Highland Chamber Members, receive member pricing when you choose "Highland Chamber" during registration.

COVID-19: Illinois Updates on Unemployment Insurance and Worker's Compensation (WEBINAR)
07/15/2020

As part of the recently adjourned Special Session of the Illinois General Assembly, the Illinois Unemployment Insurance Act and the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act were amended to address COVID-related issues.Our program will highlight the changes, how employers are impacted and strategies employers should utilize to comply and protect their operations.

Continuing Education Offered: 1.00 HRCI for approval, 1.00 SHRM for approval, 1.00 CLE per attendee request prior to event, 1.00 HR Compliance, and 1.00 Workers' Compensation & Safety Compliance.

Employee Leaves Update (Edwardsville)
07/16/2020

Learn about these landmines for Illinois employers and strategies for addressing them as well as the latest interplay between laws impacting leaves and the coronavirus pandemic. Join John Gilbert and Christi Coleman of SandbergPhoenix for this full day seminar!

Continuing Education Offered: 5.00 HRCI for approval, 5.00 SHRM for approval, 5.00 CLE credit per attendee request prior to event, and 5.00 HR & Management/Supervision Compliance Credit.

Highland Chamber Members, receive member pricing when you choose "Highland Chamber" during registration.

Workplace Reasonable Suspicion Training: Don't be Left in the Haze (Chicago)
07/21/2020

Join Scott Cruz, Labor and Employment attorney at Greensfelder Hemker & Gale PLC, as he conducts this comprehensive seminar that will provide the necessary tools and skills needed to recognize and appropriately handle employees exhibiting signs of impairment or being under the influence of marijuana.

Continuing Education Offered: 3.50 HRCI for approval, 3.50 SHRM for approval, 3.50 HR & Management/Supervision Compliance Certificate, and 3.50 CLE credits per prior request.

The Aging Workforce (Webinar)
07/22/2020

The current economic environment means employees are staying in the workforce longer. Thus, employers are faced with the interesting position to both foster a productive work force, while also mitigating their liability for workplace injuries. Join us for this informative webinar!

Continuing Education Offered: 1.00 HRCI credits for approval, 1.00 SHRM credits for approval, 1.00 CLE credits submitted per attendee request prior to event, 1.00 HR Compliance, 1.00 Management/Supervision Compliance, and 1.00 WC/Safety Compliance Credits.

Navigating the Bermuda Triangle of Leaves (Glen Ellyn)
08/05/2020

Understanding the basics of, as well as the similarities, the distinctions and the interrelationships among the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Americans with Disability Act (ADA), the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is critical to your business.Join Scott Cruz, Labor and Employment Attorney at Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C., for this educational webinar as he walks you through the Bermuda triangle of leaves.

Continuing Education offered: 5.00 HRCI credits, 5.00 SHRM credits, 5.00 CLE credits submitted per attendee request prior to the event, and 5.00 HR & Managment/Supervision Compliance Certificate credits.

Workers' Compensation from the Employer's Perspective (Springfield)
08/18/2020

 

NEW IL Mandatory Anti-Sexual Harassment Training: Train the Trainer (Edwardsville)
08/19/2020

 

Corporate Governance: From Nuts and Bolts to Trending Topics (Chicago)
08/27/2020

 

Third Annual Women in Business Conference
11/13/2020

 

Click here for more information about the 2nd annual Highland Moose Lodge Truck Raffle benefiting the Highland Police Department Shop with a Cop Program.

Highland Health Care Center will be running a school supply drive August 1st - 9th, 2020. Supplies will be given to the Highland Area Christian Services Ministry to distribute as needed. 

Cedarhurst Senior Living of Highland is hosting a food drive to benefit the Highland Area Christian Services Ministry (HACSM) Friday, July 10, 2020 from 10:00 am to 2:00pm.

Canned food and non-perishable items can be dropped off at 220 Field Crossing Drive in Highland. Please see attached flyer for additional information, including a list of the most in demand items.

