SPECIAL REPORT: The Ambitious Chi Biz Strong Initiative is Here to Offer Help to Business, Workers, and Consumers.
Author: Tomasz A. Sobieraj, Esquire
On June 25, the Chicago City Council passed Mayor Lightfoot’s Chi Biz Strong Initiative. The initiative was developed from lessons learned during the pandemic, and is intended to provide immediate financial relief to support businesses, streamline City business policies, and provide additional worker and consumer protections.
To provide immediate financial relief to business owners, over $10 million in targeted grants are available for small businesses that have been impacted by the pandemic. For businesses that are unable to renew licenses because of debt owed to the City, the City is offering payment plans and affordable down payments. The City is also extending the 15% cap on third party delivery services through December 8, 2021.
The Chi Biz Strong Initiative also implements various regulatory changes to streamline business processes and cut through red tape. Some of these changes include:
A newly created food licensing process to allow new restaurants to open up to 14 days sooner.
Sidewalk signs will be permitted effective March 1, 2022 that will help draw increased foot traffic to businesses.
Restaurants can provide cocktails-to-go.
The nighttime sale of packaged goods after 12:00 a.m. is prohibited.
The alignment of regulations on flavored tobacco products.
Streamlining taxicab regulations and expanding the pool of eligible taxicabs by 20%, which the City estimates this will save the industry up to $20 million in 2021.
A newly created Low-Speed Electric Vehicle License to improve safety and operations on charter buses and lowering employment barriers for public vehicle chauffeurs.
In an effort to provide worker protection, the Chi Biz Strong Initiative includes Chicago’s first wage theft ordinance, which is intended to aid the City’s ability to protect and recoup stolen wages for its workers. The initiative will require employers to have written contracts with domestic workers to be effective January 1, 2022, and places 8,000 domestic workers on the path to a $15 minimum wage in 2021. The initiative also clarifies how employers are to count their employees to ensure workers receive the correct minimum wage. Finally, the initiative clarifies paid sick leave to provide coverage for additional uses, such as caring for a family member with a closed school or place of care, compliance with public health orders, and mental and behavioral health.
The Chi Biz Strong Initiative aims to provide support for businesses to recover from pandemic losses and achieve greater financial security. This represents a shift in the City’s focus from emergency survival measures to long-term growth and efficiency.
CONTACT:
Tomasz A. Sobieraj, Esquire
tsobieraj@satclaw.com
Mobile: (312) 554-3127
John W. Campbell, Jr., Esquire
jcampbell@satclaw.com
Direct: (312) 554-3126
Websites:
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https://www.satcsolutions.com/
https://www.BridgingChicago.com