Concerns about Businesses and COVID related guidelines?
- For businesses located south of Kreutzer Road, please contact the Kane County Health Department with any concerns or questions.
Ph: (630) 208-3801
Email: CovidConcerns@co.kane.il.us
Website: www.kanehealth.com
- For businesses located north of Kreutzer Road, please contact the McHenry County Department of Health with any concerns or questions.
Ph: (815) 334-4510
Website: www.mcdh.info
Kane County residents: To receive updated information about the COVID-19 vaccine distribution, please visit and sign up for updates at https://www.kanehealth.com/Pages/COVID-Vaccine.aspx
WILL FOLLOW TIER 2 RESURGENCE MITIGATIONS.
JANUARY 22 -
In the coming weeks, DCEO, Small Business Development Centers and community navigators will host more than 100 webinars to assist small businesses. Webinars will cover technical assistance and questions related to the PPP application, as well as provide informational resources for businesses seeking assistance on EIDL, and upcoming EIDL Advance loan and SVO grant programs. For a list of upcoming webinars, please visit the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity website.
JANUARY 18 -Today it was announced that Region 8 and 9 will be operating Under Phase 4 Guidelines with Tier 2 Resurgence Mitigations. McHenry County is part of Region 9, Kane County is part of Region 8. The Illinois Regional COVID-19 Resurgence Criteria for all regions may be viewed on the IDPH website here. Youth and Adult Recreational Sport guidance may be viewed here.
An overview of mitigations currently in effect, as well as an overview of guidelines for operating in Mitigation Tiers 1 through 3, can be found via this link. McHenry County is part of Region 9, Kane County is part of Region 8. Both regions are currently in Tier 3 Mitigation. The Illinois Regional COVID-19 Resurgence Criteria for all regions may be viewed on the IDPH website here.
Notice: Paycheck Protection Program resumes January 11, 2021. The Paycheck Protection Program is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll. SBA will forgive loans if all employee retention criteria are met and the funds are used for eligible expenses.
How To Apply: You can apply through any existing SBA 7(a) lender or through any federally insured depository institution, federally insured credit union, and Farm Credit System institution that is participating. Contact your lender for details. For additional information on the program, visit the SBA PPP page.
november 20 -
Beginning Friday, November 20, 2020 at 12:01am all Illinois regions will be operating under the Restore Illinois Phase 4 Tier 3 Resurgence Mitigation plan.
Details of the plan may be viewed here, additional information may be found on the Tier 3 Mitigation FAQ .
november 13 -
Governor JB Pritzker signed a new Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation extending the statewide declaration through Saturday, December 12. Additionally, Governor Pritzker signed Executive Order 2020-71 to extend all Phase 4 orders.
november 11 -
Tier 2 Resurgence Mitigations - effective 11/11/2020 for Region 8, which includes Kane County
Tier 1 Resurgence Mitigations - currently in effect for Region 9 (McHenry County)
NOVEMBER 3 INFORMATION FOR BUSINESSES -
Register here: https://illinois.webex.com/illinois/onstage/g.php... https://bit.ly/3l55eJn Register here: https://bit.ly/2TE3WZAOCTOBER 31 -
The Governor’s Office and IDPH have announced that Tier 1 enhanced mitigation measures go into effect Saturday, October 31 for Region 9 which includes McHenry County. More information about the mitigation efforts is available here.
The Governor’s Office and IDPH have announced that Tier 1 enhanced mitigation measures go into effect today, Friday, October 23, for Region 8 which includes Kane County. More information about the mitigation efforts is available here.
OCTOBER 16 -
Governor JB Pritzker signed a new Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation extending the statewide declaration through Saturday, November 14.
Additionally, Governor Pritzker signed Executive Order 2020-59 to extend all Phase 4 orders.
Governor JB Pritzker signed a new Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation (available via this link) extending the statewide declaration through Saturday, October 17. Additionally, Governor Pritzker signed Executive Order 2020-55 (available via this link) to extend all Phase 4 orders.
