Business News

Judge previously granted temporary restraining order on its implementation By Jerry Nowicki, Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com A state commission voted to repeal a new rule that would have made workers’ compensation benefits available to essential employees who contracted COVID-19 without having to prove the illness was contracted at the workplace. The Workers Compensation Commission repealed […]

Pritzker announces modified order to reopen some businesses in May By Peter Hancock, Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com The Illinois Department of Employment Security said Thursday that 4.4 million Americans filed first-time unemployment claims during the week that ended April 18, including 102,936 workers in Illinois. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 520,227 workers in […]

Since March 1, claims five times higher than first six weeks of Great Recession By Jerry Nowicki, Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com In the week ending April 11, another 141,049 Illinoisans filed initial unemployment claims, bringing the total number during the latest four weeks of the novel coronavirus pandemic to more than 634,000 in the state. […]

Chicago tavern sues insurer over ‘business disruption’ claim Lawsuit illustrates how COVID-19 could be devastating for insurance industry By Peter Hancock, Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com A Chicago tavern that has been closed since March 16 due to the COVID-19 outbreak in Illinois filed a lawsuit this week against an insurance company for refusing to pay […]

Economists forecast potential major hit on state’s economy revenues By Peter Hancock, Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com More than half a million Illinois workers have filed first-time unemployment claims in the four weeks since the COVID-19 outbreak first hit the labor market. Economists at the University of Illinois are now forecasting a major economic downturn that […]

While small business owners scramble to apply for the various loan programs and grants now being offered at the state and federal level, the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce is trying to help bridge the gap for those waiting for financial assistance. On March 20, the Chamber Business Relief Fund was created to assist businesses […]

Now that both the state and federal government have rolled out programs to assist small businesses who have suffered economic losses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, many small business owners are trying to determine their eligibility and how to apply. The Illinois Small Business Development Center (ISBDC) at Lincoln Land Community College is […]

More than 114,000 Illinoisans file new claims in one week By Peter Hancock, Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com More than 114,000 workers in Illinois filed first-time unemployment claims in the week ending March 21 as the United States saw its biggest one-week spike in recorded history, with 3.2 million workers filing for benefits. The U.S. Department […]

The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce (GSCC) has created the Chamber Business Relief Fund to provide timely and meaningful financial resources to businesses significantly impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. GSCC has seeded the fund with $15,000, and members of its board of directors have contributed more than $10,000 in less than 24 hours to establish […]

SpringfieldZoom.com displays current status of businesses in Sangamon county By Michelle Ownbey A new website, SpringfieldZoom.com, will consolidate business information across Sangamon county to keep consumers apprised of the status of their favorite local businesses and their services in one, easily searchable place. Mark Roberts III, owner of GoWeb1 and AlertsMadeEasy.com, said the idea came […]

By Ben Orner, Capitol News Illinois As store shelves across Illinois empty of key products during the COVID-19 pandemic, public and private-sector leaders are urging shoppers to put less stress on the supply chain by not hoarding items. Since the pandemic intensified in Illinois last week, customers have been panic-buying and hoarding products like toilet […]