​Back to Business Guide

Limited access to bars and restaurants in Glenview and suburban Cook County (Region 10) was further loosened February 2, 2021, with the move to Phase 4 of Governor J.B. Pritzker's COVID-19 mitigation plans. Phase 4 allows indoor dining and drinking at restaurants and bars for parties of up to 10 people. Seated areas should be arranged so tables allow for 6 feet between parties.  The Cook County Department of Public Health on March 26, 2021 put Executive Order 2021-6 in effect, which continues to ease limits on Phase 4 allowances imposed in suburban Cook County​.

 Review the Village's Back to Business Guide (revised March 22, 2021) ​for guidance and resources under Phase 4 ​of the state's "Restore Illinois" plan. The guide includes information regarding:

• How to stay connected with updates and get questions answered by the Village;
• Glenview's restaurant and grocery store lists;
• Guidance from recognized health agencies and national professional associations;
• Links to guidance and reopening toolkits provided by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Security (DCEO);  
• Operational resources and sample safety signs; and
• Glenview's Temporary O​utdoo​r Dining Policy and Application (updated March 2​, 2021).

Click this lin​k​ or the image of the plan above to view the Back to Business Guide.
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Restaurant and retail information

In May 2020, the state of Illinois implemented the "Restore Illinois" framework to provide communities and businesses with safety guidance that would allow industries and key activities to resume safely.  

• "Restore Illinois" plan
  
• Phase 4​​

​ ​​Grocery stores ​​In additional to normal hours, some grocery sto​​res have special hours of operation for seniors and vulnerable patrons.  Click here or on ​the image below.​   ​Glenview Chamber of Commerce Check the Chamber YouTube channel ​for videos to assist businesses impacted by COVID-19 pandemic ​measures. ​

​ Restaurants Under Phas​​e 4, indoor dining is allowed for parties of up to 10 people and seated areas arranged with 6 feet between parties.  ​ ​ ​​C​​NSCVB Chicago's North Shore Convention and Visitors​ Bureau offers information on deals, events and more

​​Essential and non-essential businesses

Governor Pritzker's "stay-at-home" executive order categorizes businesses as essential or non-essential. The aim is to  keep new cases of COVID-19 from rapidly increasing due to public exposure and ensure the state's health care system remains fully operational to treat patients in need of urgent care.

While the public will continue to have regular access to groceries medication, gas and other essential services, all non-essential business and operations must cease.

•  See this flow chart for an explanation of the differences between essential and non-essential businesses.
•  Essential or non-essential FAQs
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Federal​

• Small Business Owner Guide to the CARES Act (from the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship) --​ This guide has frequently asked questions for each of the programs established or enhanced to support small businesses, and I have briefly summarized the major provisions of each program below to make it easier to digest.
• Paycheck Protection Program Loans –- The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) is designed to help small businesses maintain payroll in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Eligible businesses who enroll in the program will receive a forgivable loan to use for payroll purposes, in addition to helping pay for utilities, rent, mortgage interest payments, and more.

PPP Loans Still available:  The CARES Act allotted about $349 billion for the PPP loan program.  Despite significant problems with large lenders across the nation, on April 3, the SBA Administrator indicated that over 17,000 loans had been approved amounting to over $5.4 billion.  A significant amount of PPP loan funding remains available and Congress has shown interest in expanding this amount if needed, but I encourage you to work with your lender to get your application submitted as fast as possible.

The April 3 rollout of the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program saw some significant issues, with many lenders unprepared to take in applications from interested parties and others limiting applications to those with existing lines of credit, etc.  The SBA has been working with lenders to work out these issues in the subsequent days, and I encourage you to reconnect with yours if you had no luck on April 3.   As a reminder, you will be expected to provide payroll information when you apply. 

PPP Loan Resources: The Small Business Administration has distributed additional guidance from the U.S. Department of the Treasury on how the Paycheck Protection Program is going to be implemented and what both lenders and borrowers need to know.​

• General Program Overview for the Paycheck Protection Program
  
• ​Information for Lenders
• Information for Borrowers
• Sample Paycheck Protection Program Application
• Small Business Administration's Paycheck Protection Program Page
•  PPP Lender Find Tool
•  Department of Treasury PPP Program: Frequently Asked Questions
•  Sample Paycheck Protection Program Application
• Small Business Administration’s PPP Page​​
  

Key Dates: The start date for small businesses and sole proprietorships to submit program loan applications is April 3, 2020.  The start date for independent contractors and self-employed individuals to submit PPP loan applications is April 10, 2020.  Importantly, the Treasury Department guidance urges businesses to apply as soon as possible, due to a funding cap in place on this program.

Lender Information: Program loans will be 100% federally guaranteed but handled by SBA-certified lenders.  Lending institutions that are not currently SBA-certified but want to participate should email DelegatedAuthority@sba.gov.

Application Information: Interested parties should contact their local lender to see if they are SBA-certified and/or planning on participating in the program.  Applicants will have to provide payroll documentation to the lender. 

 

• SBA Express Bridge Loans​
  

The SBA has announced the availability of a new SBA Express Bridge Loan program, that is available to small businesses who already have an established relationship with a SBA Express Lender.

• SBA Express Bridge Loan Program Homepage​
  
• SBA Express Bridge Program Guide
  
• List of SBA Express Lenders (noted with a “SX” in the Program Authority column)​
  
  

General Information: SBA Express Bridge loans are being offered to act as a bridge for businesses who need short term funding in order to stay afloat until they receive EIDL funds they have previously applied for.  These funds are available in amounts of up to $25,000 and have a fast turnaround time.  These loans will be repaid in full or in part by proceeds from the EIDL loan once the process is completed. 

