Resources during COVID-19 Pandemic

An Important Message About COVID-19

Dear Resident and Neighbor,

I pray that you and your family are doing well during this difficult time in our City.

Governor J.B. Pritzker has extended the State at Home orde r, closing of schools and state of emergency until April 30. Through the Stay-At-Home Order, my office is still working on delivering city services and is available to answer your calls and e-mails remotely.

Below you will find resources regarding local businesses, employment, benefits and financial assistance for those most affected by COVID-19.

In these uncertain times, I want you to know that I will be there for you and together, we are taking the necessary steps to mitigate the spread of this virus. Please stay safe, remain calm, and remember that this too shall pass.

Very truly yours,

Stephanie D. Coleman

Alderman, 16th Ward

Federal Disaster Loan Assistance- Apply NOW

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act allocated $350 billion to help small businesses keep workers employed amid the pandemic and economic downturn. There are several kinds of loans and grants available. Because funds are limited, it is important to file as soon as possible. If you have a banker today, call them to make an appointment. However, you can apply online NOW for the EIDL loan below.

Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program - The Small Business Administration (SBA) is providing federal disaster loans to businesses of less than 500 employees, non-profits, sole proprietorships, independent contractors, and faith based organizations. Apply NOW at the SBA’s website . NOTE: you must have all information available with you when you apply. You CANNOT save an unfinished application.

Here is what you need:

Basic business information – name, EIN, address, business type
Basic financial information – Gross revenues for the 12 month period prior to 1/31/20
Basic ownership information
Organization Type - Look at the your most recent entity tax return.
Trade Name - Use your DBA (Doing Business As) name, or if you don't have a DBA, use the Business Legal Name
Business Activity/Detailed Business Activity - Scroll down. For example, “Dental” as a detailed business activity after choosing “Health Services”
Gross Revenues for last year - This is your gross collections for the period 2/1/19 – 1/31/20. You can obtain this information from your business management software. If unavailable, use the number from your 2019 tax return. If your business tax return has been completed, you can find this listed on Line 1a Gross Receipts or Sales.
If your business tax return has not yet been completed for 2019, you can refer to your December 31, 2019 financial statements for “Gross Collections”
Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) for last year - If you do not report COGS on your business tax return (like in some service businesses), you can enter “$0” in this field.

Paycheck Protection Program , provides 100% federally guaranteed loans to small businesses. Under the program:

Eligible recipients may qualify for a loan up to $10 million determined by 8 weeks of prior average payroll plus an additional 25% of that amount.
Loan payments will be deferred for six months.
If you maintain your workforce, SBA will forgive the portion of the loan proceeds that are used to cover the first 8 weeks of payroll and certain other expenses following loan origination.

The administration will release more details soon but in the meantime, see if you are eligible and find out needed paperwork by visiting the US Chamber of Commerce website.

SBA 7(a) Loans - These are the typical SBA loans. Under the CAREs Act,

The SBA will pay the principal and interest of new 7(a) loans issued prior to September 27, 2020.
The SBA will pay the principal and interest of current 7(a) loans for a period of six months.

Please contact your lender if you have a current loan, or the local SBA office at https://www.sba.gov/offices/district/il/chicago

There are many helpful resources, and I strongly suggest that every business download these guides.

If you do not submit all the information requested, your loan cannot be fully processed.

COVID-19 SERVICES

FOOD

Su Casa (5045 S Laflin) has a soup kitchen (Frieda’s Place) open to serve meals-to-go on Tuesdays (9-10am) and Thursdays (10 am to Noon) , as well as the TJ’s food giveaway on Sunday (10am to 12 Noon).

Port Ministries Bread Truck is going out daily still focusing on providing food for the homeless.

Casa Catalina’s Food Pantry (4537 S Ashland) has food and is open Tuesday, 9:30-11:30 am, 1 pm-2:30pm, Wednesday 1 pm-5:30 pm, Thursday, 9:30am-2:30 pm.

Professional individuals in the neighborhood have offered to deliver food to the home-bound. Contact me if you know of someone in need.

MEDICAL SERVICES

Port Ministries Free Clinic (5013 S Hermitage, telephone: 773-778-5955) Free Clinic is still running on Tuesdays at 6pm. Adults only.

PERSONAL RESPITE

Su Casa (5045 S Laflin) has a front garden unlocked currently, so if people are seeking distance outdoors, they are welcome.

