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COVID-19 unemployment benefits ended

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Resume McHenry County Update!
Through our collaboration with McHenry County, we will continue to share important information on stimulus programs, COVID-19 updates, and where the county is opening up through Resume McHenry County Updates.
Please take a moment to scroll down to see new advancements this week as more and more are opening up in 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!

 

COVID-19 unemployment benefits ended

Enhanced federal unemployment insurance benefits put in place last year to help people make ends meet during the COVID-19 pandemic ended last week.
The programs that expired on Sept. 4 include:
·    Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, which provided unemployment benefits to traditionally ineligible individuals, such as the self-employed;
·    Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, which extended aid to people who had exhausted their state’s benefits period; and
·    Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, a weekly $300 boost to help people recover lost wages.
If you’re looking to get back into the workforce, there are jobs aplenty, and there are many quick and easy ways to find them and apply.
Illinois businesses have posted more than 100,000 open positions on the Illinois Job Link website at https://illinoisjoblink.illinois.gov. Through the portal, you can search for jobs, post your resume, and receive job alerts by email and text. All it takes is a few minutes to set up a free account. Likewise, if you’re a business looking to hire, you can get your help wanted ads seen by thousands by creating a free account.
Hire a Scot, McHenry County College’s job board, allows employers to post jobs for not only MCC students and alumni, but also for any McHenry County resident who registers for a free account. For more information, visit their website at www.mchenry.edu/hireascot.
And, of course, we have the McHenry County Workforce Network, which is a wonderful local asset for job seekers needing resumé help, job retraining, and many other needs. To learn more, click here to visit the Workforce Network website, email them at workforcecenterRR@yahoo.com, or call them at 815-338-7100, ext. 2771.
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While COVID unemployment benefits have expired, several are still in place. The U.S. Department of Education has extended the moratorium on payment and interest on federal student loans through the end of January, although the department has stressed that this extension will be the final one.
And starting next month, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits will increase by about 25 percent across the board for recipients.

 

President Biden announces business vaccine mandate

President Biden last Thursday announced his plan to have businesses with 100 or more employees require their workers to either get the COVID-19 vaccine or to submit to weekly testing.
The rules that will set this out are being crafted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and we will write about them in detail once they are released. Biden also required vaccinations for all workers at hospitals and health-care facilities that participate in Medicare and Medicaid, which marks a significant expansion of existing vaccine mandates for nursing homes.
In addition to these rules, President Biden issued two executive orders which include a vaccination requirement for federal employees and contractors with no testing opt-out.
Altogether, these rules and executive orders could impact an estimated 100 million Americans or about two-thirds of the workforce. You can read the six-point plan the president laid out to fight a resurgence of COVID-19 by clicking here.
As a reminder, county businesses can hold vaccine clinics through the McHenry County Department of Health for their employees. Your business or organization will need to have the physical space required to accommodate the estimated size of the clinic, as well as access to tables and chairs. Business owners can apply by completing the “Request a Clinic” form available on the MCDH’s COVID-19 Vaccine Locations page, which you can find by clicking here.
Anybody wanting the vaccine – which is safe, tested and readily available – can find locations around them by visiting www.vaccines.gov.

 

Watch some Workforce Network success stories

Earlier in this week’s edition, we mentioned our friends at the Workforce Network, which is a one-stop-shop for not only job seekers, but also employers searching for the best talent.
But don’t just take our word for it, or theirs. You can now hear first-hand how Workforce Network programs have led to fulfilling careers.
The network has started posting videos highlighting success stories, like the video clip above. You can click on it to watch, and you can click here to watch other testimonials from people who have benefitted from the opportunities the Workforce Network provides.

 

Annual County Farm Stroll set for September 26

In last week’s edition, we wrote about McHenry County College’s awesome Student Farm, and its forward-thinking Entrepreneurial Agriculture program to prepare students for a career in agribusiness.
If you missed the free tour MCC offered, don’t worry – you have an even bigger and better chance to get your farm on.
The seventh annual McHenry County Farm Stroll, a self-guided driving tour of a dozen local farms, is taking place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 26. You can click here to learn the details and find a map and locations of the participants.
While the tour is free, you will have the opportunity to purchase quality products and tasty produce- so don’t forget to bring cash. You will see something delicious that you can’t resist!
Agriculture and agritourism are big business here in McHenry County, which is 60 percent farmland composed of 95 percent family-owned farms. From produce and commodities to corn mazes, farm markets and you-pick orchards and gardens, agriculture in McHenry County generated $182.4 million in revenue in 2019, according to federal data.

 

County releases updated Water Resources Action Plan

McHenry County has released its new, professionally published Water Resources Action Plan online. The plan provides a comprehensive review of water resource issues relevant to county residents and businesses.
By incorporating the latest science, trends, and analyses, the new plan will help empower communities in McHenry County to protect, preserve, and enhance water resources for current and future generations. Featuring rich graphics and representative photos from around the county, the new plan shows where McHenry County’s water comes from, the threats that challenge water quality and quantity, and how we can protect our water resources.
The online plan, which you can find online at www.McHenryH2O.com, also features bookmarks that help to quickly locate the topics you are most interested in.

 

McHenry County’s stages open for business

With the lifting of COVID-19 capacity restrictions earlier this year, Resume McHenry County is featuring the return of its iconic attractions, and the founding of new ones.
As the melancholy Jaques famously said in Shakespeare’s “As You Like It,” all the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.
If it’s indoor theater and live performance you’re looking for as the weather gets colder, McHenry County has a number of them offering something for everybody.
The upcoming schedule for the Raue Center for the Arts in Crystal Lake includes improv comedy (including a pairing of Whose Line is it Anyway funnyman Colin Mochrie and a hypnotist) and live music, including Grammy-winning performer Amy Grant. Visit their website for a listing and to purchase tickets.
The historic Woodstock Opera House has a full winter slate of musical acts, as well as the return of Theater 121, the Opera House’s resident theater company. Visit their website for their winter and spring offerings, and ticket information.
The McHenry Downtown Indoor Theater, besides showing first-run movies, is a locally-owned venue that offers live performances. Upcoming shows include Saturday Night Live veteran Chris Kattan and comedian Mike Cannon. You can learn more about the theater and purchase tickets here.

 
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.