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Tune in TONIGHT for the McHenry County COVID-19 Townhall Meeting

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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!

 

Rental Assistance Program Up and Running

Qualified renters who have fallen behind on their rent or utilities because of pandemic-related hardship can now apply for relief through the McHenry County Emergency Utility and Rental Assistance Program.
The online application portal, which went live yesterday, 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. It is anticipated that the web portal will soon have a translation function for Spanish and other commonly spoken languages.
McHenry County received $9.1 million in federal COVID-19 stimulus funding to help qualified renters. The assistance program aims to reduce or eliminate pandemic-related evictions, prevent homelessness, avoid damaged credit that could hurt future housing opportunities for renters, and repair landlord/tenant relationships strained because of lack of payment.
Renters who qualify (and landlords can apply, too) can receive rent and utility assistance for up to six months in arrears, and up to three months in advance. Awarded funds are paid directly to the landlord or the utility company.
Qualifying households must be at or below 80% of their area median income – households at 50% or lower or that include dependents or seniors 62 years and older will get priority. They also must be able to demonstrate a loss of income or employment as a result of COVID-19. Immigration status is not a factor in determining eligibility.
More information on the program can be found on the online portal. Please help us spread the word to get this assistance out to people in need.

 

A Bridge to Illinois Restored

Governor Pritzker last Thursday rolled out a list of looser restrictions that will act as a “bridge” between Illinois’ current Phase 4 mitigation under the Restore Illinois plan and the end of capacity limits under Phase 5.
Illinois will move into this “Phase 4.5” once 70% of seniors statewide have received at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine, and no increase in COVID-19 metrics is recorded. Changes under this bridge include doubling capacity for outdoor festivals and spectator events to 30 people per 1,000 square feet, increasing capacity for retail, museums, amusement parks and theaters to 60% capacity, and other improvements. Phase 4.5 also will allow for the lesser of 1,000 people or 60% capacity for conferences and conventions.
About two-thirds of McHenry County seniors have received at least one dose of vaccine, according to state data.
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has more on the bridge, and what it means for businesses, which you can read by clicking here.
Resume McHenry County will keep you posted on the latest developments and any changes to limits on businesses.

 

Tune in TONIGHT for McHenry County’s next COVID-19 Townhall Meeting

Did you know there’s a new way to schedule your COVID-19 vaccination? Tune in tonight to hear about the many paths people have to sign up for and receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
McHenry County government and the McHenry County Department of Health are teaming up again to host a second online virtual town-hall meeting to update people and answer their questions.
The meeting will be streamed live on Facebook from 7 to 8 p.m. tonight on the pages of McHenry County government and the McHenry County Department of Health. A Facebook account is not necessary to watch it.
Can’t make it tonight? Don’t worry – it will be posted on the McHenry County Government website later this week.
You can click here to watch the original Feb. 9 town hall. The link includes a list of answers to the most common questions asked by the audience.

 

Enjoy a McHenry County Staycation

Who needs Cancun and Florida when we have Crystal Lake and Fox River Grove?
Are you looking for ideas for a fun, safe, and socially distanced McHenry County spring break staycation? Look no further than our friends at Visit McHenry County, who have put together a list of outdoor activities and places to dine and stay.
You can see their list of ideas on the web at www.visitmchenrycounty.com/springbreak.
And with warm weather returning, which means outdoor dining, check out their list of outdoor venues at www.visitmchenrycounty.com/Outdoor-Dining.

 

Federal, State Tax Filing Deadline Pushed Back to May 17

For the second straight year, April 15 will not be the most hated day for taxpayers.
The IRS and the Treasury Department announced last week that tax day will be postponed to May 17 in recognition of the continued hardships Americans continue to face because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Illinois Department of Revenue followed suit and likewise pushed the deadline for filing state taxes to May 17 as well.
Taxpayers who need more time past May 17 to file their federal taxes can request a filing extension to Oct. 15 by filing Form 4868.

 

Board of Health Halves Health Permit Fees

The McHenry County Board of Health has voted to reduce all health permit fees for food establishments by 50%.
The fee reduction will cover the May 1, 2021, to April 30, 2022, permit year and applies to health permits in all food establishment categories including fixed establishments, mobile food units and temporary events.
The Board of Health voted to reduce the fees to provide relief to food establishments that have endured significant financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The fee reduction is in addition to the extension of the permit renewal date until June 30, which also was approved by the board.

 
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.