Small Business Improvement Fund, Wage Reminder

The Illinois Restaurant Association continues to engage with local, state, and federal officials to help employers and employees address concerns about COVID-19.

Please see the below resources and information for your business - updated as of 6:05 p.m. on Monday, January 4.

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Updates to City of Chicago's Small Business Improvement Fund Programs

The city of Chicago's Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF) program uses Tax Increment Financing (TIF) revenues to help owners of commercial and industrial properties within specific TIF districts to repair or remodel their facilities for their own business or on behalf of tenants.

Program participants can receive grants to cover between 25 percent and 75 percent of the cost of remodeling work, with a maximum grant of $100,000 for commercial properties and $150,000 for industrial properties. The grant, which is administered by SomerCor on the City's behalf, does not have to be repaid.

Starting Jan. 1, 2021, SBIF staff has begun to roll out a series of enhancements to the program. Most notably, the maximum grant amount has increased to $150,000 for commercial properties and $250,000 for industrial properties. Additionally, commercial applicants may be eligible to receive reimbursement up to 90% of eligible project costs.

Click here to learn more and sign up for upcoming informational webinars.

Lake County Restaurants Year In Review

Lake County News-Sun recently shared an article highlighting the efforts that local restaurants have taken to adapt and survive throughout 2020.

Click here to read more.

State of Illinois Rebuild Distressed Communities Grant Funding Available

Rebuild Distressed Communities is a $25 million economic recovery program to support economically distressed Illinois businesses and communities that have sustained property damage due to civil unrest on or after May 25th, 2020.

The Rebuild Distressed Communities grant program will reimburse the cost of repairs for structural damages, including repairs to storefronts and entrances, improving electrical systems, and restoring exterior work.

Businesses located in the zip codes listed here are eligible to apply. Businesses not listed in those zip codes may still be eligible if they operate in an economically distressed area, listed here, and may apply to have their zip code included.

Applicants have until Thursday, January 21 to submit applications for Round 2. Applications will be accepted in rounds until funding is exhausted. Any impacted business may apply during any round.

Click here to learn more.

Reminder - State of Illinois Minimum Wage and Tipped Wage Increases 

As of January 1, 2021, the state of Illinois' minimum wage is $11.00, and the tipped wage is $6.60. Click here to review the updated rates. Click here to read the full notice.

Businesses located in the city of Chicago or in municipalities within Cook County that have opted into Cook County's minimum wage ordinance must comply with local minimum wage regulations.

Now Required - Sexual Harassment Prevention Training, Spanish Model Now Available

Effective January 1, 2020, Illinois employers are required to provide annual sexual harassment prevention training to all employees. Compliance must be achieved by December 31 every year.

Restaurants and bars are also required to provide supplemental sexual harassment prevention training to all employees, regardless of employment classification.

What Restaurants and Bars Need to Know

• Businesses may use their own internal program if it meets mandated minimum training standards.

• Approved online training is also available at ServSafe.com.

• Free online training for restaurants and bars is also available in English and Spanish on the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) website.

• Proof of training must be provided upon request from IDHR.

• Records should include the names of employees trained, the training date, sign-in sheets, copies of certificates of participation, and a copy of all written or recorded materials that comprise the training, as well as the name of the training provider, if applicable.

• Records may be paper-based, or electronic.

• In addition to the training requirement, employers must also establish a written sexual harassment prevention policy available in English and Spanish, and provide a copy to all employees within the first calendar week of employment.

• The policy may be included in the company handbook, or distributed as a separate document.

• Employees should acknowledge receipt of the policy with their signature.

• The IRA has developed a policy template which has been vetted by our attorneys, and is available to download in English and Spanish on our website.  

Click here to review the FAQ from IDHR. Contact IRA Director of Education Mary Wilkie with any questions.

Chicago Park District Notice of Availability for 2021 Concessions

The Chicago Park District has posted a Notice of Availability for the 2021 Concessions Program Opportunities Application.

The application is available electronically here. The application should be submitted electronically by Monday, January 18 at 3:00 p.m.

Click here to learn more and apply today.