AUGUST 19 -
The State of Illinois today announced revised guidelines for restaurants and bar establishments statewide to operate safely and help prevent the spread of covid-19. New guidelines go into effect Wednesday, August 26th and will require face coverings to be worn both in indoor and outdoor dining settings in all eleven regions in the state. Full guidelines may be found on the department of commerce and economic opportunity (DCEO) website.
In recent days, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has announced emergency rules for businesses, schools, and child care establishments regarding the use of face coverings and the size of gatherings.
Governor JB Pritzker signed a new Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation extending the statewide declaration through Saturday, August 22. Additionally, Governor Pritzker signed Executive Order 2020-48 to extend all Phase 4 orders. All regions of the state remain in Phase 4 (Revitalization) of the “Restore Illinois” plan. For a region of the state to move into Phase 5 (Illinois Restored) a vaccine or effective treatment must be made available or the state must have seen an elimination of new cases over a sustained period of time through herd immunity or other factors.
All Phase 4 guidelines are available on the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s (DCEO) COVID-19 website via this link. DCEO is available to assist with inquiries regarding the Phase 4 guidelines by phone at (800) 252-2923 or by email at ceo.support@illinois.gov.
Mitigation Plan FAQ's may be viewed here.
JULY 15 -
Today, Governor JB Pritzker hosted a COVID-19 press briefing update highlighting a new mitigation plan to prevent a resurgence of COVID-19. The Governor’s mitigation plan is available via this link. During his press briefing, the Governor announced that the state would be modifying its regional boundaries to largely follow IDPH’s 11 Emergency Medical Services (EMS) regions. The Governor’s press release announcing today’s changes is available via this link. Mitigation Plan FAQ's may be viewed here.
JUNE 26 - ALL REGIONS ENTER PHASE 4 OF THE "RESTORE ILLINOIS" PLAN
Press Release announcing all regions move to Phase 4 effective June 26
With the entire state entering Phase 4 today, Governor JB Pritzker signed a new Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation extending the statewide disaster declaration through Saturday, July 25, 2020. Additionally, Governor Pritzker signed Executive Order 2020-43 , which supersedes the previous order to reflect the changes in Phase 4. Governor Pritzker also signed Executive Order 2020-44 extending previous executive orders.
PHASE 4 FAQ's FOR ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES
The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) has provided Phase 4 guidelines for businesses . These guidelines are intended to prepare businesses, employers and employees to implement new safety measures for reopening and returning to work. Each set of guidelines includes a common set of guidelines that are expected and encouraged among all employers and activity types, as well as workplace and program-specific guidelines. The guidelines may be viewed via the following link, Phase 4 Guidelines.
With the whole state entering Phase 3, Governor JB Pritzker announced an end to his Stay at Home Order. The Governor signed a Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation extending the statewide disaster declaration through Saturday, June 27, 2020. Additionally, the Governor signed Executive Order 2020-38, called the Community Recovery Order, which supersedes the previous Stay at Home Order to reflect the changes allowed in Phase 3. The Governor also signed Executive Order 2020-39 extending previous executive orders.
The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) has provided guidelines for businesses that are allowed to re-open under Phase 3. These guidelines are intended to prepare businesses, employers and employees to implement new safety measures for reopening and returning to work. Each set of guidelines includes a common set of guidelines that are expected and encouraged among all employers and activity types, as well as workplace and program-specific guidelines. The guidelines may be viewed via this link.
If you have read the industry safety guidelines above and have other specific questions or comments about how Phase 3 affects your business or employees, DCEO offers direct support via their Business Hotline Monday through Friday at 1-800-252-2923, or email at: ceo.support@illinois.gov. Additional information regarding the Restore Illinois plan may be found here.
Please be respectful of the guidelines in place for Phase 3 which continue to include social distancing parameters, face covering requirements, etc.