Precious Blood Ministries has kept some open hours for individual counseling & check-in, and call 773-952-6643 for more information.

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Chicago Public Schools - Spring Break Distribution Plan

Since the temporary closure of our schools due to COVID-19, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has provided 2.8 million grab-and-go meals to families , and are committed to continue providing these meals during spring break and until CPS schools reopen.

To provide our families with the most consistent services while picking up grab-and-go meals during the closure and to better support school staff, food distribution sites will be changing beginning Monday, April 6.

M onday, April 6 - Thursday, April 9 • 9AM - 1PM

Sites Near us:

EARLE 2040 W 62ND ST, Chicago, IL, 60636

CLAREMONT 2300 W 64TH ST, Chicago, IL, 60636

MONTESSORI ENGLEWOOD 6936 S H ERMITAGE AVE, Chicago, IL, 60636

NICHOLSON 6006 S PEORIA ST, Chicago, IL, 60621

LIBBY 5300 S LOOMIS BLVD, Chicago, IL, 60609

ENGLEWOOD STEM HS 6835 S NORMAL BLVD, Chicago, IL, 60621

Starting Monday, April 13: Monday - Friday • 9AM - 1PM

Sites Near us:

DAVIS M 6740 S PAULINA ST, Chicago, IL, 60636

FAIRFIELD 6201 S FAIRFIELD AVE, Chicago, IL, 60629

MORRILL 6011 S ROCKWELL ST, Chicago, IL, 60629

NICHOLSON 6006 S PEORIA ST, Chicago, IL, 60621

MONTESSORI ENGLEWOOD 6936 S HERMITAGE AVE, Chicago, IL, 60636

OTOOLE 6550 S SEELEY AVE, Chicago, IL, 60636

EARLE 2040 W 62ND ST, Chicago, IL, 60636

CLAREMONT 2300 W 64TH ST, Chicago, IL, 60636

LIBBY 5300 S LOOMIS BLVD, Chicago, IL, 60609

For More Informaiton

Property Tax Exemptions Due April 10

Cook County Assessor

All exemption applications are due April 10. You can apply online for exemptions by visiting the Cook County Assessor's website.

Click to Apply

Loans for Small Businesses

After submitting documentation demonstrating the impact of COVID-19 on more than 3,000 businesses across the state, Gov. Pritzker announced that the U.S. Small Business Administration has approved the state's eligibility for disaster assistance loans for small businesses facing financial hardship in all 102 counties due to COVID-19.

Eligible businesses can apply for up to $2 million in low-interest loans at: https://disasterloan.sba.gov.

New Positions Being Offered

Essential Services

Movetastic is hiring movers and drivers.
New City Movers is now hiring.
Domino's Pizza is hiring drivers.
Papa John's is hiring drivers.
Vivid Seats is hiring customer support specialists.
Amazon is hiring for a number of Chicago positions.
Mariano's/Kroger is hiring for a number of different stores.
Jewel-Osco is now hiring.

Additional Opportunities

Alderman Coleman and the 16th Ward Office has no jurisdiction over the hiring process for any of the employment opportunities listed in this newsletter.

The information contained in this email is intended to be informative as a constituent service only.

Illinois Deparment of Employment Security

Unemployment insurance is a state-operated insurance program designed to partially replace lost wages when you are out of work. Like fire, accident, health, and other types of insurance, it is for an emergency, such as when you are temporarily or permanently out of a job, or if you work less than full time because of lack of work.

Assuming that you meet all eligibility requirements, this program ensures that you will have some income while you are looking for a job. You may receive up to 26 full weeks in a one-year period, depending on when the claim was established. Unemployment insurance, however, cannot and does not protect you against wage losses while you are absent from work due to illness or while you are idle by choice. For more information visit IDES .

Temporary Suspension of Debt Collection, Ticketing and Towing Practices

This penalty relief package directs a temporary suspension of late fees and defaults on payment plans, including city tickets, utility bills, parking and red-light citations, booting and other non-public safety relates violations. Additionally, there will be no new interest accumulated on current compliance plans.

