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The end of capacity restrictions are almost here!

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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!

 

The end of capacity restrictions is at hand!

On June 11, a week from this Friday, all capacity limits on Illinois businesses, gatherings, and events will be lifted, provided the metrics continue to move in the right direction.
We’ll say that last part again – provided the metrics continue to move in the right direction.
The best way you can do your part to make sure we don’t stumble at the finish line is to get vaccinated against COVID-19, if you haven’t already done so. The vaccine is safe and effective – half of all American adults are vaccinated, as are half of all Illinois adults, according to CDC and IDPH data. At least two-thirds of Illinois adults have received at least one dose.
Not sure how to get the vaccine? It’s super easy, and an article in this e-newsletter will show you how.
McHenry County has been through a lot in the past 15 months. Children have been out of school, businesses have had to close their doors – some permanently – and people had their job hours cut. Even when Illinois lifts its restrictions on June 11, there’s going to be a lot of cleaning up to do, and a lot of people to help.
We win this fight one victory at a time – and a major victory will be won June 11 if we all do our part to ensure that COVID-19 doesn’t try to make a last-gasp comeback. So let’s vax up, McHenry County!

 

Hiring? Looking for work? The Workforce Network can help!

The McHenry County Workforce Network is a tremendous asset for businesses looking to hire, and for people looking for jobs.
From 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 12, the Workforce Network will be holding an outdoor job fair in the parking lot of the McHenry County Courthouse. A number of businesses and local governments looking for workers will be there.
The Workforce Network offers a number of programs and services for employers and job seekers seeking assistance (such as resume help) in meeting the challenges of today’s job market. It’s a one-stop shop for employment related services in McHenry County, and we’ll be talking about it more in upcoming editions as businesses fully reopen and people start returning to work.
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.

 

Restaurant Revitalization Fund out of money

The Restaurant Revitalization Fund closed to new applicants last week.
The $28.6 billion program opened up to applicants on May 3, with priority going for the first three weeks to women, minority and veteran-owned businesses. However, the US Small Business Administration reported that by May 18 it had already received more than 303,000 applications seeking more than $69 billion.
The program, which had fewer restrictions regarding spending grant money received than the Paycheck Protection Program, was tailored for a restaurant and dining industry that has been hammered by lockdowns and capacity restrictions.
Likewise, the SBA stopped accepting new PPP applications at the start of the month after it ran out of money for new borrowers – the enrollment period was supposed to end on May 31.
Our website, www.resumemchenrycounty.com, has a list of links to help you navigate available federal and state assistance.

 

Shuttered venue grants are (finally) on their way

After a string of delays, awards for the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant are finally starting to roll out, Small Business Administration Administrator Isabel Guzman testified before the House Small Business Committee last week.
Congress and former President Trump approved the $15 billion program last December. After a months-long wait – which the SBA said was needed to set up the program – the application portal went live on April 8, only to be taken down hours later; it finally went live on April 26.
You can reach the application portal by clicking here. A checklist of the documentation needed to apply for the grant can be found here.
The grant is targeted to help the live entertainment industry, which has been hit hard by COVID-19 closures and capacity limitations. Eligible businesses open to music venues, live theater venues, museums, small movie theaters, zoos, aquariums and other attractions. A total of $16.25 billion has been set aside, at least $2 billion of which is set aside for venues with no more than 50 employees.
Applicants can qualify for grants equal to 45 percent of their gross earned revenue. Entities that suffered the greatest economic loss will have top priority, starting with those that suffered a 90 percent or greater revenue loss between April and December 2020. Entities that suffered 70 percent or greater loss will have second-tier priority, and those that suffered 25 percent or greater loss will have third-tier priority.
Grant funds can be used to cover payroll, rent, utilities, scheduled mortgage payments, worker-protection expenditures, and other expenses. Any venue or promoter that received a Paycheck Protection Program loan on or after Dec. 27, 2020, will have their grant reduced by the PPP loan amount. Click here for a list of frequently asked questions regarding the grant.

 

Please do your part and get vaccinated

As we wrote in the opening of this week’s edition, Illinois is on track to fully reopen in less than two weeks, but only if metrics continue to be favorable.
If you’ve done your part and you’re among the protected, thank you. If you haven’t gotten the vaccine yet, and you don’t have a medical reason not to, it’s time.
It’s easier than ever to get the vaccine – the McHenry County Department of Health, as well as many pharmacies, are taking walk-in appointments.
You can make an appointment for an MCDH clinic or other government-run vaccination site by visiting the state’s vaccine registration page at https://covidvaccination.dph.illinois.gov. For a list of retail pharmacies offering the vaccine, visit http://coronavirus.illinois.gov, or the MCDH vaccine locator page at http://bit.ly/MCDHFindVaccine. Even though the MCDH and other sites are taking walk-ins, it’s still a good idea to make an appointment.
People without Internet or who need translation services can schedule an appointment through the MCDH Call Center at 815-334-4045, or by calling the Illinois Department of Public Health hotline at 833-621-1284. If you have a neighbor or relative who needs assistance, please help them make an appointment or help them contact the Call Center.

 

Harvard Milk Days is back, in two parts

As COVID-19 restrictions continue to abate as more people get vaccinated, we’ve been highlighting the return of McHenry County’s iconic attractions.
One of McHenry County’s oldest annual festivals is, in organizers’ own words, “mooving forward.”
Harvard Milk Days, a McHenry County institution since dairy farmers publicly pledged in 1942 to step up milk production to help the war effort, officially kicked off last Saturday with a golf outing. The festival grounds open this Friday, and the weekend holds the tractor and equipment display, the two-mile Milk Run and Fun Run, the milk drinking contest and a talent show.
However, other cherished events – such as the bed races, the big wheel races and the kids’ parade – will not take place until October, based in the restrictions that were in place at the time that organizers planned the event. Other event times and dates have not yet been finalized.
Visit www.milkdays.com for schedules and updates.

 
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.