COVID-19 Information

COVID-19 Information covid-19 information
The Village of Huntley has compiled a list of resources and important information for businesses in the Huntley area including Loan and Grant Options.  This page will be updated as new information becomes available, so please check back often.  Follow HuntleyFirst on LinkedIn for additional resources and information. 

Concerns about Businesses and COVID related guidelines? 
- For businesses located south of Kreutzer Road, please contact the Kane County Health Department. 
Ph: (630) 208-3801  |  Email: CovidConcerns@co.kane.il.us  |  Web:  www.kanehealth.com
- For businesses located north of Kreutzer Road, please contact the McHenry County Department of Health.
Ph: (815) 334-4510  |  Website: www.mcdh.info

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april 19-
The new U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) will be opening soon, providing funding to eligible bars, restaurants, and food service businesses to cover pandemic-related revenue losses. These forgivable funds can be used for payroll, mortgage/rent, supplies, and many other operating expenses. The SBA is not currently accepting RRF applications, but application preparation is available. Priority will be given to women, veteran, and socially/economically disadvantaged business owners. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3gom6uM  Sign up to receive email alerts from SBA as additional information about the Restaurant Revitalization Fund becomes available.

march 30-
The SBA has extended the PPP application date until May 31, 2021. The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on payroll. Borrowers may be eligible for PPP loan forgiveness.
1. Find a lender: Discuss with your banker or  Search for lenders in your area
2. Identify a loan: 
First Draw PPP loans: If you have not received a PPP loan before, First Draw PPP loans are available to you.

Second Draw PPP loans: If you have previously received a PPP loan, certain businesses are eligible for a Second Draw PPP loan.
SBA also offers additional COVID-19 relief.

march 18-

Today, Governor JB Pritzker announced a plan to transition from Phase 4 to Phase 5 of the Restore Illinois plan. The “Bridge” transition period is further desribed in the Press Release available via this link.  At this time the entire state remains in Phase 4. When 70% of the state’s population aged 65+ has received at least one dose of a vaccine, Illinois will move into the “Bridge” transition period. The “Bridge” transition period restrictions are available via this link,  many of which allow for higher capacity limits and increased business operations.  After a 28-day monitoring of the “Bridge” transition period, the state will be eligible to move into Phase 5 only if/when 50% or more of Illinois residents aged 16+ have received at least one dose of a vaccine. Phase 5 will remove capacity restrictions and other regulations in place under previous mitigations and during the “Bridge” transition period. Bridge FAQ 's may be viewed here.
For current phase/status information, see the Regional Phase Dashboard.

march 16-

The U.S. Small Business Administration announced extended deferment periods for all disaster loans, including the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, until 2022.
 - All SBA disaster loans made in calendar year 2020, including COVID-19 EIDL, will have a first payment due date extended from 12-months to 24-months from the date of the note.
 - All SBA disaster loans made in calendar year 2021, including COVID-19 EIDL, will have a first payment due date extended from 12-months to 18-months from the date of the note.

february 3 -

Region 8 (Kane), and Region 9 (McHenry) are moving to Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois Plan effective today. The Illinois Regional COVID-19 Resurgence Criteria for all regions may be viewed on the IDPH website here.  A Phase 4 Guidelines Overview can be found on the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity website.

JANUARY 26 -

Today it was announced that Region 8 and 9 will be operating Under Phase 4 Guidelines with Tier 1 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.

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.

september 18 -
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.

july 24 -
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.

May 29 - phase 3 (recovery) of the "restore illinois" plan
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.

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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

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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. 

• Paycheck Protection Program:  Notice: Paycheck Protection Program resumed as of January 11, 2021. The application period runs until May 31, 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.   

• • First Draw PPP Loans: If you have not received a PPP loan before, First Draw PPP Loans are available to you.
  • Second Draw PPP Loans: If you have previously received a PPP loan, certain businesses are eligible for a Second Draw PPP Loan.

• SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loan program (EIDL): The SBA announced that loans approved starting the week of April 6, 2021 will see the maximum possible loan amount increased to $500,000.  For loans approved prior to the week of April 6, 2021, please click here for information from SBA on loan increases. The SBA is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses and non-profit organizations that are suffering substantial economic injury as a result of COVID-19.  These loans may be used to pay debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact, and that are not already covered by a Paycheck Protection Program loan. The interest rate is 3.75% for small businesses and 2.75% for non-profits. The first payment is deferred for one year.  Applicants must be physically located in the U.S. or designated territory and suffered working capital losses due to the coronavirus pandemic, not due to a downturn in the economy or other reasons.  Eligible applicants include the following:
  • Businesses with 500 or fewer employees or defined as small per SBA.gov/SizeStandards
  • Cooperatives with 500 or fewer employees
  • Agricultural enterprises with 500 or fewer employees
  • Most private nonprofits
  • Faith-based organizations
  • Sole proprietorships and independent contractors

  The deadline to apply for this program has been extended to December 31, 2021.  The SBA has also extended deferment periods for all disaster loans including EIDL until 2022.  All SBA disaster loans made in calendar year 2020, including COVID-19 EIDL, will have a first payment due date extended from 12-months to 24-months from the date of the note.  All SBA disaster loans made in calendar year 2021, including COVID-19 EIDL, will have a first payment due date extended from 12-months to 18-months from the date of the note.  For more information and the application, please click here to go to the SBA’s website.

• 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. 

• The Shuttered Venue Operators (SVO) Grant program: This program is expected to go live in April. 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. There are two requirements of note for this program.  First, the business must have been in operation as of Feb. 29, 2020.  Second, the venue or promoter must not have received a PPP loan on or after Dec. 27, 2020.  To follow updates on this program, please click here to go to the SBA’s website. 
  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

• 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/
• Uber Eats Restaurant Grant Program The program closed on Sunday, February 28 at 11:59PM ET. The Restaurant Grant Program offers grants of $5,000 to Uber Eats or Postmates restaurant partners to help meet their most immediate needs.
• Main Street Loan Program - The Program terminated on January 8, 2021. 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.
• 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. 

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Additional Resources

• 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

McHenry County residents: To receive updated information about the COVID-19 vaccine distribution, please visit and sign up for MCDH e-notifications. Instructions on how to sign up and other frequently asked questions about the vaccine are available on MCDH's COVID-19 Vaccine page .

• 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? 

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Huntley Businesses Step Up… a shout out to Huntley businesses helping the cause

Do you know of a Huntley business who has stepped up to help the cause during this pandemic?
Tell us about it. Please email mstocker@huntley.il.us We’d love to hear about it!