MAY 5 - THE "RESTORE ILLINOIS" PLAN is announced
On May 5, 2020, Governor JB Pritzker announced the creation of “Restore Illinois,” a five-phase plan to safely reopen the state’s economy. The five phases are: Rapid Spread, Flattening, Recovery, Revitalization and Illinois Restored. The five-phase plan is guided by public health metrics designed to provide a framework for reopening businesses, education and recreational activities in each phase. The Governor indicated that this initial plan can and will be updated as research and science develop and as effective treatments or vaccines are realized.
→More information about the Governor’s “Restore Illinois” plan is available in his press release via this link
→The Governor’s full “Restore Illinois” plan is available via this link
→Restore Illinois FAQ's
Do you have questions regarding essential and non-essential businesses? Please visit DCEO’s website www2.illinois.gov/dceo/Pages/EssentialBusiness.aspx or contact DCEO at 1-800-252-2923 or via email CEO.support@illinois.gov.
A MESSAGE FROM MAYOR SASS, MAY 12, 2020
We are eager to move forward and safely re-open our local economy. To that end, we have worked collectively with the other municipalities in McHenry County and McHenry County Board Chairman Jack Franks to ask the Governor to re-consider the inclusion of McHenry County within the Northeast Health Region, which includes Cook County, and to move us into another region. This would allow progressing through the Governor’s recovery phases on a quicker pace. This effort has involved putting together a plan for safely re-opening businesses in Huntley and throughout the county. We thank you for supporting our local businesses and encourage everyone to continue to do so.
Please review the following for additional details:
Press Release
Letter from Leaders of McHenry County
covid-19 related loan and grant options
A number of new programs, including loans and grants, have been put in place in response to COVID-19. The following information is meant to be a helpful starting point as you evaluate options for your business. Due to the evolving nature of these programs, it is recommended that you visit the source for the must current information. This list will be updated often with a goal of providing a comprehensive list of options, but may not be inclusive of all available options.
SBA LOAN PROGRAMS
Learn about the various programs offered by the US Small Business Administration (SBA) Coronavirus (COVID-19) in this helpful guide Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources.
SBA Loan Programs include:
- Paycheck Protection Program: Notice: Paycheck Protection Program has resumed as of January 11, 2021. The Paycheck Protection Program is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll. SBA will forgive loans if all employee retention criteria are met and the funds are used for eligible expenses. How To Apply: You can apply through any existing SBA 7(a) lender or through any federally insured depository institution, federally insured credit union, and Farm Credit System institution that is participating. Contact your lender for details. For additional information on the program, visit the SBA PPP page. Contact the local Small Business Development Center or other local assistance providers that provide free assistance and may assist in guiding you to lenders.
→PPP Loan Forgiveness: View and download information including the EZ Forgiveness Application and Full Forgiveness Application forms here.
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Date: January 22, 2021 Time: 10:00 am Presenter: Manny Lopez, Northeast Regional Manager of Regional Economic Development, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Registration Link: https://illinois.webex.com/illinois/onstage/g.php?MTID=eb01739b97eaf73664df45a0b7e990d2b
Date: January 22, 2021 Time: 3:30 pm Presenter: Jonathan McGee, Deputy Director of Regional Economic Development, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Registration Link: https://illinois.webex.com/illinois/onstage/g.php?MTID=e39d298cf474a94e70c0c2d35e35cf1d0
Date: January 27, 2021 Time: 10:00 am Presenter: Adrian Madunic Northwest Manager of Regional Economic Development, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Registration Link: https://illinois.webex.com/illinois/onstage/g.php?MTID=e85b6900be4491d39838cfd57d967a0e6
Date: January 27, 2021 Time: 2:00 pm Presenter: Aly Grady, Central Regional Manager of Regional Economic Development, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Registration Link: https://illinois.webex.com/illinois/onstage/g.php?MTID=e3c8bbc79169e3a786be04a5d8f258fc6
Date: January 28, 2021 Time: 2:00 pm Presenters: Austin Grammer, East Central Regional Manager of Regional Economic Development, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Aly Grady, Central Regional Manager of Regional Economic Development, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Registration Link: https://illinois.webex.com/illinois/onstage/g.php?MTID=ed8005fa88debb94a96ea12a02e0b0021
Date: January 29, 2021 Time: 10:30 am Presenter: Kim Watson, Senior Account Manager, Regional Economic Development, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Registration Link: https://illinois.webex.com/illinois/onstage/g.php?MTID=ed7e10b6cc3a057199437b9bd61eeaf13 Password: DCEO2021
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- SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loan program (EIDL): Provides low-interest loans of up to $2 million to small businesses and private non-profits affected by the coronavirus pandemic. SBA is currently accepting new Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications from all qualified small businesses, including agricultural businesses, and private nonprofit organizations.
