Mayor Irvin's Weekly Update - December 8, 2020

Tuesday, December 8, 2020

HEALTHCARE HERO: Rush-Copley ICU Nurse, Carol Williams, received the Mayor's Award of Excellence for your efforts to inform the community - locally and nationally - about the seriousness of Covid-19. Carol's viral Facebook post has generated conversations about the topic and attracted local, regional and national media. Carol represents the thousands of our healthcare heroes who put their lives on the line to make sure others are cared for during their most critical time. Watch her interviews and videos, including Mayor Irvin's recitation of her Facebook post, on the City's YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/CityofAuroraIllinois.

One of the most effective ways to combat the spread of COVID-19 in our community is to WEAR A MASK! It is one of the important 3 Ws: Wear a mask, Watch your distance and Wash your hands. Free masks are available to individuals, families, large groups and organizations.

Learn more at www.aurora-il.org/MaskUpAurora.

TOTAL AURORA COVID CASES: 13,555

TOTAL AURORA COVID DEATHS: 178

(As of December 8, 2020)

ICU nurse on the frontlines: ‘Everybody is stretched… it’s a day to day battle’

Carol Williams is an ICU nurse who has been on the frontlines fighting COVID-19 in Aurora, Illinois. In her second appearance on MSNBC, she speaks with MSNBC’s Ali Velshi about her experiences and why everyone should take this virus seriously

APD and Social Workers Answer Calls Together

Through the Crisis Intervention Team Enhanced (CITE) program, Aurora Police Officers are collaborating with social workers to respond to 911 calls together.

Aurora Area Retired Teachers Keep Serving

The educators of the Aurora Area Retired Teachers Association continue their legacy of giving back to the community! When the pandemic prohibited them from gathering for their annual event, they pivoted and turned it a drive-thru donation event

Proposed Aurora 2021 budget about $33 million lower than in 2020

The proposed 2021 Aurora city budget is about $33 million lower than in 2020. The about $444 million proposed budget includes about $38.2 million in budget carry-overs from the 2020 budget, things that were held to offset revenue decreases caused by the pandemic.

Aurora grants almost $700,000 to city businesses impacted by pandemic

An Aurora program has granted about $700,000 to city businesses impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. The Standing Together with Aurora Businesses Local Emergency, or STABLE, fund granted $691,713 to 46 businesses.

Plan to replace Sears store with apartments gets OK from Aurora City Council

The Aurora City Council has given the go-ahead to a plan to build apartment buildings on the former Sears site at Fox Valley Mall. The council voted unanimously Nov. 24 to rezone the site, and allow three buildings, each three stories tall. They would contain a total of 304 studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments.

Residents can apply to join Aurora’s police Civilian Review Board

Interested residents can now apply to become a member of Aurora’s first-ever police Civilian Review Board, charged with the task of reviewing police misconduct complaints. The online membership application for the board opened Tuesday and will run through noon Dec. 22. Residents can apply at www.aurora-il.org/CRB.

Chief of Staff in Aurora Aldermen’s Office retiring

People who think public government meetings are boring should talk to Sandra Strueber. The chief of staff in Aurora’s Aldermen’s Office, who is retiring, has attended almost every Aurora City Council meeting for the past 13½ years – and she likes it.

From classic trains to ‘Star Wars,’ downtown Aurora window art looks to brighten holiday season

Local artists have come together to offer some unique holiday windows at nearly three dozen businesses in downtown Aurora to help brighten up the season despite the ongoing pandemic. The Aurora Downtown group helped organize the display called Aurora Express.

KANE COUNTY BUSINESS GRANT PROGRAM

Kane County is now accepting grant applications from businesses under Round Two of its CRF Business Grant Program. The Kane County Board has allocated $5 million for this initiative. The county has streamlined the process for Round Two in order to assist as many businesses as possible. Businesses that participated in Round One may apply under Round Two, provided they have eligible expenses that were not already reimbursed by the county or another source of financial assistance.

Learn more and apply at: https://www.countyofkane.org/Pages/CRF.aspx

STATE OF ILLINOIS BUSINESS INTERRUPTION GRANTS

The State of Illinois Business Interruption Grant (BIG) program is a program developed to provide economic relief for small businesses and non-profits hit hardest by COVID-19. Funding may be used to help businesses with working capital expenses, including payroll costs; rent; utilities; and other operational costs as defined in the eligible cost list found below. Round 2 of the BIG Grants is currently underway and accepting applications.

Learn more and apply at: https://www2.illinois.gov/dceo/SmallBizAssistance/Pages/C19DisadvantagedBusGrants.aspx