Community News
Updates, announcements, and insights from the Chamber and local business community.
Illinois Governor Announces COVID-19 Mitigation Updates
Following a decrease in Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic test positivity rates and hospitalizations throughout our state, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker announced today that regions across the state are now eligible to move out of Tier 3 mitigations—the strictest tier of Illinois’ Resurgence Mitigation Plan—initially implemented shortly before Thanksgiving.
IRA Seeks Support To Reopen Limited Indoor Dining
The Illinois Restaurant Association (IRA) is seeking support in urging Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and state leaders to take a more pragmatic approach to Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic mitigations that allow for limited indoor dining that will protect the public health of patrons, while saving the livelihoods of restaurants and bars, and their employees.
SBA Reopens PPP Loans For Small Businesses, NFPs
The United States Small Business Administration (SBA) today (January 11) reopened the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan portal featuring website updates with new details including the application form and the Interim Final Rule for the program changes recently signed into law with the $9 billion Emergency Coronavirus Relief Act.
ECCI President/CEO Delivers Annual ‘State of Our Chamber’ Address
Quite simply, the Coronavirus Pandemic of 2020 ranks as the most-challenging of times over my 21-year tenure as ECCI’s President and CEO and three decades of Chamber service—more so than the Great Recession of 2007-09 or even the 9-11 terrorist attacks of 2001, which unfolded while our Board of Directors were attending their regular monthly meeting in Community Bank of Elmhurst’s Hammersmith Community Room.
Mayor to Deliver ‘State of Our City’ Via YouTube Live on January 14
Two-term Elmhurst Mayor Steve Morley will deliver his eighth and final “State of Our City” Mayoral Address from event co-sponsor Community Bank of Elmhurst’s second-floor Hammersmith Community Room on Thursday, January 14, at 8 a.m. via the City’s YouTube page at youtube.com/elmhursttv.
President’s Message for January of 2021
Late last Sunday, U.S. President Donald J. Trump ended his threat of a veto (or, worse, pocket veto) and signed into law the $900 billion federal relief package that both the U.S. House of Representatives and then U.S. Senate passed by an overwhelming majority six days earlier.
$900B Federal Relief Package Expands PPP Eligibility To Chambers
Last on December 21, the United States House of Representatives and then U.S. Senate passed the Omnibus Appropriations and Emergency Coronavirus Relief Act (House Resolution 133) by an overwhelming majority in both Congressional chambers, appropriating another $900 billion in financial assistance to small businesses—including chambers of commerce, trade association and other 501(c)(6) not-for-profit organizations—unemployed workers and individual income taxpayers.
Governor Extends Restore Illinois Enhanced Mitigations
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker on December 12 signed a new Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation extending his statewide declaration through January 9, 2021, and signed Executive Order 2020-74 to extend Restore Illinois Tier 3 enhanced mitigations, in response to an increase in Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic cases.
President’s Message for December of 2020
As part of today’s many Giving Tuesday appeals, the ECCI Centennial Celebration NFP—an Internal Revenue Service (IRS)-designated 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization—is asking for your tax-deductible support for our Civic Hall of Fame Public Memorial Fund, Second Century Fund and/or Ralph P. Pechanio Student Internship Endowment Fund at Elmhurst University.
Governor Imposes Restore Illinois Tier 3 COVID-19 Restrictions
Citing the latest Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) data on the resurgence of Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic cases across the state, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker on November 18 announced that all of Illinois will move back to Restore Illinois Tier 3 mitigations, effective November 21 at 12:01 a.m.
DuPage County Commits $2.5M More in COVID-19 Restaurant Relief
The DuPage County Board of Commissioners today approved a resolution authorizing $2.5 million in additional funding for a second phase of the DuPage County Small Business Relief Program designating $15,000 Reinvest DuPage grants specifically for county restaurants and food service establishments.
ComEd Provides Small Business COVID-19 Assistance
The Governmental Affairs Committee of the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce and Industry is sharing information from ComEd on new assistance programs to help both small businesses and residential customers who are facing financial difficulties during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic crisis, as follows:
