THE CHAMBER'S VISION TO REBALANCE HEALTH AND FINANCIAL ISSUES DURING THE PANDEMIC
 The economic crisis that has accompanied the public health crisis threatens to rage on for months if more forceful action is not taken. For this reason, Illinois Chamber President and CEO Todd Maisch penned the op-ed printed in Crain's Chicago Business on April 30 to lay out the Chamber's vision for rebalancing government's response to the duel crises printed. "We as a people must demand that our leaders consider both the health and the financial crises before us when making their decisions, to ensure we make it to the after with as many lives, and livelihoods, possible," Maisch wrote. Read full story here.
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CHAMBER: CEJA IS A BAILOUT BILL WE CAN'T AFFORD
 Illinois Chamber President and CEO Todd Maisch's op-ed on why the Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA) is a bailout bill we can't afford was printed in the Chicago Tribune on May 20. "We will get to the other side of these crises. When we do, I hope it will be our small businesses we lift up, not Exelon we bail out," Maisch wrote.
Read full story here.
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"The flat tax is working exactly how it should. People are paying their fair share"
--Todd Maisch on the progressive income tax amendment, The Daily Herald
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SMALL BUSINESS SHUTDOWNS ADDRESSED
 Illinois Chamber President and CEO Todd Maisch spoke with Sydney Dorner of WICS News Channel 20 on the challenges businesses continue to face from COVID-19 business shutdowns on June 29.
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CHAMBER MEMBERS STEP UP TO SUPPORT OUR MILITARY
 Recently, KPMG joined Illinois ESGR for a virtual Statement of Support signing. State Chair for Illinois ESGR and President of Center for Business Management at the Illinois Chamber Laurie Silvey hosted the event. Associate Director Advisory Operations Erik Haass, Managing Partner of the Chicago office Linda Imonti, , and Douglas Zuvich, Senior Partner and Global Practice Leader, Trade and Custom Services at KPMG joined Illinois ESGR volunteers Scott Klein and Robert Lewis for the ceremony.
If any Illinois Chamber member would like to join the hundreds of thousands of employers who have pledged to support their reserve component servicemembers, contact Laurie Silvey at lsilvey@ilchamber.org or 217-522-5512 ext. 223.
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CHAMBER JOINS COALITION AGAINST PROGRESSIVE TAX
 Illinois Chamber President and CEO Todd Maisch joined the Illinois Farm Bureau, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) and Technology and Manufacturing Association (TMA) on July 7 to announce their coalition opposing the state's progressive income tax that will be on the statewide ballot this November. Representatives from each group joined the zoom press conference from locations throughout the state.
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"Not only has [COVID-19] been a daunting public health crisis, but Americans have simultaneously faced an economic catastrophe. Unfortunately, this one-two punch has been too much for many of our businesses to overcome."
--Clark Kaericher on the COVID-19 economic crisis in the Daily Journal
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ON THE ROAD AGAIN WITH AAA AND THE CHAMBER
The Chamber teamed up with AAA Illinois for an On The Road Again social media campaign to encourage safe driving as more people begin commuting back to work this summer. AAA and the Chamber encouraged businesses to share the campaign in their own employee communications about returning to the office. The Chamber will continue to work with AAA and other members to help navigate these uncertain times.
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"Just as the public can lobby the Illinois General Assembly to shape law, the public can lobby the agencies that promulgate tax rules and comment on rulemaking proposals."
--Keith Staats on the need for people to speak up in Insight Magazine
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UNDERSTANDING YOUR INFLUENCE ON TAX LAW
Executive Director of the Illinois Chamber Tax Institute Keith Staats explained how members of the public can provide their input on rules proposed by the Illinois Department of Revenue and other state agencies in his column for the Illinois CPA Society's Summer 2020 edition of Insight magazine.
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"Over 16% unemployment is its own crisis and the unemployment statistics need to be considered on equal footing with public health metrics."
--Todd Maisch on Illinois business shutdowns in the Chicago Sun-Times
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BUSINESS LEADER PROMOTES GOOD NEWS
The June 2020 edition of Business Leader Magazine highlights the amazing things our members are doing in their communities and around the world. Featured in this issue are Chamber members: Unitedhealth, Peoria Production Shop (PPS), Caterpillar, SWIPEBY and Nexdigm.
