ILBA INFORMATION UPDATE MARCH 30, 2020
COVID 19 Disruption Monday, March 30, 2020
Illinois Liquor Control Commission: Dispelling of Rumor:
Today the ILCC issued a statement regarding alcohol sales in Illinois. “Alcohol sales will continue throughout (and beyond) the Governor’s Emergency Declaration”. Chima Enyia, Executive Director, Illinois Liquor Control Commission.
Stay-At-Home Timeline:
President Trump has extended the voluntary National shutdown through April 30, 2020. Governor Pritzker’s Executive Order currently is in place through April 7, 2020. Governor Pritzker is reviewing the date daily.
Hospitality Emergency Grant Program – deadline to file April 1, 2020:
Links for more information about the Hospitality Emergency Grant Program click and the grant application are below.
https://us.accion.org/news/covid-19-hospitality-business-grant-program/
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ilgrant
Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) – Unemployment Rates:
We have received many calls asking if employer’s unemployment rates will be going up? The response we received from IDES was: It is the intention to not have employers held chargeable for claims filed against them due to COVID-19 related issues. However, this requires a change in state law for this to happen. IDES is working with the Governor’s office on legislation to address this issue.
IDES Unemployment on-line filing schedule:
To break up the congestion on the IDES web site, IDES is asking people to follow the below schedule:
Last Names Starting with A to M – File on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday
Last Names Starting with N to Z – File on Monday, Wednesday and Friday
Anyone can file on Saturday
Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act:
COVID-19 Relief Bill Passed & Signed Into Law – Friday afternoon, the House passed and the President signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, a $2 trillion disaster relief package intended to offset the economic fallout of the COVID-19 crisis. In our previous email, we outlined the key elements of the legislation that would affect beverage licensees. None of those changed in the House bill that was signed by the President.
While the main headline from the package are one-time $1,200 direct payments to adults making up to $75,000, for beverage retailers who are considered small businesses, there are a handful of provisions in the law to help get through the coming weeks including SBA loans that can be forgiven if certain criteria are met. Businesses can receive loans up to $10 million, based on how much the company paid its employees between Jan. 1 and Feb. 29. The loans will carry an interest rate up to 4%. The bill provides for an expedited origination process. Should a business use the loan funds for the approved purposes and maintain the average size of its full-time workforce based on when it received the loan, the principal of the loan will be forgiven, and the company will only need to pay back the interest accrued.
Other CARES Act legislative resources include:
The CARES Act: What You Need to Know (Covington & Burling)
- COVID-19: Congress Approves Historic Coronavirus Relief Package (K&L Gates)
- Senate Finance Committee outline (Senate Finance Committee)
Small Business Administration – Guidance & Loan Resources – Small business owners in all U.S. states, Washington D.C., and territories are currently eligible to apply for a long term low-interest loan due to Coronavirus (COVID-19). The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program provides small businesses with working capital loans of up to $2 million that can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing. You can apply for disaster assistance online or via mail. For questions, please contact the Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 or (TTY) (800) 877-8339. APPLY FOR DISASTER ASSISTANCE.
Daniel D. Clausner, ILBA Executive Director