Today is Juneteenth. On this day in 1865, the last group of slaves in Galveston, Texas finally got word that slavery had ended. That was two and half years after President Abraham Lincoln delivered the Emancipation Proclamation.

We all know that African Americans will not truly be free until we end the institutional racism that is plaguing our state and country. Let's continue to work toward true equality and justice. A good first step is to be counted. Learn more and complete your census survey today: https://my2020census.gov/ 

Join us for a Juneteenth Celebration this FRIDAY, 11:00 a.m. -1:00 p.m. at 83rd and Ellis. Free lunch, masks and census outreach!

The Chicago Resiliency Fund is a cash assistance program to support Chicago residents who were excluded from federal stimulus aid in response to COVID-19. The fund will provide $1,000 per household for eligible Chicagoans. Applications will begin to be accepted on June 22. Details and application are here: https://resurrectionproject.org/chicagofund/

• Resources list – The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has put together a list of many resources available to small businesses. Learn more at: dceocovid19resources.com/for-businesses/   
• Small business loans – The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering assistance loans to affected businesses. More information here: www.sba.org
• Cannabis business license applications – IDFPR is allowing applications via certified mail, rather than in person. Learn more here: https://www2.illinois.gov/Pages/Executive-Orders/ExecutiveOrder2020-33.aspx
• Automatic license extensions – IDFPR is automatically renewing all licenses that would normally expire between March 1 and July 31 until September 30. Continuing education that would normally be required to be completed in person can also be done online. The governor has issued executive orders that provide similar opportunities to cannabis businesses, private security and fingerprint vendors. Find more here: https://www.idfpr.com
• Expedited Critical Access Pharmacy Payments – Comptroller Mendoza has expedited payments to pharmacies in underserved rural communities. illinoiscomptroller.gov/news/press-releases/comptroller-mendoza-releases-payments-to-critical-access-pharmacies/   
• Business insurance complaints – Business owners with concerns about their business insurance coverage that need additional help can contact the Department of Insurance. https://mc.insurance.illinois.gov/messagecenter.nsf
• Advantage Illinois and FAME loan recipients – The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is encouraging lenders to provide relief to borrowers. Read more here: https://www2.illinois.gov/dceo/SmallBizAssistance
• Student teaching – Allows college students to get teaching certificates without student teaching due to the remote learning requirement. Similar provisions are in place for other educator licenses. Learn more: https://www2.illinois.gov/Pages/Executive-Orders/ExecutiveOrder2020-31.aspx