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CHAMBER PARTNERS WITH DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE COVID-19 INFORMATION
 The Chamber teamed up with other organizations and legislators including the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, Illinois Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady, Illinois Treasurer Mike Frerichs and Illinois Senator Dick Durbin for an ongoing series of webinars to share information to thousands of participants and explore ideas relating to the COVID-19 shutdowns since businesses first began closing this March.
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CHAMBER MEMBER NEWS
Google committed $800+ million to support small businesses and crisis response efforts - including $340 million in ad grants to small and medium sized businesses (SMBas). It also includes grants to state governments in Illinois and other Midwest states as well as support for health workers and health organizations on the front lines of the crisis.
Caterpillar Inc. committed $8.5 million to support global communities and underserved populations affected by COVID-19. They also announced they would match their employee donations towards the COVID-19 response efforts at 2-to-1 level. Caterpillar has successfully raised $3.9M which $2M will go to non-for-profit agencies in central Illinois.
 Peoria Production Shop (PPS) is committed to protecting their essential employees by implementing new safety precautions and helping target employees with transportation during the COVID-19 pandemic. PPS is a premiere employer for individuals with disabilities and a vital company in Caterpillar's worldwide supply chain.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation with founding partner Vistaprint, launched the Save Small Business Fund - a grant program to provide assistance to small business owners impacted by the pandemic.
 Ford Motor Company donated 10,000 face shields to Chamber member HSHS Medical Group hospitals in Illinois. The shields fully block the face and eyes from accidental contact with liquids, and, when paired with N95 masks, are a more effective way to limit exposure to COVID-19 than with masks alone.
Illinois American Water suspended billing-related service shutoffs to is working to provide safe and clean water to all customers in Illinois to encourage personal hygiene and help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
BP America is providing fuel discounts to local heroes, first responders, doctors, nurses and hospital workers.
Salesforce is offering Salesforce Care Small Business Grants of $10,000 to provide capital to support small businesses to stay afloat. These grants will help support businesses as they work to pay salaries, replenish materials and overcome these challenging times.
Boeing is producing and donating thousands of face shields to healthcare workers serving on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A Safe Haven Foundation opened Chicago's first 100 bed COVID-19 positive isolation space for the homeless with Rush University Health Systems to help support the community when we need it the most.
Bristol Myers Squibb is committed to ensuring their patients are still able to receive their life-saving medicines. It has expanded its existing patient support programs to offer free medicine to BMS patients in the U.S. who have lost their health insurance due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
UnitedHealth Group committed to donating $500,000 to the University of Chicago Medicine as part of the UnitedHealth Group's $70M fight against COVID-19 and support impacted communities. They also announced they are taking additional action to support people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic by providing $1.5B of additional support for its customers.
BP America is donating 3 million gallons of jet fuel to FedEx and Alaska Airlines at no cost to support the timely delivery of personal protective equipment and other essential goods to areas of the U.S. at greatest risk for COVID-19.
 Dot Foods donated around $2.5M of excess supplies to those in need throughout communities.
ADM Cares announced an additional $800,000 in donations to organizations focused on addressing needs during COVID-19, including food assistance, hunger relief, and local support to hospitals and first responders.
Cigna is expanding its digital capabilities to help customers with COVID-19. These new virtual solutions will help rapidly identify and assist Cigna customers who arrive in emergency room settings with COVID-19 symptoms, and support those who are actively recovering at home. They also expanded their virtual mental health provider network allowing patients to talk, text or video with their therapist during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond!
Argonne National Laboratory's scientists are collaborating with research teams from around the country to deliver analysis and share discoveries that are significantly contributing to the global war against COVID-19.
Hanson Professional Services, Inc. placed in the top 175 on the Engineer News-Records (ENR) "Top 500 Design Firms." Companies are ranked according to their previous years revenue generated by design services.
Ameren Illinois is offering hardship grants to small businesses and non-profits that have fallen behind on their electric bills due to the pandemic.
State Farm launched their Neighborhood Assist 2020 program to promote causes that help build: safer, stronger, and better educated communities. Those interested in the program can prepare now by going to the website and downloading the submission guide and other resources.
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