Morton Updates:

The Morton Forecast Breakfast will be held virtually on Thursday, May 7. Registrants can pick up a Pumpkin Pancake Breakfast through a drive thru at Freedom Hall from 8:00 - 10:00 AM and watch a pre-recorded broadcast of the program at 10:00 AM on the Chamber's Facebook and YouTube. To celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, each breakfast purchase ($15) will also provide a complimentary meal to an educator. Register here.

A Perfect Promotion has a supplier for disposable medical face masks. If you would like to order marks for your business, contact C layto n.

Parker Fabrication and Best Made Signs are able to make face shields and plexiglass guards for your workplaces.

The Peoria Magazine nominations for Best of Peoria are now open through May 13. Nominate your favorite business, restaurant, event, and venue!
Reminders: All previous bulletins and other resources listed at www.gpcovid.com . Resource requests from our community institutions listed at the end of this bulletin. Send any questions to bizinfo@greaterpeoriaedc.org .

Governor Pritzker Outlines “Restore Illinois” Plan to Reopen Economy
At his daily press conference, Governor Pritzker outlined a five phase plan to reopening the economy based on the state’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) regions (map here ). Peoria, Woodford and Tazewell counties are in Region 2; Mason and Logan counties are in Region 3. Within the five phases, Illinois is currently at Phase 2. Movement to Phase 3, which can happen region to region, can occur if certain health metrics and hospital utilization rates are met. Phase 3 will allow reopening of some sectors of the economy, including retail and personal services (i.e. hairstylists and barbers). Phase 4 would allow for dine-in services at restaurants and services like gyms to resume. Gov. Pritzker indicated in his press conference that the earliest any region could move to Phase 3 was May 29. The full plan available here .

Economic Injury Disaster Loans Available to Agricultural Businesses Impacted by COVID-19
The SBA announced that agricultural businesses are now eligible for SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and EIDL Advance programs. EIDL is a low interest loan for small businesses under 500 employees that also provides a small grant (“advance”) of $1,000 per employee ($10,000 max). SBA’s EIDL portal has reopened and is accepting new EIDL applications on a limited basis only, to provide relief to U.S. agricultural businesses, defined as businesses engaged in the legal production of food and fiber, ranching, and raising of livestock, aquaculture, and all other farming and agricultural related industries (as defined by section 18(b) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 647(b)). For agricultural businesses that submitted an EIDL loan application through the streamlined application portal prior to the legislative change, SBA will move forward and process these applications without the need for re-applying. All other EIDL loan applications that were submitted before the portal stopped accepting new applications on April 15 will be processed on a first-in, first-out basis.

Paycheck Protection Program Update
As of May 1 the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) has only $140 billion left to loan (meaning nearly two-thirds of the replenished amount was loaned in the first week of this second round.)  
According to SBA, 159,628 loans worth $22,551,025,846 have been approved in Illinois. Interested businesses should contact their financial institution as soon as possible to investigate their options. You can find a qualified lender here . SBA has recorded a webinar on PPP and its other programs that can be accessed here .

PPP Webinar for the Self-Employed
While much attention has been paid to small businesses applying for PPP, sole proprietors, the self-employed and independent contractors can also qualify for the program. SBA recorded a webinar specifically targeting this population. Access the recording here .

East Peoria Phase 1 Rules
The City of East Peoria has outlined rules for businesses that can open within their city limits here .
 
City of Peoria Restaurant Survey
The City of Peoria has created a survey to capture what consumers are seeking once dine-in services are allowed to resume. They are hoping to get 1,000 responses by the end of this week. Take the survey here .


RESOURCE REQUESTS
  • Community Foundation of Central Illinois: Requesting monetary donations for the Central Illinois Disaster Recovery Fund. Information https://communityfoundationci.org/. Morton Chamber & EDC addition: The Morton Community Foundation has also announced a Morton Area Disaster Relief Fund for organizations serving those affected by COVID-19. Donate here.
  • UnityPoint Health: UnityPoint is seeking personal protective equipment (PPE) and other medical supplies. They are also in search of medical personnel to help them prepare in the event that there is an influx of sick patients. Information here.  
  • OSF Healthcare: OSF seeking personal protective equipment (PPE), ventilators and other supplies. Information here.
  • Peoria Innovation Alliance: PIA is gathering the maker community to discuss ways individuals and small companies can make supplies like masks. Information here.
  • Heartland Health Services: Seeking personal protective equipment, medical supplies, hand sanitizer, and disinfectant wipes unopened. More information here. 
  • UICOMP Accepting Handmade Masks – The University of Illinois College of Medicine is accepting donations of handmade masks. Details can be found here.
  • IWIRC: Seeking standard PPE such as N-95/surgical/home-made masks, face shields, gowns, and latex-free gloves. Donated supplies can be dropped off at their downtown Peoria clinic location at 736 SW Washington St. Information here. 
  • Morton Chamber & EDC addition: Community Harvest and Midwest Food Bank are soliciting monetary donations to help support the influx of requests for food.Visit their sites for more info.

Chris Setti
Chief Executive Officer
Greater Peoria Economic Development Council