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• Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program – The U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program received significant funding in the Families First Act, which was the second COVID-19 stimulus package.  These SBA loans provide small businesses with a long-term, low interest loan of up to $2 million to pay for expenses they would have met if not for the COVID-19 pandemic. Note that these are loans, not grants, although refinancing an EIDL into a Paycheck Protection Program is a possibility, provided you used the fund for the proper purpose.  Additionally, applicants can apply for both EIDL and PPP loans simultaneously, although the funds cannot be used for the same purpose. 

Application Process:  The SBA has just recently rolled out a new, streamlined application process that is available here. 

Note: If your business needs short term assistance, and you applied before this week, you may need to re-submit your application (see below).  If you have already applied for funds through EIDL and do not need the $10,000 advance, your application should continue to be processed without additional steps.  You may check on the status of your application by calling (800) 659-2955. 

• Emergency Economic Injury Grants (advance on EIDL loans) -- Businesses that need an infusion of capital in the short term and who have applied for a loan through the EIDL program can also apply for an Emergency Economic Injury Grant, which will provide an advance of $10,000 from the requested EIDL amount.  This process can be started from the EIDL application, available here. 

Note: If you already submitted an EIDL application prior to the launch of this program (SBA says if you applied before March 30) you will have to resubmit an application using the streamlined process at the link above. 

• SBA Small Business Debt Relief Program -- The Small Business Administration is providing a program to assist small businesses who have non-disaster SBA loans – namely 7(a) loans, 504 loans, and microloans.  

Program Benefits: The SBA will cover payments (on principal and interest) in addition to fees for six months. 

Program Applicability: This program will apply to preexisting loans in these categories, in addition to new borrowers who take out these loans within six months of the CARES Act becoming law. 

​Loan Program Details: See the below links if you think that your business could benefit from these options: 

• 7(a) Loan Program Information
• 7(a) loans max out at $5 million are targeted towards borrowers who lack credit elsewhere and need access to flexible capital.  These loans are offered through approved 7(a) lenders (a list is available here)
• 504 Loan Program Information
• 504 Loans max out at $5.5 million and provide long-term fixed-rate financing and may be a good option for businesses looking to purchase property or large equipment
• SBA Microloan Program Information
• The SBA's microloan program offers loans of up to $50,000 to help small businesses start up or expand.  
• Employee Retention Tax Credit -- The CARES Act includes an Employee Retention Tax Credit, designed to encourage employers to retain their employees during the COVID-19 crisis.  The IRS describes the credit as a “fully refundable tax credit for employers equal to 50 percent of qualified wages (including allocable qualified health plan expenses) that Eligible Employers pay their employees.  This applies to wages paid between March 12, 2020 and January 1, 2021, with a maximum credit for any employee amounting to $5,000.  This credit is not available to employers receiving assistance via the Paycheck Protection Program.  Additional IRS guidance is available here.  
• Employer Payroll Tax Deferral -- According to the Guide, a provision in the CARES Act allows for the deferral of the employer portion of certain payroll taxes through the end of 2020.  These deferred amounts are due in two installments – one at the end of 2021, the other at the end of 2022.  Included deferrable taxes include the employer portion of FICA taxes and half of SECA tax liability.  Deferral is not available to employers receiving assistance via the Paycheck Protection Program. IRS guidance on this yet is expected soon at the IRS coronavirus webpage.
• Business Counseling (+ Assistance with Applications) -- In addition to direct financial assistance to small businesses and non-profits, the recent stimulus packages have included significant funding for enhanced small business counseling services.  These organizations are well versed in how to help small businesses succeed and stand ready and willing to help your organization navigate these difficult times.  Counseling resources include:
• Illinois Small Business Development Center at West Side Forward
• Contact is Curtis Roeschley, (773) 473-4774 / croeschley@bethelnewlife.org​
• Women's Business Development Center
• (312) 853-3477 / wbdc@wbdc.org / contact for loan assistance: Lotika Pai, lpai@wbdc.org
• Minority Business Development Agency Business Center
• (312) 755-2563
• Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity
• ​CEO.Support@illinois.gov
  

​​​​​State

• Illinois Small Business Emergency Loan Fund -- Small businesses low interest loans of up to $50,000.  Businesses located outside of the City of Chicago with fewer than 50 workers and less than $3 million in revenue in 2019 will be eligible to apply.  Successful applicants will pay nothing for six months and will then begin making fixed payments at a below market interest rate for the remainder of a five-year loan term. Loan funds must be used for working capital, and at least 50% of loans proceeds must be applied toward payroll or other eligible compensation including salaries, wages, tips, paid leave, and group healthcare benefits. Eligible uses will exclude compensation in excess of $100,000.
• Illinois Hospitality Emergency Grant Program -- Grant funds are available to support working capital like payroll and rent, as well as job training, retraining, and technology to support shifts in operations, like increased pick-up and delivery. Bars and restaurants that generated between $500K and $1M in revenue in 2019 are eligible for up to $25,000, and bars and restaurants that generated less than $500K in revenue in 2019 are eligible for up to $10,000.  Hotels that generated less than $8M in revenue in 2019 are eligible for up to $50,000.
• The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is seeking input from businesses impacted by COVID-19 to assist in evaluating a request for an economic injury disaster declaration from the U.S. Small Business Administration. That declaration will allow for businesses to apply for low-interest loans to keep their businesses open during this challenging time.
• Complete the DECO online survey to help secure resources for our businesses.
• Cook County Relief Package -- A series of measures waiving various County fines, fees and deferring tax collections to help businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.