Date: Wednesday, September 09, 2020

Time: 03:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Duration: 1 hour

American Express, Accertify and Signifyd subject matter experts discuss current fraud trends and how to help you navigate fraud. 

This webinar will cover:

• Current trends we’re seeing with fraud
• Best Practices to help prevent fraud
• Fraud Solutions that can help protect your business

AUGUST 21ST
FROM 4 - 9 P.M.

MUSIC STARTS AT 5:00 P.M.

Sip bourbon. Taste 5 different wines. Munch on some snacks.

Join us on the patio while we Jam to some Blues Music with

LOGAN WIETER

Buy bottles of wine at a 10% discount.
 

You are invited to join us on Wednesday, September 23 from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM CT for our sixth annual complimentary Labor & Employment Fall Seminar! Our attorneys will discuss the topics that are always on your mind in addition to the issues that are arising amid the pandemic in a live virtual panel discussion. Watch out for more information, or register here. 

Please join us for a 90 minute webinar on COVID-19 and Workers' Compensation claims. John Campbell and Shawn Biery from Keefe, Campbell, Biery & Associates will provide insights on the rebuttable presumption for COVID-19 claims. Gerado Bercovich from Globant will discuss a new approach of interacting with technology and systems that are changing the way people interact with devices and services. 

Continuing Education Offered: 1.50 HRCI for approval, 1.50 SHRM for approval, 1.50 CLE submitted per request prior to event, and 1.50 Workers’ Compensation/Safety Compliance Certificate.

Learn More 

Register Here

Wednesday, Aug. 26:  Parents, teachers, and caregivers of young children can learn more about how Illinois is responding to their needs during this pandemic by attending this event at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 26.  Dr. Theresa Hawley, the First Assistant Deputy Governor on Education, will be a featured speaker, along with several parents and service providers; there also will be a Q&A opportunity. The town hall is sponsored by Illinois Action for Children, Community Organizing & Family Issues, Black Child Development Institute of Chicago, and the Neighborhood Parents Network.  To learn more and RSVP, click on this link

Highland CUSD No. 5 Board of Education has a regular scheduled board meeting on Monday, August 24 at 6:00 p.m. Due to the COVID restrictions on group meetings, we are once again live streaming the meeting.

The link to the live stream is: https://youtu.be/NMH8tXZ_TlA

Do you have news to share? Chamber members are encouraged to send their news to the Chamber so we can help you get the word out. Send press releases to nancie@highlandillinois.com

Is your news on Facebook? Shoot us a quick note and we'll be happy to share on our page. 

Assistance to Businesses: 
Application Deadline: August 24, 2020 @ 4:30 pm

Madison County has identified relief funds to support small businesses hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically local businesses with a commercial location in the County. Funds are anticipated to be available late June or early July as part of the Coronavirus Aid Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act federal stimulus package

Madison County is providing financial support to qualified small businesses (businesses with 25 full time equivalent or fewer employees) that are negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic due to orders to close or limit operations. This program provides a maximum amount of $15,000 (amounts will vary depending on number of employees), 0%, forgivable loans are being offered to help offset/recover from the significant, temporary loss of revenue to these qualified businesses during this pandemic, and to assist businesses in retaining and paying employees.

PLEASE MAKE SURE TO READ THE LOAN GUIDELINES FOR ELIGIBILITY PRIOR TO APPLICATION SUBMISSION.

Madison County (excluding Alton & Granite City)
Madison County Applications (excluding the City of Alton and the City of Granite City) may be requested by email or phone at jparnold@co.madison.il.us ; 618-296-4247 or ssborders@co.madison.il.us

Economic Development Applications are now available to read and print. Applications can be submitted on August 17, 2020 through August 24, 2020 at 4:30 PM (CDT), with funds expected to be available in late October 2020.

No applications will be considered if received after the above referenced submission date. U.S. Postal service or E-mail submissions are highly preferred at this time due to the effects of COVID-19, though alternative options are available. 

All applications, regardless of submission type, must be received by the deadline to be considered. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Madison County reserves the right to reject any application submitted.

BUSINESS APPLICATION LINKS


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Public Service Applications
Public Service Application Deadline: August 24, 2020 @ 4:30 pm

Madison County Community Development (MCCD) is currently seeking subrecipient projects for FY 2019 Public Service COVID-19 funds. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) COVID-19 funds are provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to address COVID-19 hardships as well as for data gathering. The goal is to make available flexible financial resources to businesses/community-based and medical organizations to enable essential service deliver to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. Federal law requires that the housing and community development grant funds primarily benefit low and moderate-income persons. Please note that the funding cap for this RFP is $20,000.00 per agency.

