With COVID-19 cases rising in all 50 states, the City has revised its Travel Advisory to include five places where coronavirus positivity rates have exceeded 15 in 100,000 — due mostly to the spreading of the SARS-CoV-2 “Delta variant.” Those locations are, in descending order of severity: Missouri, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, the Virginia Islands, and Nevada. Unvaccinated individuals traveling from the states or territories on the Orange list are advised — not required — to obtain a negative COVID-19 test result no more than 72 hours prior to arrival in Chicago or to quarantine for a 10-day period upon arrival.
Read MorePlease join 27th Ward Alderman Walter Burnett Jr. and the West Loop Community Organization (WLCO) on Wednesday, July 21 at 6PM for a virtual community meeting regarding a proposed 25-story, 350-unit residential building with ground floor commercial located at 1245 W Fulton.
Read MorePlease join 27th Ward Alderman Walter Burnett Jr. and the West Loop Community Organization (WLCO) on Monday, July 19 for a virtual community meeting regarding a proposed 19 story, residential building at 1201-1229 W Washington Blvd.
Read MoreCity Hall has reopened to the public! This announcement marks another milestone as the City of Chicago recovers from the impact of the pandemic. The Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection’s Small Business Center, located in Room 800 of City Hall, opened to the public for limited in-person consultations on July 6. All visitors will still be required to wear masks and social distance appropriately while they are in the building. City Hall operating hours will be between 8AM-5PM Monday through Friday.
Read MoreEffective July 1, the Chicago minimum wage increases to $15 an hour for most workers. City officials and Mayor Lightfoot are also celebrating recent efforts to ensure that domestic workers receive a fair wage through the Chi Biz Strong Package that passed City Council last week. Workers at businesses with 21 or more employees will be guaranteed a minimum wage of $15 an hour, while workers at businesses with 4-20 employees will see their minimum wage raised to $14 an hour as part of a gradual move to a $15 an hour by 2023 for small businesses.
Read MorePlease join 27th Ward Alderman Walter Burnett Jr. and the West Loop Community Organization (WLCO) for a virtual community meeting regarding the proposed development at 400 North Elizabeth Street, a 19-story commercial/office/life science building.
Read MoreThe Chicago City Council passed Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot’s Chi Biz Strong Initiative, a legislative package that will provide much needed financial relief to thousands of businesses, cut red tape across numerous City processes and deliver new protections for workers and consumers. This initiative, comprised of two ordinances that passed City Council, will jumpstart Chicago’s recovery while addressing barriers to equitable economic growth that pre-date the pandemic.
Read MorePlease be advised that the statewide COVID-19 emergency health order has expired. For Chicago businesses, this means that all COVID-19 regulations are lifted effective immediately, however no establishment that holds a Package Goods License shall sell, permit to be sold or give away any alcoholic liquor between late-night hours as recently mandated by Chicago City Council.
Read MoreThe Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) will join 27th Ward Alderman Walter Burnett Jr and the West Loop Community Organization (WLCO) Friday, June 25 at 4PM, at the intersection of Racine and Fulton, for a Ribbon Cutting to celebrate of the 2nd Phase of the Fulton Streetscape Project. In the event of rain, the Ribbon Cutting will move into Revel Fulton Market (1215 W Fulton Market).
Read MoreThe Chicago Department of Public Health announced the closure and planned decommissioning of a number of City-run vaccination sites, as it continues to focus on hyperlocal distribution to reach Chicagoans who still need their COVID-19 vaccine. More than 20 percent of the total COVID-19 doses administered in Chicago have been given at City-run vaccination sites – five Points of Dispensing (or PODs) at City Colleges of Chicago locations and at the United Center.
Read MoreThe Chicago Department of Public Health announced that its in-home vaccination program, Protect Chicago At Home, is now open to all Chicago residents age 12 and up. To encourage Chicago residents to take advantage of the program, Chicago-based Grubhub will donate gift cards valued at $50 to every household that chooses in-home vaccination.
Read MoreMayor Lori E. Lightfoot and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) announced even more returning, new and reimagined summer cultural events across Chicago — plus artist lineups and other details for City programs previously announced as part of “Open Culture” — just one component of the Mayor’s “Open Chicago” initiative to safely and fully reopen the city. Check out the expanded list of activities!
Read MoreEffective today, Chicago is officially in Phase 5, a full re-opening of all activities. This move is now possible because local COVID-19 metrics are at record lows and over 50% of Chicagoans are at least partially vaccinated. The Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) will be holding a webinar on Monday, June 14 at 2PM to provide an overview of this guidance.
Read MoreAs of last week, the United Center began offering drive-thru vaccinations of the Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines only. As Chicago begins to close up its mass vaccination sites in favor of more targeted outreach, we wanted to take a moment to share resources with anyone who has not yet received their immunization.
Read MoreThe West Loop Community Organization (WLCO) recognizes this as one of the most important years as we address issues regarding economic and community development in a post pandemic world. WLCO is pleased to announce two additions to the 2021-2022 Board of Directors.
Read MoreMayor Lori E. Lightfoot and the Chicago Park District announced 22 beaches will open this Friday, May 28th for the 2021 season. The return of beach season is another step forward with Open Chicago, the Mayor’s initiative to safely and fully reopen the city. This Friday will mark the first time Chicago beaches have opened for public use since September 2, 2019, due to COVID-19 health and safety precautions. The 2021 beach season runs through Monday, September 6, 2021.
Read MorePlease be advised that our local Chicago Police Department’s (CPD) 12th District has informed us of two planned public gatherings taking place Thursday, May 27, 2021: “FTP at the FOP: Autonomous F12 Noise Demo” and “Adam Toledo Tribute Mural Vigil.”
Read MoreOn Tuesday, May 18, following guidance from the CDC and the State of Illinois, and recognizing how safe and effective the COVID vaccine is, the City of Chicago announced that it will no longer require masks for fully vaccinated people in most settings, including businesses. In alignment with federal and state guidelines, masks will still be required, regardless of vaccination status, in health care settings, schools, correctional/congregate settings and on public transportation.
Read MoreExpansion of Vaccine Exemption when Chicago enters the Bridge Phase of reopening on May 14, 2021, allows businesses to expand capacity for vaccinated patrons. In addition to the increased capacity that comes with the Chicago Bridge Phase, businesses will have the option of not counting fully vaccinated individuals towards COVID-19 capacity limits for all industries, among other updates.
Read MorePlease join 27th Ward Alderman Walter Burnett Jr. and the West Loop Community Organization (WLCO) for a virtual community meeting regarding the proposed development at 210 North Aberdeen Street, amending a previously reviewed project from commercial office space to residential units.
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