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Advance McHenry County (relief funding) program launches

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!

 

Advance McHenry County program launches

A new McHenry County program will put $59.7 million in federal COVID-19 relief funding to work helping community partners and the local economy rebuild stronger from the pandemic.
The County Board is launching the Advance McHenry County program to administer thoughtful and impactful allocation of American Rescue Plan Act funding that has been allocated to the McHenry County government.
Business and job recovery will account for a major portion of the first phase of the program. Under the plan, the first half of the funding, which McHenry County has already received, will be dedicated to workforce development and jobs programs, small business support, economic development, and infrastructure as well as aiding non-profit agencies.
Groups eligible for funding will apply through an online portal and will be selected based on how they meet an established set of criteria. The funding will be allocated wisely and transparently, and the public will be able to track it through news releases, public reports, and an interactive online dashboard.
We at Resume McHenry County will keep you posted on the program and funding eligibility, so make sure to read our weekly e-newsletter and pass it along to others.
County Board members heard a presentation on the program and the allocation process at its Committee of the Whole meeting last Thursday. You can watch it by clicking here – the presentation begins at the 17-minute mark.

 

MCC’s job fair is tomorrow!

As a reminder, McHenry County College is holding its annual Job and Internship Fair tomorrow!
More than 60 area employers will have tables at the fair from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and they’re eager to talk with people seeking full-time or part-time work, or internships.
The job fair is free, but click here to register in advance online. Organizers are also encouraging attendees to create a free account on the MCC Hire a Scot job website, which you can find here.
Make sure you dress like you would for a job interview, and bring copies of your resume – attendees must also be masked in order to comply with state COVID-19 restrictions.

 

Get your CDL through McHenry County College

America needs truck drivers. If making a good living getting food, vital supplies – and Christmas presents – back onto shelves sounds like something you’d like to do, getting a commercial driver’s license from McHenry County College’s awesome training program starts with a simple email or phone call!
The college offers a 160-hour comprehensive, hands-on CDL training program to prepare you to take the state Class A license test for tractor trailers, livestock carriers, flatbeds and other towed carriers. New classes start weekly!
Applicants must be at least 18 years old, able to read and write English, and have a valid driver’s license. You can learn more about the program by clicking here and by clicking on the video above.
For more information, call 815-479-7879 or email careertraining@mchenry.edu to schedule a 30-minute pre-registration orientation.
Participants in the program are eligible to receive a training grant from the McHenry County Workforce Network to cover the cost – the application can be completed online on the network’s website at www.mchenrycountyworkforce.com.

 

State expands food and utility aid, child care assistance

Low-income households can take advantage of augmented state programs to help vulnerable residents cover the costs of groceries, utilities, child care and other essentials.
Illinois is releasing $327 million in assistance through the Low-Income Household Energy Assistance Program, and the Community Services Block Grant Program, to assist Illinois’ most vulnerable residents with household expenses.
Households must be at or below 200% of the federal poverty level to qualify. To apply, visit www.helpillinoisfamilies.com, or call 833-711-0374. Hotline assistance is available in more than 30 languages.
Also, low-income Illinois parents seeking jobs are now eligible for up to three months of free child care, under an expansion of the state Child Care Assistance Program.
Program eligibility has expanded to parents who are at or below 200% of the poverty level, provided they are unemployed and actively searching for work. Parents who find work, or who enroll in an education program within that three-month period, remain eligible for up to 12 months of assistance.
McHenry County parents who qualify must apply through Community Coordinated Child Care (4-C), which administers the assistance program here in McHenry County. You can click here for a copy of the application, which is available in English and Spanish, or you can call 815-758-8149, ext. 225, to have one mailed to you. Completed applications can be emailed to 4ccap@four-c.org, delivered by regular mail, or dropped off at 4-C’s office at 667 Ridgeview Drive, in McHenry.
People who don’t live in McHenry County can click here to learn the child care resource and referral agency through which to apply for the benefit.

 

Farmers market season wrapping up

Fall’s cooler temperatures and beautiful colors come with a downside – McHenry County’s award-winning farmers’ markets are getting ready to wrap up and settle down for a long winter nap.
While some local markets, like Woodstock’s, put on an indoor winter market, others close up shop with the end of October. So whether you like the fresh produce, fresh honey, natural soaps, or the artisan crafts – or you just like to walk around and take it all in – do it while you can!
As a reminder, you can find a list of farmers’ markets, as well as their locations and hours, courtesy of our friends at Visit McHenry County, by clicking here.

 

Halloween Dog Walk of the Dead set for Saturday

Lake in the Hills is offering a spooky and safe Halloween event this weekend for you and your four-legged friend!
Dog owners are encouraged to come out starting at noon Saturday, Oct. 23, for a two-mile costume dog walk that begins and ends at the Lake in the Hills Bark Park at 9027 Haligus Road.
Dress your pup in a costume that shows off their spooky sense of style. Besides trick-or-treating at a number of booths, dogs will also get to snap a spooky photo and take a whiff of the Spooky Scent Trail.
Dogs must be leashed outside of the Bark Park fence, and must be current with their vaccinations.
Tickets are $10 per dog ($12 for nonresident dogs) and can be purchased by visiting https://bit.ly/DogWalkOfTheDead.

 

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.