Non-profit agencies, public agencies and Community-Based Development organizations are eligible to apply for COVID-19 grant funds. The agency must be able to document COVID-19 hardship, as well as demonstrate funds will benefit primarily low and moderate income in Madison County.

The Small Business Advocacy Council and Illinois Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives believe that an essential function of our organizations is providing viewpoints both in favor of and against the graduated income tax. Together, we have put together a Town Hall which presents both perspectives for your consideration. 

Please join us on August 25th from 10:00AM - 11:15AM for a complementary Town Hall on the graduated income tax ballot initiative. We have two great speakers to provide you with different perspectives. 

·         Ralph Matire is the Executive Director for the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability. Ralph will present arguments in support of the ballot initiative.
·         Leslie Munger is the Former Illinois Comptroller and Deputy Governor. She is a board member of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce. Leslie will present arguments against the ballot initiative.

Please send all questions to Jamie@sbacil.org for the upcoming Town Hall.

We have been asked to forward you the letter below from Acting Director, Marc D. Smith, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. If you have any questions, please contact Andy Martinez at 312-814-7294 or Andrew.Martinez@illinois.gov
 

Keeping families at home during the COVID-19 pandemic has helped to protect children from infection. For some children, however, this has come at the cost of increased suffering from maltreatment – at the very time that children have been isolated from the teachers, coaches, friends or other trusted adults who might otherwise detect compromise to their safety and well-being. In fact, calls to report suspected child abuse and neglect have decreased in Illinois by 57% compared to the same time last year – mirroring data from across the country.

It is important for every person to:

• Take child abuse and neglect seriously;

• Be able to recognize it; and

• Know what to do next.

Wednesday, August 12, 2020 - 6:00pm

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer Neil Bradley today issued the following statement regarding the need for clear guidance from the U.S. Department of Treasury for implementing the payroll tax Executive Order:
 
“The recently issued Executive Order on payroll tax deferral, while well-intended to provide relief, has raised serious concerns for both employers and employees. There remains widespread uncertainty on how businesses will implement and apply the Executive Order, and as American employers, workers and families work to navigate the COVID-19 crisis they need clarity not more confusion. We urge the Treasury Department to issue clear guidance for implementing this payroll tax Executive Order.”
 
The U.S. Chamber today sent a letter to Secretary Mnuchin which provides considerations for further guidance on implementing the payroll tax Executive Order. 

ICYMI, last week we shared that although we won't be having the large Street Art Festival, the Chamber is going ahead with the #2020ChalkChallenge.

Artists will take to the sidewalks around Highland to complete their works of art. Each artist will work to create their own masterpiece our of chalk. Throughout the day the Chamber and the artists will be sharing on our social media pages the art work in progress, being sure to tag their sponsor in each post. In the early afternoon (when most pieces have been completed) the Chamber will release a map of all the art locations for visitors to go see. We're hoping that it can be a fun afternoon of socially distanced treasure hunting while families find all the artwork. 

As in years past, we'd love for each artist to have a sponsor. Due to the changes in the event we are going to simplify our sponsor levels

$250 Sponsorship 

• Artist assigned 
• Option for art work in front of your business location (local businesses only)
• Sponsor name will be included next to artwork 
• Business tagged on all social media posts made by the Chamber concerning your artwork/artist

$500 Sponsorship

• Same benefits as $250 level PLUS
• Business Name included on all general event posts regarding "2020 Chalk Challenge" 
• You will be listed as a co-host on the virtual 2020 Chalk Challenge event page

As in years past, we encourage businesses to contribute to the Artist swag bags that we hand out to thank them for their hard work.

If you would like to contribute to the artist swag bags please email Nancie.

If you would like to Sponsor this year's event, please email Nancie

Thank you to these businesses who have already committed to the Street Art Festival:

Rural King	Scott Credit Union
Serendipity Labs	The Korte Company
Scheffel Boyle CPAs	Bradford National Bank
Highland Machine	Lisa Sauer - State Farm Agent
Tri Ford	Starlight Dance Studio
Lee's Fine Jewelry, Loans & More	Trouw Nutrition
Cedar Creek Dental