• 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

Social distancing is understandably weighing on many. Join NAMI Chicago, local youth and myself to discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting young people. We'll be live on my Facebook page, http://facebook.com/SenElgieSims17, on Thursday at 6 p.m.

The city of Chicago has established a COVID-19 Response Center as a way to take extra precaution to prevent the spread of coronavirus through a densely populated city-center. The website for the Response Center can be found by clicking here.

The city encourages fighting stigma and fear by understanding the facts about COVID-19 and taking the effective precautionary steps recommended by health professionals. Support people returning from COVID-19 quarantine and help reduce the spread of rumors by letting people know that viruses cannot target people from specific populations, ethnicities, or racial backgrounds. More information can be found here. 

I have also been actively speaking with aldermen from around the district in an effort to facilitate cooperation at a state and local level to ensure our community has the resources it needs. You can find more information about your local ward by clicking the name of your alderman in the list below:

• Ward 6: Alderman Roderick Sawyer
• Ward 7: Alderman Gregory L. Mitchell
• Ward 9: Alderman Anthony Beale
• Ward 8: Alderman Michelle Harris
• Ward 10: Alderman Susan Sadlowski Garza
• Ward 17: Alderman David Moore
• Ward 21: Alderman Howard Brookins Jr.

CPS is providing meals to families until schools reopen. The meal sites are open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and are open to any CPS student. The meal site locations are subject to change, and we will keep you updated with the accurate and current information should that occur. Click here or refer to the graphic below to find your nearest meal site.