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Resume McHenry County – IDPH updates back-to-school COVID guidance

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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!

 

IDPH updates back-to-school COVID guidance

McHenry County school districts are finalizing their plans and guidelines for the fall in the wake of the relaxed COVID-19 guidelines adopted by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
On July 9, the Illinois Department of Public Health fully adopted relaxed guidance from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and strongly recommends, but does not mandate, that it be followed. The COVID-19 vaccine is readily available to all state residents age 12 and older.
Students and teachers who are vaccinated against COVID-19 are no longer mandated by the state to wear masks inside school buildings. Updated guidelines recommend a distance of at least 3 feet between students in classrooms, and adopting multiple prevention strategies, such as masking and disinfecting, when maintaining that distance is not possible. Vaccinated students will not be required to quarantine or undergo testing after close contact with a confirmed case. All school bus passengers must be masked, regardless of vaccination status, to comply with the state mandate requiring masking on all mass transit.
You can find the IDPH statement on the updated guidelines by clicking here.
Earlier this month, McHenry County’s school superintendents wrote a joint letter to the IDPH, the State Board of Education and Governor Pritzker asking them to update their COVID-19 guidelines and not burden children with more requirements than vaccinated adults.
As of today, school districts that have decided to make masking optional include McHenry Elementary District 15, McHenry High School District 156, Nippersink District 2, Johnsburg District 12, and Richmond-Burton High School District 157.

 

First, the ‘McHenry County Made’ video…

Eating, drinking, and shopping local has been crucial to helping McHenry County’s businesses recover from the economic damage wrought by COVID-19.
When you shop local, you’re doing more than enjoying top-quality products and services. You’re saving McHenry County jobs and helping create new ones. No part is too small.
If you like keeping your hard-earned money local, did you know that there’s a special designation for the fine food, drinks, arts and entertainment, gifts and other products made right here? It’s called “McHenry County Made,” and it’s bestowed on local products by our friends at Visit McHenry County! Click on the video above for a taste, and then scroll down to the next article to learn what the designation means – and if you’re a local business owner, how you can get it.
You can click here for a list of businesses with the designation. If you need to look elsewhere to find what you need but still want to keep your money in Illinois, click here for a list of products proudly made in Illinois, courtesy of the Illinois Office of Tourism.
And of course, nothing says “McHenry County Made” like our bountiful and state-renowned farmers’ markets, which you can check out by clicking here.

 

So, what’s ‘McHenry County Made’?

To receive the “McHenry County Made” designation from Visit McHenry County (and be featured on its social media, newsletters and other forms of publicity), businesses must produce their crafts, products and wares in the county.
If this sounds like your business, here are some guidelines:
  • Small-batch operations are favored over mass production, but large operations rooted in humble beginnings also will be considered.
  • If possible, subjects should embody the “McHenry County Made” philosophy by using local resources to produce their goods.
  • While it’s important to personify McHenry County, it’s also important to shatter preconceived notions of the county. Visit McHenry County is always looking for subjects who are doing something you wouldn’t expect to be made here.
  • The more history behind a business, the better. That could mean a family-owned business that spans generations, or a business housed in a building with a rich history.
  • There are many artisan communities in McHenry County, from brewers to candy makers to custom furniture makers. Visit McHenry County would like to profile the most unique members of those communities and show they help support each other.
  • Visit McHenry County will look for companies intertwined with other McHenry County businesses, as well as artisans and businesses who purposely came to McHenry County for a specific reason or natural resource.
  • Subjects must have a rich visitor experience component.
If this sounds like your business, and you either wish to apply for the designation or learn more, email sales@visitmchenrycounty.com. If you know a small business owner who would qualify, please forward this email to them and encourage them to look into it.

 

Apprenticeship opportunities expanding

If you’re looking to get quality job training (or retraining), or you’re an employer seeking to train employees, the state gave its Apprenticeship Illinois program a significant funding boost to help you.
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity last week announced an $8 million expansion of the program to train people to work in high-demand industries, as well as industries hit hard by COVID-19.
You can learn more about the Apprenticeship Illinois program by clicking here – and there are several local resources available as well.
The McHenry County Workforce Network has grant funding to assist employers in offsetting the cost of training an apprentice. For more information, contact Julie Courtney at 815-334-2779 or by email at ACourtney@mchenrycountyil.gov.
Also, McHenry County College has apprenticeship programs and additional resources for support. You can start by clicking here if you’re interested; for more information, contact Catherine Jones, Associate Vice President of Workforce Development, at 815-479-7751 or at cjones60@mchenry.edu.

 

Behind on Rent or utilities? The county can help you!

The federal moratorium on residential evictions to prevent COVID-related homelessness expires at the end of the month – and indications are that this most recent extension will be the final one.
That’s why programs like the McHenry County Emergency Utility and Rental Assistance Program are so important – and why we’re working hard to spread the word.
The program, financed through federal COVID stimulus funding, is designed to help people behind on their rent or utilities due to pandemic-related hardship stay afloat.
Applicants can qualify for up to 18 months of assistance with future bills, or up to 12 months of past-due payments, provided they meet the eligibility and income guidelines. Immigration status is not a factor, and is not asked of applicants.
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.

 

Back on the Fox and the Chain O’ Lakes

With COVID-19 restrictions lifted, Resume McHenry County will continue to highlight the return of McHenry County’s iconic attractions.
It’s hard to think of anything more quintessentially McHenry County than boating on the Fox River and the Chain O’ Lakes.
By all accounts, boaters more than made up for a lost 2020 over the Independence Day weekend. Also, a lot of new boaters have been taking to the water as last year’s lockdowns piqued interest in the hobby.
Boating accidents across Illinois have decreased steadily over the past 25 years, but July – the peak of boating season – also is the most dangerous month for water-related injuries, according to the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office.
The Sheriff’s Office and its Marine Unit are reminding people to wear life vests on boats and personal watercraft, always boat sober, know the rules of the waterways, and to be aware of everything and everyone on the river with you.
Keep cool, and happy boating!

 
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.