Dear Members:
Following Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker’s March 13 coronavirus (COVID-19)-related order closing all restaurants and bars, as well as all schools, effective March 17 through March 30, City of Elmhurst officials contacted the our Chamber to request input and support in assisting this directly-impacted segment of our business community.
Our restaurants and bars will have until the end of today to do dine-in business as usual, and then will be limited to serving customers via a drive-thru window (if so permitted), delivery service and curbside pickup.
I am asking our restaurants and bars to share me with any suggestions for how the City may be able to help, such as the designation of “express pick-up” parking spaces in districts where businesses rely mostly on-street parking.
Our Chamber will draft press releases detailing how restaurants and bars will serve their customers, posting to the website and sharing via social media (Facebook and Twitter). The City also has offered its assistance in spreading the word.
Some restaurants and bars have already taken steps to promote their non-dine-in options. For example, Red Arrow Tap Room in downtown Elmhurst is marketing both curbside takeout and delivery.
Elmhurst City Hall Exposure
The City was notified on March 13 that a family member of an employee working at Elmhurst City Hall was exposed to an individual with a confirmed case of COVID-19. The employee and employee’s relative are under self-quarantine at home and not showing any signs of the coronavirus. Click HERE for more information.
The March 17 “Everyone Counts, Elmhurst” 2020 United States Census Committee and March 27 Elmhurst Economic Development Commission (EEDC) meeting meetings at City Hall have been cancelled as a precautionary measure. I am an Ex-Officio member of the EEDC and also serve on the Census Committee.
COVID-19 Economic Impact Survey
Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (IDCEO) is requesting businesses to participate in a COVID-19 Economic Impact Survey on behalf of the United States Small Business Administration (SBA), in order to assess the financial damage that each business expects to incur. Click HERE to access SBA’s Disaster Assistance services handout.
Employer’s Guide to COVID-19
The Illinois Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (IACCE) is sharing the following materials from SmithAmundsen’s March 12 webinar, titled “Employer’s Guide to Coronavirus in the Workplace,” as follows: Power Point presentation and tape recording. Employment law considerations begin around page 22 of the presentation and halfway into the recording.
Visitor and Tourism Industry
DuPage Convention & Visitors Bureau Executive Director Beth Marchetti is talking with State of Illinois and County of DuPage officials regarding COVID-19’s negative impact on our tourism industry, an economic engine that includes 23,000 workers. A major goal is to rebook any meetings, conference or sport events cancelled due to this pandemic.
Mark Your Chamber Calendar
While our Chamber has strived to safely do business as usual, the March 25 Membership Breakfast at Elmhurst-Yorkfield Food Pantry (EYFP) has been cancelled and all of the April events are tentative for now. Also cancelled are the March 18 Elmhurst Memorial Day Parade Committee meeting and March 20 Chamber Ambassadors ribbon cuttings.
Nancy Peterson from the Food Panty reports that high-than-usual client demand due to recent layoffs has depleted much of their inventory, including canned vegetables and the Northern Illinois Food Bank is having difficulty procuring many necessary items. EYFP’s refrigeration units are empty and the supply of meat for distribution is low.
In addition, many area Jewel food stores—which are a major Food Pantry source of reclaimed food—have cut back on orders of perishable items and panicky consumers have been hoarding perishable produce and meat, not just toilet paper and such.