This is the online application to apply for a rebate through the SSA 18 Security Rebate Program: Social Distancing Support Addendum. If you have any questions while completing this application, email [email protected] or call 773-883-0500.

Program Guidelines

Application Deadline for 2020 Rebates is January 31, 2021, 11:59pm. Documentation & receipts deadline is 90 days after application submission.

1. Description

The Social Distancing Support Rebate (the “Program”) was created and approved by the Northalsted Special Service Area 18 (“SSA 18”) Commission in emergency response to COVID-19. This Program is funded by SSA 18 as an extension of its Security Rebate Program and administered by the Northalsted Business Alliance (“Chamber”). The goal of the Program is to support local businesses impacted by additional staffing needs to monitor social distancing, capacity restrictions or health screenings of customers in response to COVID-19  phased reopening by providing incentives in the form of rebates to businesses within SSA 18 boundaries. Businesses have been confronted with a heightened need to monitor and regulate customers to meet the needs of social distancing. The measures of this Program are meant to support the staffing needs that promote a healthy and safe socially responsible environment for employees, customers, and the wider community.

Applicants that meet all Program requirements outlined in this document may receive a rebate of up to 50% not to exceed a total of $1,000. Due to the evolving nature of COVID-19 and its impacts on businesses, the SSA 18 Commission reserves the right to implement additional Eligibility Requirements as it deems reasonable, and change or end the Program at any time.

2. Eligible Applicants

1. Applicants must be located on the following SSA 18 service area corridors:
   • Halsted Street (Belmont to Grace)
   • Broadway (Grace to Irving Park)
   • Clarendon Avenue – West Side (Broadway to Irving Park)
2. Applicants may only seek a rebate for staff that is assigned to the following responsibilities: 
   • Door staff, hosts, security personnel that regulate the capacity of your business.
   • Hosts or personnel that ensure social distancing is maintained. 
   • Hosts or personnel that verify through temperature checks or other health screenings that customers are healthy.
   • Personnel who constructed or modified your business to create spaces for social distancing. 
3. Applicants must be the entity paying for this staffing.
4. Applicants must comply with all requirements and deadlines set forth in these Guidelines and Application and respond to any questions in a timely manner.

3. Eligible Projects

Applicants may apply to receive rebates for staffing needs directly associated with maintaining social distancing or ensuring a healthy and safe environment. Staff expenses may only apply for gross hourly wages/salaries.  The Commission reserves the right to reject any questionable proposals, as well as implement such additional Program rules and regulations as it deems reasonable. Additional conditions that may determine Program eligibility are outlined below.

1. 1. Applicants may only use funds for supplies that will be used at the business approved by the SSA 18 Commission and located within SSA 18 boundaries.
   2. Applicants must meet Program guidelines and applications are subject to review by the SSA 18 Commission.
   3. Applicants must comply with all applicable city, state, and federal laws and requirements.
   4. Purchases must be completed in accordance with the specifications described in the approved application, following the scope in the application, reflecting submitted costs by a vendor (if applicable) whose estimate was submitted with the application.

Applicants or costs that are not eligible to receive a rebate include:

1. 1. Businesses not located on the SSA 18 service corridors.

4. Rebate Amounts

Applicants that meet all Program requirements outlined in this document may receive a rebate of up to 50% of eligible costs, not to exceed a total of $1,000. Rebates are awarded only after the project is approved by the SSA 18 Board of Commissioners, completed in the allotted time, paid in full, and all required documentation has been submitted to the Chamber. In case applications exceed current funding, the SSA 18 Commission and Northalsted Business Alliance will ensure fair and impartial distribution of rebates by employing a lottery system to determine funding order and creating a waitlist for funding should it become available. The SSA 18 Board of Commissioners may award a rebate at an amount less than the allowable maximum.

In order to provide as many businesses within SSA 18 the opportunity to participate in these COVID-19 business rebate assistance programs as possible, the applicant must wait 10 business days between applying for the Health and Sanitation Rebate Program.