- SBA Express Bridge Loan: Express Bridge Loan Pilot Program allows small businesses who currently have a business relationship with an SBA Express Lender to access up to $25,000 with less paperwork. If a small business has an urgent need for cash while waiting for decision and disbursement on Economic Injury Disaster Loan, they may qualify for an SBA Express Disaster Bridge Loan. Application and processing of this loan is through a SBA Preferred Lender - Find an Express Bridge Loan Lender by connecting with your local SBA District Office.
- SBA Debt Relief: For six months, the SBA will automatically pay the principal, interest and fees on current qualified loans and new qualified loans issued before Sept. 27, 2020. This relief is not available for Paycheck Protection Program loans or Economic Injury Disaster loans.
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The Shuttered Venue Operators (SVO) Grant program: Established by The Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act, signed into law on December 27, 2020. The program includes $15 billion in grants to shuttered venues, to be administered by the Small Business Administration’s Office of Disaster Assistance. Eligible applicants may qualify for SVO Grants equal to 45% of their gross earned revenue, with the maximum amount available for a single grant award of $10 million. $2 billion is reserved for eligible applications with up to 50 full-time employees.
Eligible entities include:
-Live venue operators or promoters
-Theatrical producers
-Live performing arts organization operators
-Relevant museum operators, zoos and aquariums who meet specific criteria
-Motion picture theater operators
-Talent representatives, and
-Each business entity owned by an eligible entity that also meets the eligibility requirements
- Main Street Loan Program - As a result of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief & Economic Security (CARES) Act, the Federal Reserve has created the Main Street Lending Program to provide a total of $600 billion in financing for small and medium-sized businesses. Among other eligibility criteria, an eligible business must have no more than 15,000 employees or 2019 annual revenues of no more than $5 billion. Applications are handled by an eligible lender (U.S. federally-insured depository institutions ((including banks, savings associations, and credit unions)) as well as any U.S. branch or affiliate of a foreign bank.) This is a non-forgivable loan. Loan amounts are between $250,000 and $35 million.
- Go Fund Me - Small Business Relief Initiative - Small businesses that have been negatively impacted by the coronavirus crisis can sign up on GoFundMe to start a fundraiser to benefit their small business. If a small business raises $500 on their GoFundMe and meets eligibility criteria listed below, they may be considered to receive a $500 matching grant from the Small Business Relief Fund.
- Professional Beauty Association (PBA) COVID-19 RELIEF FUND - The PBA COVID-19 Relief Fund will provide $500 to licensed beauty professionals who are unable to work due to COVID-19.
- Kane County Coronavirus Relief Fund - Application window for Round 2 has closed.
- McHenry County Immediate Business Relief Grant Program: Application window closed as of January 15, 2021 at 10:00 AM CST (EXTENDED DEADLINE). Additional resources are available at http://www.resumemchenrycounty.com/
- BIG Grant, Illinois Business Interruption Grant Notice: The application period for this program closed on December 15, 2020. https://www2.illinois.gov/dceo/SmallBizAssistance/Pages/C19DisadvantagedBusGrants.aspx
- Illinois Small Business Emergency Loan Fund: Applications for the Illinois Small Business Emergency Loan Fund are no longer being accepted at this time. 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.
