SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Rep. Greg Harris and Sen. Elgie Sims – co-chairs of the Joint Commission on Ethics and Lobbying Reform – released the following statement Tuesday regarding ongoing efforts to enact meaningful ethics reform in Illinois:
“The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated that we all put the health and safety of our state and our communities first. The Joint Commission on Ethics and Lobbying Reform remains committed to our task of developing recommendations for meaningful reforms to the way lobbyists and elected officials conduct themselves. We have completed our meetings, heard from stakeholders and are working through the proposals that have been put before us. However, due to the ongoing crisis, more time will be necessary to complete our work. We still hold the goal of completing our work and contemplating any potential legislation during the spring legislative session as long as the health and safety of those involved are not put at risk. We look forward to working with our Republican colleagues and others on the joint commission to complete our work and begin restoring trust in government.
“We all want to thank the doctors, nurses and first responders who are working tirelessly to fight this deadly virus, and all those putting their lives in danger to ensure our loved ones stay safe and healthy.”
A report from the joint commission was initially due by the end of March, but that deadline was established before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
Today the governor extended the Stay at Home Order until April 30. This means schools and non-essential businesses will remain closed and you should stay at home as much as possible. You’re not just protecting yourself, you’re protecting your community.
IDES has implemented several measures to streamline the filing process. These include improving the website’s infrastructure to increase capacity, extending call center hours and increasing call center staff.
In addition to these measures, IDES is now implementing a new alphabetized schedule, as seen in the above graphic, to help reduce wait times for claims filed both online and over the phone. The day or time of day you call will not affect whether you receive benefits or your benefit amount.
You can file your unemployment insurance claim online here. To file your claim over the phone, you can call 1-800-244-5631. Although this new schedule is expected to improve this process, you may still experience some wait time to file your claim. Thank you for your patience as IDES works through the large volume of claims they are receiving.
Gov. Pritzker announced new Illinois state programs for emergency assistance for Illinois’s small business community, augmenting aid from existing federal programs. Applications are available now for the Hospitality Emergency Grant Program and the Illinois Small Business Emergency Loan Fund.
The Hospitality Emergency Grant Program can help hospitality businesses-- like hotels, motels, bars, and restaurants-- make ends meet during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program offers $14 million to support working capital, like payroll and rent, as well as job training and technology to enable shifts in operations, like increased pick-up and delivery.
Business owners can find more information on the program here, and can submit an application here. A Spanish-language application is available here.
Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. on April 1. Winners will be chosen via a lottery system, so there is no benefit to submitting an application early as long as a valid, complete application is received by the deadline.
DCEO and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) will establish the Illinois Small Business Emergency Loan Fund to offer low-interest loans of up to $50,000 to struggling small businesses.
Eligible businesses can submit a full application here beginning April 1. DCEO and IDFPR aim to make a loan decision within ten days of the submission date and make funds available within two days of receiving necessary bank information from the loan recipient.
Small businesses located outside the City of Chicago with fewer than 50 workers and less than $3 million in revenue in 2019 may apply.
Small businesses within the City of Chicago can apply to a similar loan program here.
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Chicago Office:
8233 S. Princeton
Chicago, IL 60620
PHONE: 773.933.7715
TEXT: 773.839.4737
Springfield Office:
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Springfield, IL 62706
PHONE: 217.782.3201