5. Application Process

Applications are subject to review and approval by the SSA 18 Board of Commissioners and a business shall only be awarded a rebate once, subject to funding availability. To apply for a rebate through the Social Distancing Support Rebate, applicants must complete the following online application. Completed applications will be reviewed on the 1st and 15th day of each month, or closest corresponding business day if those dates land on a weekend or holiday. In case applications exceed current funding, the SSA 18 Commission and the Northalsted Business Alliance will ensure fair and impartial distribution of rebates by employing a lottery system to determine funding order and creating a waitlist for funding should it become available. The SSA 18 Board of Commissioners may award a rebate at an amount less than the allowable maximum. Paper applications submitted via mail will not be considered eligible.

6. Review Process

Due to the sudden and pressing need to provide businesses with urgent relief, applications will forgo a formal SSA 18 Commission vote and will be reviewed and approved in writing by a minimum of two SSA 18 Commissioners. The SSA 18 Commissioners will review and accept or reject each completed application in their sole and absolute discretion, including determination as to which proposed projects meet the Program guidelines, and how much funding to award each project. Upon receipt of the application, the SSA 18 Commissioners will have five business days to review and issue inquiries related to the application. Once applicants respond to all inquiries in full, the SSA 18 Commissioners will issue their final decision to applicants via email.

7. Project Implementation

Applicants may proceed with eligible expenses covered under social distancing support only after the application is received and the receipt is acknowledged in writing by the Chamber. Purchasing must proceed in accordance with the plans and specifications submitted in the applicant’s completed application. If hiring was completed prior to submission the applicant may request that the Commission review qualifying expenses beginning June 3, 2020, through the application submission. Expenses made prior to application approval will require a detailed explanation of the expense.

Applicants must complete their hiring/staffing and submit the Rebate Request within 90 days of project approval. Failure to complete such hiring within 90 days shall constitute a material breach of the Program requirements resulting in the withdrawal of funding for the applicant’s project without further notice of any kind. If unforeseen circumstances arise during the consultation process that would result in the hiring not being made within 90 days or lead to changes to project scope, vendors, or costs, the applicant must submit an explanation in writing to the Chamber prior to the original 90-day deadline elapsing, requesting approval for changes. Changes to the approved scope, vendors, and award amount, as well as deadline extensions, will require approval by a minimum of two SSA 18 Commissioners. Consultation deadline extension requests must be submitted with an estimated date of completion. The decision to grant an extension or changes to previously approved work shall be made in the sole and absolute discretion of the SSA 18 Commissioners. If the applicant moves ahead with the project before a vote is made, they risk that the project may no longer be eligible for a rebate.

If any change in the ownership of the business participating in the Program occurs before a project is completed, eligibility for the Program will be suspended until a meeting with Chamber staff and new ownership is held and any changes to the original application are approved in writing. There is no guarantee that new ownership will be approved for the same rebate amount as the previous owner. All such applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

8. Rebate Request and Distribution

Once expenses have been completed, the applicant must request the rebate by submitting the following documentation to the Chamber in writing (the “Rebate Request”):

1. 1. Description of duties completed by staff completed to enforce social distancing, capacity restrictions, or health screenings including a percentage of time staff was dedicated specifically to those tasks.
   2. Documentation, such as payroll, paystub, or check copies showing labor has been paid.
   3. A formal invoice for the approved rebate amount addressed to the Northalsted Business Alliance & SSA 18 not to exceed $1,000 or 50% of the reported expenses. 

The applicant must send the Rebate Request within 90 days of project approval. Failure to do so will result in the applicant forfeiting the award. Requests for deadline extensions must be made to the Chamber in writing before the initial 90-day project period elapses, per Section 7.

It shall be the applicant’s responsibility to verify the adequacy of safety practices, and the applicant’s failure to verify the adequacy of expenses shall not relieve the applicant of any responsibilities resulting from such failure, nor shall the SSA or its representatives have any liability or obligations to applicant arising from such failure.

A rebate check will be processed within 30 days following receipt of the Rebate Request.

Program Application