• Governor Pritzker's Stay at Home Executive Order

 

• Illinois Department of Public Health Updates on COVID-19

 

• SBA webinars for Illinois small businesses to apply for disaster recovery loans

 

• DCEO resources

 

• Highland Chamber of Commerce COVID-19 Resource Page

As the infection rates and global death toll from the coronavirus (COVID-19) continue to rise, the economic impact and repercussions to the global economy are becoming more pervasive.

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The Highland Chamber of Commerce wants to hear from you and your business regarding the ongoing COVID-19 health situation's affect on your business.

Throughout our state, actions have been taken to minimize the spread of COVID-19. We are compiling a comprehensive list of the opportunities and challenges our members are facing during this time so we can help you find the necessary resources to be successful.

We would like to know if you are still open, how you're currently conducting business, etc. If you're doing something unique to help your team or others get through this situation, we'd love to know about it. Now, more than ever, we must support one another, and we'd love to share your story.

Please fill out the below survey so we can know your needs.

From Ready Nation
"In these extraordinary times, everyone is feeling the effects of the COVID-19 crisis. Emergency workers and other “essential” staff are facing particular pressures, and we thank them for their selfless help, on which we all depend – at the hospital, grocery store, gas station, and beyond.

With this in mind, please help us share the following information widely; It is critical to helping ensure adequate child care help for essential staff during this COVID-19 crisis.

Like schools, most child care programs have been asked to close. But many emergency and essential workers continue to need reliable care for their kids. Thus, the state is in the process of establishing a series of “emergency child care” options – settings that could operate under more flexible-than-usual rules, while still offering kids and families crucial assistance.  Existing, interested providers could apply to re-open in this process; other, new providers could explore options for starting-up.

Here’s where to turn for more information on emergency child care homes and centers:

• How to find emergency child care – Call 888-228-1146.  And online, you can find and contact your local Child Care Resource & Referral Agency by clicking here.
   
• General guidance on establishing emergency-care options, including rules, a license application, list of essential workers, and background-check authorization – click here.
   
• Related FAQ, including info on the closure of normal child care operations – click here. 

Illinois has been declared an economic disaster due to COVID-19. If you are in need of financial assistance to help you get through, here is a link to apply for the SBA Disaster Assistance Loan.

If you currently are running a Work Based Learning Program or apprenticeship, the Illinois Department of Economic Opportunity would like to hear from you. They have commissioned a study through Northern Illinois University. This survey is part of a response to the Apprenticeship Study Act passed by the Illinois legislature. The goal of the study is to provide a better understanding of work-based learning and apprenticeship programs, providing useful information to expand apprenticeship opportunities for employers and potential apprentices, especially those from underserved populations. The report is due to the Governor and General Assembly by June 1, 2020.
 
To fully understand these programs in Illinois, NIU wants to hear from a wide range of stakeholders. The strength of this study depends on you. Please take 5-10 minutes to complete the study. In addition, please forward the survey link to any other people or organizations who are involved with work-based learning or apprenticeship programs.
 
Please complete the survey by Friday, April 3rd.
   
If you have questions about the survey or the Apprenticeship Study Act, please contact Brian Richard at brichard@niu.edu.

We feel that now more than ever it is very important to give businesses in Highland a solution on how to reach each and every household and business around Highland.We are creating a Community Booklet that will be mailed directly to every residential, business and PO box address in the 62249 zip code. It has ad space for any business interested to communicate how they are still serving customers, also business that aren't able to be open or would prefer to not have ad space, can sponsor an informational page from the CDC, IDPH or MCHD, or sponsor a kids activity coloring page. We truly want to help our fellow businesses of Highland and offer this booklet as a way for them to adapt to this new and confusing time we are living.

To book space you can email Shawn@theMailBoxStore.net or call (618) 651-4700.