Enter your email address here if you would like to be notified as soon as Accion resumes accepting new applications.
- McHenry County Small Business Stabilization Grant Program - The pre-application window is now closed, as of May 08, 2020 at 4:30 PM (CDT). Only small businesses that submitted complete pre-applications before the deadline were invited to a full application via a link to an online application portal. The full application that will open the morning of Monday, May 11, 2020 and close on Friday, May 15, 2020 at 4:00pm (CDT). If a small business successfully pre-applied and did not receive a full application weblink, or requires assistance through the full application process, please reach out to Andrew Stuckey at ACStuckey@mchenrycountyil.gov.
- Hospitality Emergency Grant Program - The application window has closed. Grant winners will be contacted directly by Accion. Bars and restaurants with a valid license to serve food or liquor and who generated revenues of less than $1 million in 2019 are eligible for grants between $10,000-$50,000 based on stated revenue thresholds.
- Facebook Small Business Grants Program - Applications are no longer being accepted at this time. Facebook is offering $100M in cash grants and ad credits for up to 30,000 eligible small businesses.
- The Red Backpack Fund - Applications are no longer being accepted at this time. The Red Backpack Fund is an initiative started by The Spanx by Sara Blakely Foundation. The foundation donated $5 million to GlobalGiving to establish The Red Backpack Fund. GlobalGiving will be making at least 1,000 grants of $5,000 each to female entrepreneurs in the U.S. to help alleviate the immediate needs and support the long-term recovery of those impacted by this crisis.
- Business for All Grant or COVID-19 Emergency Grant - As of November 10, 2020, the Business for All Grant application has officially closed. Business for All is a national movement to lift up 100,000 small business owners to receive funding and mentorship. By completing the application below, you’re eligible to receive up to $50,000 in grant funding.
- Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity - Resources for Small Businesses Impacted by COVID-19
- Illinois Department of Employment Security - COVID-19 and Unemployment Benefits
- IRS Taxpayer information
- Illinois Taxpayer Information
- ComEd Small Business Assistance - Small-business customers can visit ComEd.com/SmallBizAssistance or call 1-877-4-COMED-1 (1-877-426-6331) to learn more or apply for the Small Business Assistance Program.
- Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19
- Center for Disease Control, Guides for Business and Employers
- Huntley Area Chamber of Commerce
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce Coronavirus Business Resource Center
- SCORE Mentors
- Illinois Small Business Development Center
- ResumeMcHenryCounty.com
FOR THE COMMUNITY:
- Village of Huntley
- State of Illinois, Illinois Department of Health Coronavirus
- McHenry County COVID-19 Community Resource Page
- ResumeMcHenryCounty.com
- Kane County
- The United Way's 2-1-1 Community Help Line
- Help for Illinois Families: Relief for Households Across the State
- ComEd Residential customers can apply for Helping Hand grants at ComEd.com/PaymentAssistance.
- Nicor Energy Assistance Programs
- Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) COVID-19 Housing Resources Information
- ComEd Bill Payment Assistance Program - Program has closed.
Vaccination Updates:
Kane County residents: To receive updated information about the COVID-19 vaccine distribution, please visit and sign up for updates at https://www.kanehealth.com/Pages/COVID-Vaccine.aspx . For questions about the COVID Vaccine, contact the Kane County Health Department at COVIDVaccine@co.kane.il.us
In this time of ongoing change, it is critical that your customers are informed. Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc), Websites and Email blasts are all helpful tools that can quickly communicate changes:
- Are you open or closed?
- Have your hours changed? Or, are you available by appointment only?
- How have your delivery and/or pick-up procedures been modified?
- How have your cleaning, check-out, store setup and/or other procedures changed due to COVID-19?
- Do you have any specials/promotions?
- Do you stock a hard to find item?
Shop. Eat. Play. Huntley!
