Aurora – Assistant Senate Majority Leader Linda Holmes (D-Aurora) is reminding small businesses in DuPage, Kane and Will counties that Economic Injury Disaster Loans are still available for those organizations affected by civil unrest that occurred from May 26 to June 8, 2020. She also is sharing information on upcoming workshops for businesses interested in the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program.

The Small Business Administration is urging those eligible to apply before the deadline of March 23.

“If your business suffered damage or loss during this period last spring, I encourage you to apply for these low-interest loans,” Holmes said. “This does not cover COVID related losses, but those due to the civil unrest that took place in communities across the country.”

According to the SBA, working capital loans up to $2 million are available at 3 percent for small businesses and 2.75 percent for private nonprofit organizations, with terms up to 30 years. The loans are intended to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other expenses that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred. To be considered for this assistance, eligible entities need to apply by the deadline.

Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at DisasterLoan.sba.gov and should apply under SBA declaration # 16494, not for the COVID-19 program.

For those interested in participating in IDOT’s DBE program, IDOT will be hosting free virtual workshops throughout March. The DBE program provides minorities, women and other eligible small businesses an opportunity to participate in highway, transit and airport contracts that are federal and state funded.

“Now is an ideal time to get involved in the DBE program: because of the $45 billion Rebuild Illinois plan, IDOT is helping to deliver the largest capital program in state history,” Holmes said. This promotes equity and inclusion, as well as diversifying job sites and workforce to reflect the communities it serves.”

Workshop information, including dates and times, is available at http://ow.ly/UB4Z50DL59u. Advance registration is required.

 Members of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus talk about why Black History Month is important to them, to our state and to our country. Watch here: https://youtu.be/3CRb1br504s

CHICAGO – State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) is excited thousands of people will be able to receive their COVID-19 dose at the United Center starting next month.

“I am excited that the United Center, which falls in the district I represent, will be home to a new mass vaccination site,” Van Pelt said. “Thousands of people will have access to this site, which will help increase the efficiency of the vaccine distribution in underprivileged areas like the ones I represent.”

The implementation of this site – which was announced by the governor Friday – is a joint collaboration with state, local and federal officials, and will open for 1B+ vaccinations starting March 10.

SPRINGFIELD – During the first peak of the COVID-19 pandemic last spring, the Illinois General Assembly passed a law offering additional workers’ compensation protections to first responders and essential workers. Today, the governor signed State Senator Bill Cunningham’s measure to extend those protections by six months.

The law allows essential workers and first responders to file for workers’ compensation benefits if they contract COVID-19 during the course of their employment – providing them with additional economic support while they recover from the illness. Employers have an opportunity to rebut workers’ claims by demonstrating they followed all applicable public health guidelines.

MARYVILLE – With the Paycheck Protection Program now more accessible to smaller businesses, State Senator Rachelle Crowe wants to make sure local entrepreneurs are aware of recent changes to the federal program.

“The federal Paycheck Protection Program has been a great opportunity that has helped many of our local small businesses overcome financial burdens, but it was difficult to access for some of our smallest business owners,” Crowe said. “If you looked into the program before but decided you didn’t qualify or wouldn’t be able to fill out the paperwork, it’s worth looking into again after the recent changes.”

The loan calculation formula has been changed in hopes of making it easier for sole proprietors, independent contractors and self-employed residents to qualify for relief. They’ve also established that student loan debt and prior incarceration will no longer prevent small business owners from obtaining relief.

“If your business employs 20 people or less, now is the time to apply,” Crowe added. “The federal government has opened a special window where only the smallest businesses – which make up 98% of the small business community – can apply.”

This special application window opened Feb. 24 and extends for two weeks.

More information about the PPP program, including how to apply, is available on the Small Business Administration’s website.

CHICAGO – State Senator Bill Cunningham wants to make sure local entrepreneurs are aware of recent changes to the federal Paycheck Protection Program, meant to make the program more accessible to smaller businesses.

“The PPP program has been a great opportunity that has helped many of our local small businesses stay afloat, but it was hard to access for some of our smallest business owners,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the southwest suburbs. “If you looked into the program before but decided you didn’t qualify or wouldn’t be able to fill out the paperwork, it’s worth looking again after the recent changes.”

Centreville – With the State’s Rebuild Illinois program in full swing, State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) announced a $1.5 million shovel-ready construction project in downtown East St. Louis on Thursday.

“I’m pleased that the State is prioritizing the revitalization of historic landmarks in our community, like the Broadview Hotel,” Belt said. “This project will create hundreds of jobs downtown and will provide new and affordable housing and development to a city in need of investment in local infrastructure.”

Part of the statewide construction program that will support new development across Illinois, the project is set to renovate the historic former Broadview Hotel in downtown East St. Louis, to create transit-oriented affordable housing and commercial development.

GLENVIEW – To advocate for a solution to skyrocketing prescription drug prices and high out-of-pocket costs for patients, State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview) joined the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network for a town hall Monday night to discuss a new bill that would require insurers to offer more predictable prescription medication coverage.

“An individual with cancer or another life-threatening disease should be able to follow the treatment plan set by their doctor without having to skip meals, mortgage payments or other necessities,” Senator Fine said. “Lower, more transparent prescription drug pricing is critical to improving health care access across Illinois.”

At the town hall, Senator Fine discussed the importance of affordable health care and highlighted current laws and new legislation to help reduce patients’ out-of-pocket expenses.

Senator Fine has signed on to a bill that would require health insurance companies to offer plans with more stable specialty prescription drug coverage, such as a flat fee copay or a copay cap.

Of the more than 500 plans offered across all insurance companies and counties in Illinois, less than 10% provide patients with an affordable, predictable way to pay for specialty medicines. As a result, patients often don’t know the true cost of their prescription until they get to the register at the pharmacy.

“No patient should have to worry whether they’ll be able to afford their life-saving medication,” Senator Fine said. “Reasonable, reliable cost-sharing requirements can help give Illinois patients and families the stability they need to access care and better their health.”

Senator Fine is chief co-sponsor of Senate Bill 275, which has been assigned to the Insurance Committee.