State Rep. Demmer speaks about Phase 4 in virtual town hall

DIXON – State Rep. Tom Demmer spoke Friday about moving into Phase 4 and what the next steps are for the region.

Demmer covered several topics and answered questions during a virtual town hall hosted by the Dixon Chamber of Commerce and Main Street.

The start of Phase 4 in the Restore Illinois plan meant that restaurants could open up indoor dining with limited capacity, gatherings were permitted of up to 50 people, park districts opened up playgrounds, and nonessential businesses reopened, including movie theaters and fitness centers.

"We’re not out of this yet, but if we keep working together and we keep fighting for supporting our community, I think we’re going to make it through OK," Demmer said.

He also spoke about different grant programs for businesses that have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, including the new Business Interruption Grant Program from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

It provides $540 million in CARES Act funding to small businesses, with half set aside for child care providers. In the first wave of grants, priority will be given to small businesses that have been heavily restricted or completely shut down during the pandemic, including bars, restaurants, barbershops, salons, and fitness centers.

"The economic impact of stay-at-home orders, or even the economic impact of individual consumers making different decisions – feeling comfortable with some activities and being uncomfortable with other activities – has put small businesses especially in a very, very tight spot," he said.

He also praised the city for creating a microgrant program to help small businesses with rent and utilities, and said he was disappointed with the state's Downstate Small Business Stabilization Program, in which only four out of 52 applying Dixon businesses received aid.

Times have been difficult, but the community continues to work together to get through it, said Jeremy Englund, executive director of Chamber Main Street.

"As a community as a whole, I know there’s hardships, and it’s been a very difficult time with change and the impact to our business and economic community, and personal lives, but I think we’ve all come together through different facets of organizations, of leadership, of people, of a community," Englund said.

"I’m very proud to be a part of Dixon and what we've done to continuously overcome and prevail through these hard times."

Demmer said one of the next steps will focus on school officials making plans to reopen schools in the fall, which will likely include changes with curriculum, facilities and remote learning.

The state is also working on legislation to bolster funding for nursing homes.