phase four, workers must know that the City has their back as they return to work.”
 
Starting July 1, the new minimum wage will be $14.00 per hour for employees at businesses with more than 20 employees, and $13.50 at businesses with four to 20 workers. There are also increased minimum wages for youth workers and tipped workers – details can be  found here . All Domestic Workers are also guaranteed Chicago’s minimum wage – even those working for employers with fewer than four workers. Furthermore, when tipped workers’ wages plus tips do not equal at least the minimum wage, their employer must make up the difference.
 
Also on July 1, the  Chicago Fair Workweek Ordinance  will require that employers in certain industries with over 100 total workers (250 for a restaurant or non-profit) provide predictable work schedules and pay workers if they make last-minute changes to their schedules. Employers will be required to provide work schedules to Covered Employees with 10 days’ notice and must pay a single hour’s additional wage for any hours added, changed, or cancelled with less than 10 days’ notice. They also must pay half of a worker’s wages for any hours cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice. Workers also have a right to decline unscheduled hours, and to decline hours that begin within 10 hours of the end of the previous day’s shift.
 
“These landmark protections for Chicago’s workers will provide stability and peace of mind to hundreds of thousands of Chicagoans,” said Susan Sadlowski Garza, 10th Ward Alderwoman and Chairwoman of the Committee on Workforce Development. “I am proud of the victories we have won and want to thank the Mayor and representatives of labor, businesses, industries and other organizations that came together to keep our workforce strong and safe. Getting to this point was truly a collaborative effort and an example what good government looks like.”

BACP implements, enforces and conducts outreach for Chicago’s labor laws through the Office of Labor Standards, created in 2019. Since 2019, BACP has received over 500 labor standards complaints and collected fines totaling $109,000 from 137 individual Paid Sick Leave and Minimum Wage cases. Throughout the COVID-19 outbreak and in preparation for these new labor laws, the Office has held over 25 webinars and trainings, including individual trainings for members of various industry groups. Additional webinars will be held next week to provide an overview of the new Fair Workweek and Minimum Wage regulations –  register and learn more here . This week, the Director of Labor Standards also sent a letter to all Chicago businesses to remind them of the new regulations effective July 1.
 
“The COVID pandemic has made it clear to everyone that many of the lowest paid workers are the most essential to keeping our city moving,” said Bob Reiter, President of the Chicago Federation of Labor. “On Wednesday, hundreds of thousands of Chicagoans will get a raise and protection from scheduling abuse at a time when they need it most. The Chicago labor movement is proud to be a part of the movement to pass these landmark pieces of legislation and ensure this city continues to stand on the side of working people.”
 
While it necessary to move forward with these critical labor protections, the City recognizes that the COVID-19 pandemic has placed significant challenges on Chicago’s businesses. In response, the City passed legislation to delay the Private Cause of Action section of the Fair Workweek Ordinance until January 2021. This will allow businesses to come into compliance with this new regulation without facing private lawsuits during the first six months. Additionally, the COVID-19 Pandemic Rule exempts work schedule changes that are specifically due to the pandemic from certain provisions of the Chicago Fair Workweek Ordinance.
 
To learn more about minimum wage, Fair Workweek, Anti-Retaliation and all Chicago labor laws, visit  chicago.gov/laborstandards .
 
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Applications are now open for the “Together Now” fund launched this month by Mayor Lightfoot to provide financial relief for Chicago small businesses and non-profits that have experienced economic distress due to COVID-19 or recent property damage. The application deadline is Monday, June 29.
 
Chicago businesses with property damage will be eligible for infrastructure grants up to $10,000 to help with repair costs. Businesses that have at least a 25 percent revenue loss due to COVID-19 will be eligible for operational grants up to $4,000 to help cover economic losses.
 
Each business owner is eligible to apply for one infrastructure grant and one operational grant. Select regional or national chain businesses, including franchises, branch banks and payday loan stores, are not eligible. Other restrictions apply.

The $15 million fund is supported by an initial commitment of $10 million from the City of Chicago, a $1 million contribution from Jewel-Osco, and several million dollars in additional private donations.
 
The initial round of grants is expected help more than 2,500 small businesses. Recipients will be selected through a lottery following the close of the application period a week from today.
 
For more information or to apply, visit  www.chicago.gov/togethernow . Anyone who wishes to make a tax deductible donation to the Together Now fund can do so on the  Chicago Community Trust's website . Together Now is a collaboration between the City of Chicago, the  Chicago Community Trust  and  One Chicago Fund .
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