PARK FOREST – As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, many companies are using their manufacturing capabilities to make disinfectant products to distribute to frontline heroes. A local example is Essations Inc., a hair and skin care product company located in Park Forest  that turned its production lines to hand sanitizer.

However, Essations Inc. found itself with a dwindling supply of alcohol  – the most important ingredient in hand sanitizer. Stephanie Luster, the company’s president and director of Education, contacted State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) for help. Sen. Joyce quickly reached out to multiple state agencies, including the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

“Stephanie Luster and Essations are taking exactly the initiative we need right now,” Joyce said. “I was eager to help her small business continue operations and bring much needed hand sanitizer to the members of our community.”

Read more: Joyce helps local business bring hand sanitizer to the community

PARK FOREST - In order to maintain a safe roadway for all, Senate Agriculture Committee member Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) emphasizes that drivers should use caution and best judgement when they encounter slow-moving farm equipment on the road. 

Even though many Illinoisans are at home to slow the spread of COVID-19, farmers and farm hands are tasked with essential work during the 2020 planting season. This means drivers traveling for essential needs are sharing the road with farm machinery.

“Farmers are extremely busy during this time with spring planting, meaning farm equipment will be out on the roads,” Joyce said. “I know there is much less traffic this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, I still urge everyone to be courteous of farmers using the roads to move their farm equipment.”

Visibility is key to road safety. All agricultural vehicles using the public roadways must display the fluorescent orange Slow Moving Vehicle triangle. Additionally, tractors and other self-powered farm vehicles must have proper lighting. According to Illinois law:

• Lighting is required from 30 minutes before sunset to 30 minutes after sunrise.

• There should be two white lamps on the front of the vehicle, visible from at least 1,000 feet to the front of the vehicle.

• There should be two red lamps on the rear of the vehicle, visible from at least 1,000 feet to the rear of the vehicle.

• There should be at least one flashing amber signal lamp on the rear of the vehicle, mounted as high as possible and visible from at least 500 feet, which can be used during daylight as well.

Read more: Joyce: All drivers and farmers should practice safety during spring planting

PARK FOREST - Unfortunately, many scamming predators take advantage of troubled to seek new victims, especially seniors. State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) urges everyone to use their best judgement when responding to personal information and money requests.

Some of the most common scams seen by Raoul include:

•   Emails claiming to be from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, and other health care organizations, offering to share information about the virus.

•   Emails asking for the verification of personal data, including Medicare or Medicaid information, in exchange for receiving economic stimulus funds or other benefits from the government.

•   Email phishing scams, text messages from unknown sources which may include hyperlinks to what appear to be automated pandemic updates, or interactive infection maps.

•   COVID-19 vaccinations and home test kits that are made online, in stores, through electronic messages or over the phone.

For more information or to report scams connected to COVID-19, please visit the attorney general’s website: https://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) is encouraging restaurants, hotels and other small businesses across the state to take advantage of two new emergency assistance programs.

“We need our small businesses to persevere, because they are so important to our local economies,” Joyce said. “These loan programs should help them weather this storm.”

To provide assistance to struggling small business owners, Gov. JB Pritzker unveiled the Illinois Small Business Emergency Loan Fund, a $60 million program that will support low-interest loans of up to $50,000 for small businesses outside of Chicago. Businesses with fewer than 50 employees and less than $3 million in revenue in 2019 will be eligible to apply. Loan recipients will owe nothing for six months and will then begin making fixed payments at 3% interest for the remainder of a five-year loan term.

Pritzker also announced the Hospitality Emergency Grant Program. The program offers $14 million in grants to restaurants, bars, hotels and other hospitality businesses to help them make ends meet during the COVID-19 crisis. It will provide up to $25,000 to eligible bars and restaurants and up to $50,000 for eligible hotels.

Read more: Senator Joyce invites small business owners to apply for new loan, grant programs