Jobs + Growth

Silence: Chicago in the age of COVID

Our team wanted to give you a look at the harsh reality of life in downtown Chicago during the COVID-19 crisis.

Keith Harbison

“I had just built up a savings account for the first time. Now I’m fighting to keep everything."

Samantha Palya: Absolutely Pawfect Pet Stylings

“Before the health crisis, we were growing at such a rapid pace and scale that we were looking to expand either our space or to a second location this year. Now with the coronavirus, everything has come to a screeching halt."

Dave Jordan: The Wagon

"Isn’t it odd that people like us have to live within our means but government doesn’t? It makes no sense."

Stunning data show Illinois economy stalled out before COVID-19 pandemic

The last thing Illinois needs is more bad news for the sake of it. But ignoring this reality threatens to make this crisis worse.

By Austin Berg

Craig Alexander: Happy Monday Coffee Roasters

"In a lot of sales, you have a winner and a loser sometimes. And with coffee for me, there was two winners: a coffee and a smile for a smile and two dollars."

Before COVID-19 downturn, Illinois saw shrinking payrolls and nation’s worst loss of manufacturing jobs

New data show Illinois lost private sector jobs amid a national economic expansion for the first year on record in 2019, a sign of the state’s deep structural problems in the run-up to the current market downturn.

By Bryce Hill

JoAnn Chumley: All Occasions Flowers & Gifts

“I started this business and it’s grown so much, even though I don’t have a college education. You have to work to get where you want to go."

Melanie McCullough: Bradford Snack Shack

“Each year we've had another mountain to climb, but it hasn’t been the end of us."

Every Illinois metro area loses population for second year in a row

New census data reveals that for a second year, all 10 metro areas based primarily in Illinois experienced population decline.

By Bryce Hill

Ken Jarosch: Jarosch Bakery

“People should know [that] nobody appreciates the small businesses until they’re gone."

Linda Leinweber: Shears to You Salon

"Taxes are my biggest concern: My property taxes."

Katie Anderson: Anderson’s Candy Shop

“Every day at work I hold my breath until 2:30 when the governor goes on to [say] what’s going to happen next."

Bill would allow licensed, out-of-state nurses to serve Illinois patients

To prepare for a rise in hospital visits, Illinois should remove interstate barriers for medical professionals.

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