The Honorable 711 Hart Senate Building Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Senator Durbin & the Congressional Delegation:

Chambers of commerce support small businesses and local communities. They provide connectivity, resources and assistance to the small business community. Unfortunately, many chambers have been deeply impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The cancellation of fundraising events, coupled with decreasing membership because of the pandemic, has placed many chambers in a perilous situation.

Unlike the businesses they support, chambers were inexplicably excluded from the CARES Act. There was no justifiable reason to withhold relief from organizations that provide crucial support for small businesses. Chambers of commerce and trade organizations must be included in the next stimulus package to help them make it through the pandemic. Otherwise, they may be compelled to lay off valued employees and face the prospect of closing their doors.

Small businesses will rely on the assistance and resources of chambers to recover from this pandemic. However, chambers must make it through the pandemic to provide this support. Please immediately sponsor legislation that will allow 501(c)(6) organizations to receive forgivable loans in the next stimulus package.

Chambers exist to help the small business community. With your support, chambers can continue to fulfill their mission during these difficult times. Please advocate zealously for chambers of commerce in Illinois. They are needed now more than ever.

Sincerely, Sincerely,

Elliot Richardson Lisa Weitzel, IOM, CAE President & Co-Founder President Small Business Advocacy Council Illinois Association of Chamber of Commerce [email protected] Executives (IACCE) Office: (312) 548-8608

Small Business Advocacy Council | 120 West Madison Street, Suite 520 | , IL 60602 | 312.548.8068

Dalia Aragon Andrea Jett Fletcher Economic Development & Housing Coordinator Executive Director Albany Park Chamber of Commerce, North River French-American Chamber of Commerce - FACC- Commission Chicago

Laura Austin Paula Schmidt Associate Director President Andersonville Chamber of Commerce Geneva Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau

Suzanne Corr Gene Wagendorf III BACC President/CEO Associate Director Barrington Chamber of Commerce Greater Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce

Nanette Gudenkauf Chris Hembrough President/CEO President & CEO Bartlett Area Chamber of Commerce The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce

Amy Grafton Scott Adams Executive Director Green Oaks, Libertyville, Mundelien, Vernon Hills Belvidere Chamber of Commerce Chamber of Commerce

Cindy Allston Ginny A. Glasner President/CEO President & CEO Bloomingdale Chamber of Commerce Highland Park Chamber of Commerce

Marian Brisard Eva J Field Executive Director President & CEO Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Hinsdale Chamber of Commerce Bureau Wallace Goode Andrea Biwer Executive Director Executive Director Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce & Industry Jen Howard Rick Swan President Executive Director Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce East Peoria Chamber of Commerce Mark Mikenas Christina Pfitzinger Executive Director Executive Director Kewanee Chamber of Commerce Edgewater Chamber of Commerce Joanna Rolek John R. Quigley Executive Director President and CEO LAKE FOREST/LAKE BLUFF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce and Industry Dillon Goodson Amy Allen Executive Director Executive Director Lakeview Chamber of Commerce Flora Chamber of Commerce

Small Business Advocacy Council | 120 West Madison Street, Suite 520 | Chicago, IL 60602 | 312.548.8068

Jerome' (Jeremy) Holston Lindsay Eanet Director Northcenter Chamber LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Illinois Debbie Arell-Martinez Kim Schilf Executive Director President and CEO O’Fallon-Shiloh Chamber of Commerce Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce Felicitas Cortez Erin Lyons Executive Director Executive Director Orland Park Area Chamber of Commerce Lincolnwood Chamber of Commerce Linda Lane Kim Close Executive Director Director of Programming Paris Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Little Village Chamber Tasha Marsaglia Nilda Esparza Executive Director Interim Executive Director Plainfield Area Chamber of Commerce Logan Chamber of Commerce Iwona Filipiak, President Yvonne Invergo Bogdan Pukszta,Executive Director President & CEO Polish American Chamber of Commerce Lombard Chamber of Commerce Jake Ford Sarah Marion Director, Government Affairs President and CEO Quad Cities Chamber Manteno Chamber of Commerce Bill Morton, President Melissa M. Fedora Trudy Leong, Administrator Executive Director Rogers Park Chamber of Commerce Mokena Chamber of Commerce

Gunn Johnsson Leigh Ann Brown Executive Director CEO & Executive Director SACC Chicago Morton Economic Development Council

Carol Wagner Mark V. Matz President Executive Director Shorewood Area Chamber of Commerce Morton Grove Chamber of Commerce & Industry

Howard S. Meyer, A.C. E. Kaylin Risvold President and Chief Executive Officer President & CEO Skokie Chamber of Commerce and Industry Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce Tonya Trice Melissa Lagowski Executive Director Executive Director South Shore Chamber of Commerce NAWBO Chicago, National Association of Women South Shore Chamber Community Development Business Owners Corp.

Samantha Brewer Executive Director

Norwood Park Chamber of Commerce

Small Business Advocacy Council | 120 West Madison Street, Suite 520 | Chicago, IL 60602 | 312.548.8068 Rosemarie Brown Executive Director The Chamber of Commerce Southwestern Madison County

Martin Sorge Executive Director Uptown United & Uptown Chamber of Commerce

Tracy Lehmann President Wauconda Area Chamber of Commerce

Larissa Tyler Executive Director West Ridge Chamber of Commerce

Kara Hughes Salgado Executive Director West Town Chamber of Commerce

Ms. Terry Dason Executive Director Winnetka-Northfield Chamber of Commerce

Small Business Advocacy Council | 120 West Madison Street, Suite 520 | Chicago, IL 60602 | 312.548.8068 cc: The Honorable The Honorable The Honorable The Honorable Dan Lipinski The Honorable Jesús Garcia The Honorable Mike Quigley The Honorable The Honorable Danny Davis The Honorable The Honorable The Honorable The Honorable The Honorable The Honorable Rodney Davis The Honorable The Honorable The Honorable The Honorable The Honorable Darin LaHood

Small Business Advocacy Council | 120 West Madison Street, Suite 520 | Chicago, IL 60602 | 312.548.8068