The U.S. Chamber continues to create, update, and evolve its various guides and resources to continue bringing you and your members the information you need during this difficult time. We encourage you to continue utilizing and sharing the following items as you see fit:

• UPDATED: 
• Reopening Business Digital Resources Center
• Reopening Business Digital Resources Center Toolkit
• Small Business Reopening Playbook
• Main Street Lending Program Guide
• State-by-State Business Reopening Guidance
• Backgrounder on Health Coverage Options
• Backgrounder on Unemployment Insurance Under the CARES Act
• Independent Contractor's Guide to CARES Act Relief
• Coronavirus Emergency Loans Small Business Guide and Checklist
• Temporary Paid Leave and Family Medical Leave Guide
• Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program Guide
• Employee Retention Tax Credit Guide
• Coronavirus Small Business Guide
• Coronavirus Response Toolkit

Big dreams deserve big rewards and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is partnering with Chase For Business to recognize the very best in American small business.

The Dream Big Awards celebrate the success of small business and honor their contributions to America's economic growth.

The 2020 Dream Big Small Business of the Year will take home a $25,000 cash prize! The deadlione to apply is July 17th!
Eligibility Criteria:
A business must meet the following requirements to be eligible for the Dream Big Awards:

• For-Profit business that operates primarily within the United States
• Have less than 250 employees or gross revenues of less than $20 million in 2018 and 2019
• Provide support (in-kind and/or financial) to their community

Highland Small Business Employee Appreciation Program

Sponsored by Highland Moose Lodge #2479

Purpose: To help the acknowledge employees of local businesses.

How it works:
Local businesses will nominate one employee (employee of the month type) and email the name with a write up of why the employee was chosen to lodge2479@Wmooseunits.org by the 30th of each month. The lodge will then choose one person that month from the write ups that were turned in. The person that the lodge chooses will receive a $100 Highland Chamber of Commerce gift certificate. Every month a new drawing will be held with new names from local businesses.

Promoting of the program: The Highland Moose Lodge would like each local business to take part in this program. The lodge will put a photo of the winners and their employers in the Chamber newsletter, and local newspapers to inform all the businesses and the community of that month's winner. This will give free advertisement for the business as well.

Other things to know:

• The nominee an employee and not ownership or management.

• Nomination of employee must be accompanied by the reason why they were nominated.

• Nomination must be emailed by the last day of the month.

• Winner will be announced at the 2nd Monday of the month Moose Lodge meeting.

Highland Moose Lodge will be hosting their 23rd annual Phil Power's Memorial Golf Outing on Saturday, September 12, 2020 at Timber Lakes Golf Course. This is an 18 hole, 3 person scramble team format. This is the Moose Lodge's annual fundraiser to help promote Highland Area Charities.

Golf Sponsorships are available at $25/each (more than one is permitted). They are also accepting items that can be given away for prizes such as gift certificates, gold balls, tees, logoed shirts, caps, coolers, etc. If possible, please donate items in groups of 3, so they can present the same prizes to the same team.

Sponsor names will be included on the sponsor board which is displayed at the gold tournament and other major functions. Those who wish to donate should do so by 9-7-2020 to give time to coordinate the prize list, attendance prizes and sponsor board. 

If you have additional questions please contact Kevin Kruse (618-531-7208) or Dan Kapp (618-781-3250).

First Mid Bank & Trust was recently awarded $20,000 in grant funding from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago COVID-19 Relief Grant Program to assist small businesses and nonprofits affected by the pandemic. Today, the bank has announced that the awarded grant funds will be distributed across the bank’s footprint to local food pantries.

“With the help of the Federal Home Loan Bank, we hope these funds will be able to provide some relief to these organizations that are helping individuals and families within our communities,” says Matt Smith, Chief Financial Officer of First Mid Bank & Trust. “Giving back to the community has always been a focus for First Mid, so we are happy that we are able to support these organizations during these times.”

For a list of food pantries that have been selected as beneficiaries of the bank’s grant funding, please visit https://www.firstmid.com/fhlb-covid-19-relief-grant-program.

Madison County will place a referendum on the November election ballot giving voters an opportunity to lower a portion of its property tax levy.

 

The County Board voted 25-1 Wednesday night to place the binding referendum on the Nov. 3 ballot. Voters will be asked, “Shall the maximum tax rate for general county purposes of Madison County, Illinois, be established at .18 percent of the equalized assessed value of the taxable property therein instead of .20 percent, the maximum rate otherwise applicable to the next taxes to be extended?”
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