These measures represent the first steps of the administration's efforts to help reduce the financial impact of COVID-19 on city residents and take effect immediately today through April 30, 2020. Other financial relief efforts include:

Ticket Issuance

Enforcement will be prioritized for safety-related violations.
Enforcement on compliance-related violations will be suspended until April 30, 2020

Parking, Red Light, Speed Camera Violation Collections

Delay assessment of penalty (ticket doubling) until after April 30, 2020
Delay driver’s license suspension until after April 30, 2020
No Booting until after April 30, 2020
Delay referral of tickets to collection firms until after April 30, 2020
No defaults of payment plans for until after April 30, 2020

Utility Bills

Extend due dates until after April 30, 2020 delaying assessment of penalties
Delay referrals to collection firms until after April 30, 2020
No defaults of payment plans until after April 30, 2020

Administrative Hearing Collections

Extend due dates until after April 30, 2020 (this will delay assessment of interest)
Delay referrals to collection firms until after April 30, 2020
No defaults of payment plans until after April 30, 202

Other Collection Efforts

Extend deadline for TNP and taxi drivers to pay debt to April 30
No debt holds on new licenses or permits

Chicago Small Business Resiliency Fund

The Chicago Small Business Resiliency Loan Fund is a partnership with the City, the Chicago Community Catalyst Fund, and other private sponsors. The new fund is a $100M economic relief package to support Chicago's small businesses that are experiencing a temporary loss of revenue as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak .

Loan applications will be administered through our Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) partners, beginning on March 31, 2020.

The loan terms will follow the guidelines below:

1) Repayment Term: Low-interest loans for a term of up to 5 years

2) Loan Amount: Up to $50K

3) Loan Proceeds: Proceeds are required to be used for working capital

Elgiblity Requirements

• Suffered more than 25% revenue decrease due to COVID-19

• Employ fewer than 50 employees and gross revenues of less than $3M in 2019

• Provide a City business address or City business license

• No pre-existing tax liens or legal judgments

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Utility Resources

The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service announced that the federal income tax filing due date is automatically extended from April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020.

COMED

Disconnections suspended

Waiving new late payment thru May 1, 2020

CUSTOMER SERVICE (800) 334-7661 | Mon - Fri 7am -7pm

PEOPLES GAS

Safety comes first – We are rescheduling non-emergency appointments and will reach out to our customers at a later time to reschedule.

Shutoffs suspended – We suspended shutoffs for residential and business customers, unless unsafe conditions exist, to ensure the safety of our customers and employees. This is effective until this health crisis is behind us.

Late payment charges waived – We understand that some of our customers will face financial hardships due to the spread of COVID-19. We are now waiving new late payment charges.

Bill payment arrangement options and financial assistance – If customers are having difficulty paying their bill, we will work with them to arrange a payment plan or discuss financial assistance options. Customers can find additional information on our website

CUSTOMER SERVICE (866) 556-6001

COMCAST / XFINITY

Xfinity WiFi Free For Everyone: Xfinity WiFi hotspots across the country will be available to anyone who needs them for free – including non-Xfinity Internet subscribers. For a map of Xfinity WiFi hotspots, visit www.xfinity.com/wifi. Once at a hotspot, consumers should select the “xfinitywifi” network name in the list of available hotspots and then launch a browser.

Pausing Our Data Plan: With so many people working and educating from home, we want our customers to access the internet without thinking about data plans. While the vast majority of our customers do not come close to using 1TB of data in a month, we are pausing our data plans for 60 days giving all customers Unlimited data for no additional charge.

No Disconnects or Late Fees: We will not disconnect a customer’s internet service or assess late fees if they contact us and let us know that they can’t pay their bills during this period. Our care teams will be available to offer flexible payment options and can help find other solutions.

Internet Essentials Free to New Customers: As announced yesterday, it’s even easier for low-income families who live in a Comcast service area to sign-up for Internet Essentials, the nation’s largest and most comprehensive broadband adoption program. New customers will receive 60 days of complimentary Internet Essentials service, which is normally available to all qualified low-income households for $9.95/month. Additionally, for all new and existing Internet Essentials customers, the speed of the program’s Internet service was increased to 25 Mbps downstream and 3 Mbps upstream. That increase will go into effect for no additional fee and it will become the new base speed for the program going forward.

News, Information and Educational Content on X1: For those with school-age students at home, we’ve created new educational collections for all grade levels in partnership with Common Sense Media. Just say “education” into your X1 or Flex voice remote. To help keep customers informed, we also have created a collection of the most current news and information on Coronavirus. Just say “Coronavirus” into your X1 or Flex voice remote.