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Gravers Barndance is back… get your tickets by tomorrow

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Resume McHenry County Update!
Through our collaboration with McHenry County, we will continue to share important information on stimulus programs, PPP loans, COVID-19 updates and more through its Resume McHenry County Updates.
Please take a moment to scroll down to see new advancements this week as we move to open McHenry County. If MCEDC can be of any help, please call. Forward this email to your friends and family to help get the word out!

 

Take a bag of help wanted ads to go

Are you a job seeker looking to attend a job fair? Well, thanks to our friends at the McHenry County Workforce Network, you can pick up a job fair to go!
You can stop by the Workforce Network’s office at 500 Russel Court in Woodstock during normal business hours and pick up a free “job fair in a bag.” The bag is loaded with fliers from local companies looking to hire workers like yourself!
Online, you can visit the free Illinois Job Link website at https://illinoisjoblink.illinois.gov to find more than 100,000 job postings, or visit the McHenry County College job board at www.mchenry.edu/hireascot. Good hunting!
The Workforce Network is a one-stop shop for people looking to make themselves more hirable. It offers services such as one-on-one résume critiques, computer access for job searching, hiring events, reference materials, classroom training, career planning, and much more. You can visit their website at www.mchenrycountyworkforce.com to learn more; every month, the network publishes a PDF list like this one of all their workshops and resources. To learn more, email them at workforcecenterRR@yahoo.com, or call them at 815-338-7100, ext. 2771.
If the need for available and affordable child care is holding you back from seeking work, or you’re an employer whose staffing needs are being affected by child care availability, Community Coordinated Child Care, or 4-C, may be able to help you. To learn more, visit them online at www.four-c.org, or call their McHenry office at 815-344-5510.
When you visit the Workforce Network, please wear a mask if you’re not vaccinated against COVID-19. And if you’re not, what are you waiting for? Read on in this week’s edition to learn how easy it is to sign up to receive the safe and effective vaccine.

 

Data show strong Illinois recovery

The Land of Lincoln’s economy showed strong signs of recovery during the first quarter of 2021, according to federal data.
Illinois’ economy in the first quarter grew at an annual rate of 6.4%, its gross domestic product approaching the state’s pre-pandemic levels, according to data released in late June by the US Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Compared to our surrounding states, the only state with a higher rate was Indiana, at 6.8%; Kentucky’s rate is the same as that of Illinois. However, Illinois’ total GDP, which represents the market value of all goods and services produced by people and property, is at about $770 billion annually, which is below the $897.1 billion it was valued at in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The economic sectors that showed the highest rebounds were among the hardest hit by the pandemic, according to bureau data, . Accommodation and food services grew at 18.4%, and arts, entertainment and recreation grew by 38.6%.
Here’s to hoping the trend continues, turbocharged by summer travel and festival season and the June 11 end of capacity restrictions on Illinois businesses and gatherings.
You can read the bureau’s report by clicking here.

Rental assistance deadline, eligibility extended

McHenry County’s program to help people struggling to pay their rent and utilities because of COVID-related hardship has been extended and expanded!
The deadline for people to apply for aid through the McHenry County Emergency Utility and Rental Assistance Program has been extended for another year, to Sept. 30, 2022. And that’s only the start.
Under the new guidelines that just took effect, applicants can now qualify for up to 18 months of assistance (up from 15 months), and eligibility has been expanded to include people living in public or subsidized housing, as well as households already receiving support, such as housing choice vouchers.
With the CDC’s moratorium on evictions set to expire at the end of the month, programs like this are more important than ever for McHenry County residents who are among the 7 million Americans who the US Census Bureau estimates are currently behind on their rent payments.
And remember – landlords can apply for assistance just like renters.
The online application portal can be found at www.McHenryRent.com. Renters who do not have Internet access can call the McHenry County Housing Authority at 815-338-7752, or Consumer Credit Counseling Services at 815-338-5757 for Spanish speakers.

Vax up this week to be ready for school

Kids between 12 and 17 years old need to receive their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine no later than the end of this week in order to be fully vaccinated in time for the start of school.
Fully vaccinated students won’t have to worry about quarantine – missing out on classroom learning, sports and other activities – if exposed to people who test positive for COVID-19.
As an added incentive, the McHenry County Department of Health and other county vaccination locations are giving out tickets to Six Flags to anyone getting the vaccine – click here for a list.
To schedule an appointment at the McHenry County Department of Health’s vaccine clinic in McHenry, visit http://bit.ly/MCDHCOVIDVaxLoc, or call the county’s COVID-19 Call Center at 815-334-4045. The MCDH has partnered with Curative, a COVID-19 healthcare service, to oversee operations at the site. The website also lists ways to get vaccinated through private pharmacies and other entities; please choose whichever method is quickest and easiest for you.
If you’re homebound for medical reasons, the MCDH may be able to bring the vaccine to you. Call the MCDH Call Center at 815-334-4045 to find out more, and make arrangements for a home visit if you qualify.

 

Gavers Barndance is back to fighting cancer

With COVID-19 restrictions lifted, Resume McHenry County will continue to highlight the return of McHenry County’s iconic attractions.
The story of the Gavers Community Cancer Foundation is best told by its founder, local businessman and cancer survivor Steve Gavers.
“Usually, a foundation like this is formed and named for a person who is deceased. Well, I’m still here.”
Six people he knew who were diagnosed with cancer while he was undergoing treatment weren’t as fortunate as Steve, and he decided to keep fighting, even though he had beaten the disease. The annual Gavers Barndance – seven hours of food, drink and live music for adults – has raised more than $8 million for cancer research.
Last year’s bash was canceled, but it’s back this year, with a twist – the July 17 event will be held outdoors, at Emrickson Park, in Woodstock. The last day to buy tickets is tomorrow, and sales are online only – you can purchase them by clicking here.
You can learn more about the Gavers Community Cancer Foundation by visiting their website at www.gavers.org, and by following them on Facebook.
We hope we got your attention. We need your help reaching more McHenry County residents and businesses to share this important information about the COVID-19 response and connect them with vital resources.
Please take these four steps:
1. Share/forward to your email/newsletter contacts.
2. Post information to your website.
3. Follow us on social media (see below); share our posts with your followers.
4. If you are not on the McHenry County Constant Contact list, please subscribe here

Follow McHenry County Government On Social Media

Staying connected and informed is more important now than ever! Follow McHenry County on social media for regular updates on COVID-19 in our region, resources to help you navigate the pandemic, safety tips and more!

What is Resume McHenry County?

Resume McHenry County is a collaborative initiative being implemented by McHenry County and the McHenry County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) in partnership with the McHenry County community, including cities and villages, businesses and residents. The goal is to ensure a successful reopening of our economy so that we can return to our lifestyles safely and responsibly.