Covid19 | Monticello Chamber of Commerce

COVID 19 Information

INFORMATION FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS

Check the IL Status of all things COVID-19

Here is Guidance from Dewitt Piatt Bi-County Health Department for everyone in relation to the recent Stay at Home Order.

Various Guidance documents for public, organizations and businesses here.

How can you help your local businesses?

Follow Social distancing guidelines and stay home as much as possible.
Buy Local. Find out if your favorite local store has an online shop or reach out to htem to find out how you can purchase now for pickup later.
Buy Gift Cards to use later.
Take online virtual classes from your favorite local businesses.
Get takeout/delivery - Tip big!
- Consider buying lunch/dinner for the first responders, you will hlep your local restaurnats and the people who serve us all.
- Buy gift cards from local businesses for your favorite waiter/waitress/bartender/teacher/first responder.
Like and share your favorite local businesses social media post.
- Once you've purchased a gift card or meal, take a picture of it, share it on your social media and hastag #makeitmonticello
Maintain your memberships
Check out the Chamber Director for a one-stop shop in shopping small!

Need more gift cards for Teacher's Appreciation Day, Healthcare Worker appreciate, Mother's Day, Birthdays, or just because?? CLICK HERE

Want to donate to the Monticello Area Small Business Micro-Grant Fund? CLICK HERE

INFORMATION FOR WORKERS, SOLE PROPRIETORS, 1099 EMPLOYEES

Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) for Unemployment Insurance

INFORMATION FOR BUSINESSES IN MONTICELLO

We encourage all businesses to take time to update their website, social media, google and other search medium information. Additionally, take time to go the chamber website and update your information there. Your username is your email address, if you’ve forgotten your password, choose forgot password to reset it. Scroll to the bottom of the page for links to important information sources.

Health Guidance from our Illinois Department of Health for each business type can be found here.

Illinois and Federal tax day has been moved to July 15th. Please contact your tax preparer about if you should go ahead and submit your taxes or wait. The sales tax due date are not exactly the same so be sure you know your requirements!

Please take time to understand what is considered essential business and what is not. Non-essential business's are ordered to cease all operations except: a. The minimum necessary activities to maintain the value of the business's inventory, preserve the condition of the business's physicial plant and equipment, ensure security, process payroll and employee benefits, or for related functions. b. The minimum necessary activities to facilitate employees of the busines being able to continue to work remotely from their residences. Governor's Exective Order (Stay at Home) Here is a Flowchart to help you deterimine your status. Here is a FAQ on essential businesses from the DCEO. If you still have a question if what you are doing is "essential" or allowable, you should contact the Illinois Department of Commerce. Be sure to keep the contact person's name in case the Health Department has questions for them later.

If you are an essential business it is critical that you take the appropriate measures to ensure the safety of you remployees and customers by following guidance and social distancing recommendations by local, stte and federal agencies.

Measures include, but are not limited to:

encourage workers to stay home if sick and /or send sick employees home,
asessing the health of workers upon arrival and during work, including feaver, cough, shortness of breath,
providing extra opportunity for hand-washing or sanitizing, requiring use of PPE where necessary (cloth face masks and gloves),
maintaining seperation (social distancing) from other workers,
promote the use of cashless purchases,
limit sharing of tools and equipment,
regularly clean adn disinfect surfaces, equipment, and other elements of the work enviornment,
post signs informing customers of the steps your store is taking to prevent COVID-19,
employees who interact with the public should have a barrier between them and the customers,
and encouraging measures to be taken by workers as they leave the workplace for th day and return to their homes, such as taking off shoes and changing clothes immediately.

Restaurants/Bars & 3rd Party Delivery Services should review and implement these tips.

Grocery Stores should review and implement these tips.

GRANTS AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Small Business Loans are available through the Small Business Administration's Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program. For assistance completing applications contact the Champaign SBDC office. They are our district's contact point. They also host webinars regularly.

Department of Commerce and Economic Oppurtunity (DCEO) has announced several emergency assistance programs:

DCEO and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) are establishing the Illinois Small Business Emergency Loan Fund to offer small businesses low interest loans of up to $50,000. To learn more and apply go here.
To support businessing Downstate and rural countyies across IL, DCEO repurposed $20 million in CDBG funds to stand up the Downstate Small Business Stabilization Program. It will offer small businesses of up to 50 employees the oppurtunity to parther with the local government to obtain grants of up to $25,000 in working capital. The find out more information contact Callie McFarland at cjm@cityofmonticello.net
Illinois Small Business COVID-19 Relief Program - is and impact investment loan program under which the State Treasurer has made up to $250 million in deposits available to financial institutions throughout the state, at near-zero rates, to assist Illinois small business and non-profits negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Arts for Illinois is a collaboration between the City of Chicago, the STate of Illinois, private philanthropy and YOU to support the arts community during the COVID-19 crisis.

SBA- Experess Bridge Loans: The Express Bridge Loan Pilot Program allows small bsuinesses that currently have a relationship with an SBA Lenter to access $25,000 with less paperwork.

CARES Act - Paycheck Protection Program: The Act established a $349 billion Paycheck Protection Program, which will provice much needed relief to millions of small businesses so they can sustain tehir businesses and keep their workers employed. Use this SBA tool to find a nearby lender eligible to issue a loan under teh PPP.

US Chamber of Commerce Foundation has a grant being release April 20th, however Monticello business won't qualify. Businesses addressed in Bement, Cisco and White Heath could...so take a look! HERE

Facebook and Google are both offering assistance in various ways:

Facebook Small Business Grants Program

Google for Small Business

Ameren Illinois: In response to the economic hardships that residential and business customers may experience due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ameren is suspending all disconnections for non-payment and forgiving any late payment fees for residential and business customers. Normal billing for customers’ usage will continue as usual but if you are having difficulty paying your bill, please contact their Customer Care team.