Dear friend,

Over the past few months, I’ve been working with community leaders and fellow lawmakers to lend a hand to those struggling as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and recent civil unrest.

As I’m sure you’re aware, these events have hit our small business community particularly hard—but there is help available.

The Business Interruption Grants (BIG) program is a series of grants totaling over $540 million for shops, restaurants, salons, fitness centers and more to help them stay afloat through this time of crisis and ensure they have the resources to open safely in the coming months.

The first round of BIG funding will award $60 million to 3,500 businesses. Here’s how those funds will be distributed:

• Businesses in disproportionately impacted areas will receive $20 million in grants to offset the cost of recent property damage.
  
  • The program will award 1,000 grants of $20,000 each to businesses who have suffered property damage in recent weeks.
  • Businesses must have been operating for at least three months prior to March 2020 and must have brought in less than $2 million in revenue in 2019.

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Dear friends,

To continue our progress in containing the spread of COVID-19, Gov. JB Pritzker announced he will extend and modify the Stay at Home Order through the end of May.

This modification is an effort to give Illinoisans more flexibility while maintaining social distancing—under the new Stay at Home Order, you may be able to spend more time outside, reopen your business or even return to work.

Here are some changes you can expect to see beginning May 1:

Face coverings will be required in public indoor spaces.

Beginning May 1, individuals over the age of 2 will be required to wear face coverings in public indoor spaces where they can’t maintain six feet of social distance, including grocery stores. The modified order will also include occupancy limits for essential businesses.

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Dear friends,

The COVID-19 pandemic challenges us to be cautious and compassionate in every aspect of our lives. Read below for information about assistance available for businesses and those in need of food, and important information on delays to some government business in the interest of public health.

As always, feel free to reach out to me through my website here with any other questions or concerns, and follow the latest developments from state government related to the pandemic at coronavirus.illinois.gov.

Sincerely,

Jacqueline Collins

State Senator, 16th Illinois Senate District

Illinois Treasurer will assist small businesses

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Dear Friends,

As we enter this season of joy, I'd like to congratulate the victory won by the National Teachers Academy. Their struggle to keep the NTA open encourages us all to stand up and make our voices heard. We should rejoice when justice wins, and remember that it does not happen on its own.

Do you have questions, concerns, or just need help contacting someone in government? Call Senator Collins' district office at (773) 224-2830.

An Important Victory For NTA

Chicago students have watched as the past decades have disrupted the academic careers of tens of thousands through closures and consolidations. Reports have noted that more students have been so displaced than the entire student population of the city of Boston.

That is why it is so important that the National Teachers Academy will keep its status as an elementary school and its student body will not merge with the nearby South Loop Elementary School. Importantly, a regional center for gifted students will remain within NTA rather than be moved to South Loop, and other changes CPS made to surrounding school attendance boundaries as part of the proposed merger will also be undone.

NTA has grown from a Level 3 school to a Level 1-plus, the highest rating under the district’s School Quality Rating Policy. Through the hard work of faculty and community support, it has closed the achievement gap and now exceeds the CPS district average, increasing its rate of students meeting or exceeding the ISAT standards from 55.9% to 74.1%.

Congratulations to the parents and the community members who fought to keep the National Teachers Academy open, not just for their advocacy but for their bravery and dedication in ensuring an important elementary school was not eliminated.

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