The Old Town Merchants and Residents Association is prepared to act as a resource for businesses, educational institutions, and community members interested in staying up-to-date on best practices for responding to COVID-19 (“Coronavirus”).
If you need assistance from an OTMRA staff member, please email OTMRA@oldtownchicago.org.
Chicago is Currently in Phase IV: Gradually Resume
New Mitigation Measures Effective Friday, November 20, 2020:
The following Industries or activities are closed indoors:
-Restaurants & Bars, Movie Theaters, Performance Venues, Museums, Group Sports, and Recreational Activities
-Meeting Rooms, Banquet Centers, Private Party Rooms, Private Clubs, Country Clubs and other Event Venues may not host gatherings indoors or outdoors
The following industries or activities may continue operating under the following regulations:
- Bars and Restaurants: Outdoor service, take-out, curbside pick-up, and delivery can continue. Reservations required for outdoor service. Private event spaces must be closed
- Retail stores: 25% capacity
- Grocery Stores and Pharmacies: 50% capacity (note: big box store that sell a combination of general retail, groceries and/or pharmacies among other goods must operate at 25% capacity)
- Places of worship: Limit each indoor space to 50 individuals, while practicing social distancing, or 25% capacity (whichever is fewer). However, special events such as weddings, potlucks, and other community events can have no more than 10 people. It is also recommended that regular services operate at no more than 10 individuals, when possible. Funerals are limited to 10 family members of the decedent, not including staff
- Health and Fitness Centers: 25% indoor capacity; indoor group classes must cease; outdoor activities allowed at 25% capacity with group activities limited to 10 people or fewer; locker room areas, including saunas and steam rooms should be closed.
- Personal Services: Limit to 25 individuals or 25% capacity, whichever is fewer. Services that require the removal of face coverings must cease. Physical, occupational and massage therapy allowed as deemed necessary by a medical provide
- Outdoor Activities: Outdoor museums, performance venues and other outdoor activities can continue at 25% capacity. Group sizes are limited to 10 people or less, with total capacity limited to 100 people, while social distancing. Reservations required for each guest.
- Out-of-School Programs: Indoor group exercise or fitness classes must cease (e.g., dance, yoga). Programs in which participants are primarily seated/stationery may continue in cohorts of up to 15 people (e.g., painting, creative writing, homework help).
- Libraries: Considered an essential service as they support Chicagoans needing support with remote learning, job searching, temporary refuge for weather relief, securing needed benefits and resources. Libraries may remain open at 25% indoor capacity with protective measures in place to ensure the health and safety of the public and staff. See chipublib.org for more details.
Non-essential businesses must be closed to the public between the hours of 11:00 pm and 6:00 am
- Impact on liquor sales:
- Bars, restaurants and other establishments with a Tavern or Consumption on Premises-Incidental Activity license can sell alcohol on-site or to-go until 11:00 pm
- Liquor stores, grocery stores and other establishments with a Package Goods license must still cease alcohol sales at 9:00 pm.
- Restaurants may continue to sell food via delivery, takeout, or curbside pickup at all hours
Business Resources
–Federal Paycheck Protection Program
An SBA loan that helps businesses keep their workforce employed during the COVID-19 crisis.
The Paycheck Protection Program is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll.
SBA will forgive loans if all employee retention criteria are met, and the funds are used for eligible expenses.
Learn more about applications and loan forgiveness here.
–State of Illinois Big Grant
The Business Interruption Grant (BIG) program is a $636 million program developed by Governor Pritzker and the Illinois General Assembly to provide economic relief for small businesses hit hardest by COVID-19. BIG leverages federal funding provided by the CARES Act to help offset COVID-19 related losses for Illinois small businesses.
Important Application Updates: Applications for a second round of funding are now live. A total of $220 million will be made available for small businesses of all types in Illinois.
Learn more and apply here.
–Chicago Hospitality Grant Program
The City of Chicago has launched the Chicago Hospitality Grant Program as part of its emergency COVID-19 relief package for the hospitality industry. This $10 million grant program is targeted towards Chicago’s restaurants and bars that continue to face significant challenges due to the COVID-19 crisis.
Learn more about the grant here.
–Chicago Performing Arts Venue Relief Grants Program
The Performing Arts Venue Relief Program will distribute $10,000 grants to up to 120 for-profit and nonprofit performing arts venues to cover lost revenue due to COVID-19. Funds will be allocated through an equity lens that considers the history of disinvestment and the disproportionate burden of COVID-19 on the South and West sides of Chicago.
Learn more about the grant here.
–Illinois State Treasurer’s Small Business COVID-19 Relief Program
The Business Invest – Illinois Small Business COVID-19 Relief Program (“Program”) is an impact investment loan program under which the State Treasurer has made up to $500 million in deposits available to banks and credit unions throughout the state, at near-zero rates, to assist Illinois small business and non-profits negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Learn more about this grant here.
Recovery and Reopening Resources for Businesses
Resources for Residents
If you have any questions, please reach out to our office by e-mailing otmra@oldtownchicago.org. The OTMRA office is currently closed, and staff members can be reached by phone at the following numbers:
Ian M. Tobin, Executive Director: 773.245.6756
Sam Waldorf, Associate Director: 708.872.0628
Rachel Rubinson, Marketing & Membership Coordinator: 708.320.1098
To add additional email addresses to receive our future correspondence, you can do so on our website in the bottom left corner.
Thank you for all that you do to make Old Town an incredible neighborhood.