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Business and Economic Development
July 7, 2020 Business Update
Click HERE or on graphic below to read the latest Business Update.
Business Interruption Grants Program (BIG) Launched
The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) has launched the first round of Business Interruption Grants (BIG) by providing $60 million to businesses experiencing losses or business interruption as a result of COVID-19 related closures. The BIG Program is available for up to 3,500 businesses that experienced a limited ability to operate due to COVID-19 related closures. DCEO will begin distributing funds to qualifying businesses in early July.
In the first wave of grants, priority will be given to small businesses that have been heavily restricted or completely shut down during the pandemic. Additional priority will be given to businesses located in disproportionately impacted areas (DIAs), or low-income areas that have had high rates of COVID-19 cases. Any Skokie Business in Zip Code 60077 is located in a DIA as defined by DCEO. Businesses eligible for the program must have experienced extreme hardship, demonstrated by experiencing eligible costs or losses in excess of the grant amount since March.
Specifically, the program includes support for:
- Businesses located in DIAs Where There Was Recent Property Damage from Civil Unrest
- Bars and Restaurants - $20 million for bars and restaurants unable to offer outside service, providing 1,000 grants of up to $20,000
- Barbershops and Salons - $10 million for barbershops and salons, providing 1,000 grants of $10,000 each
- Gyms and Fitness Centers - $10 million for gyms and fitness centers that have lost significant revenue due to COVID-19, providing 500 grants of $20,000 each
Businesses must have been in operation for at least three months prior to March 2020 and must meet specific annual revenue criteria outlined in document below.
WHEN AND WHERE TO APPLY: DCEO began accepting applications on June 26th. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REVIEW APPLICATION QUESTIONS AND DOCUMENTS.
NEW - Phase 4 Opening Guidelines Released for June 26
To prepare businesses and employers to implement new and updated safety guidelines in Phase 4, the State of Illinois has developed a business toolkit complete with signage, posters, and other resources to ensure business and activities are conducted in accordance with the latest public health recommendations.
Phase 4 guidelines include five new industry categories and updated recommendations for the existing categories from Phase 3. Each set of guidelines includes a common set of guidelines that are expected and encouraged among all employers and activity types, as well as workplace and program-specific guidelines.
Welcome Sketchbook Brewing Company to Skokie!
Mayor’s Van Dusen's Statement – Sketchbook Brewing Company's Expansion to Skokie:
In early September, the Village received confirmation that Sketchbook Brewing Company is planning to open a 14,000 square-foot brewery with an attached 2,000 square-foot taproom at 4901 Main Street in Skokie. This is an expansion from Sketchbook’s existing Evanston brewery and taproom, and we are very excited to welcome them to Skokie. The 4901 Main Street building where Sketchbook will be located is owned by Mark McCracken of PS Greetings, a decades-old Skokie manufacturing facility that recently expanded its operations on Searle Parkway to manufacture millions of holiday gift boxes as part of Walmart’s “Made in the USA” initiative. Within the last week, Mark McCracken entered into a lease with Sketchbook owners Shawn Decker and Cesar Marron for the new location that is situated on the south side of Main Street, just east of the Skokie Valley Multi-Use Trail. The site is close to Downtown Skokie, the Illinois Science + Technology Park, the CTA Yellow Line Oakton Street station and the multi-use trail, making it a very convenient location for both Skokie residents and employees who work in Downtown Skokie. Initial estimates are that the brewery will be finished sometime in mid-to-late spring 2020, with the taproom opening a few months later during the summer months. This announcement marks another significant advancement in redeveloping not only Downtown Skokie, but adjacent areas on Main Street and Skokie Boulevard. We are proud to welcome Sketchbook Brewing Company and its entrepreneurial owners!