Kankakee Times

With Illinois returning to Phase 5, Rep. Tom Bennett (R-Gibson City) requested Gov. J.B. Pritzker to follow the lead of other states that are assisting small businesses come back after pandemic shutdowns.

Neighboring states, according to Bennett, have offered businesses a plan and timeline for relief.

“Several other states, including many of our neighbors, have announced or implemented plans to get the economy back to normal,” he said. “Illinois should follow their example and now that Illinois has returned to Phase 5 and has fully reopened, friends, I would urge the governor to take action and join those states which are getting back to work. And I ask Gov. Pritzker to help our small businesses now who are finally getting back on their feet by giving them a plan and a timeline and helping them truly begin the recovery from the shutdown and help address serious staffing shortages now.”

Illinois small businesses have been through so much in the past 15 months but their struggle isn't over,  according to Bennett.

“Now they're at long last free to fully open their doors and get back to work they're facing another government-created challenge because Illinois will not commit to a plan regarding IDES and unemployment payments,” he said. "Businesses across the state continue to face staffing shortages and uncertainty.”

Bennett continued to explain how small businesses continue to struggle.

“I’ve seen several signs: ‘job openings available, please apply within’ and they even offer extra incentives at times and many of them are coming to me and saying, ‘we can't go on like this anymore,’” he said. “Some businesses have closed down one day a week or have shortened their daily hours and they can't find the workers. Some may not be here a few months from now.”

Following the Illinois Phase 5 guidelines, all businesses should support and apply best practices in managing physical distancing, especially in indoor settings.

Businesses are also allowed to continue requiring face coverings when appropriate.