Supporting Struggling Small Businesses
The pandemic and Covid-19 mitigations began inflicting immense damage to many small businesses in March of 2020. Thousands of small businesses initially applied for Illinois Business Interruption Grants. While these grants helped some small businesses, approximately 80% of eligible small businesses which applied were not awarded a grant.
Subsequently, Illinois received over 8 billion dollars in American Rescue Plan Act funds. However, only $250 million were allocated for Back to Business grant program. These funds will likely be exhausted before many struggling and eligible businesses receive grants.
Illinois still has billions of federal funds and should replenish the Back to Business grant program with an additional $300 million. Our policymakers should not pick winners and loses when there is adequate funding to support the struggling small businesses.
House Bill HB5489 will allocate an additional $300 million for the Back to Business grant program. Please ask your legislators to support this legislation so that struggling small businesses can receive the support they need to recover from a pandemic, and associated mitigations, which they could not control.
REVITALIZATION IN THE NEWS: Chicago Recovery Grants
“City funding will support more than $137 million in neighborhood investments.” Twenty-six new and expanded restaurants, health centers, cultural institutions and other neighborhood improvement projects will move forward through more than $33.5 million in Chicago Recovery Plan (CRP) grants announced by Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and City officials. This funding is all available through…
Illinois Republican Gubernatorial Meet the Candidates Series
The SBAC hosted a meet the candidate series for the republican candidates running for Illinois Governor. You can listen to the discussions here! Mayor Richard Irvin Senator Paul Schimpf Max Solomon Jesse Sullivan Gary Rabine Senator Darren Bailey The primaries will be held on June 28th. SPONSORS Fifth Third Bank Saul Ewing Arnstein Lehr Inland…
Secretary of State Candidate Forum
Thank you State Representative Brady, City Clerk Anna Valencia, and Alderman David Moore for joining us last week at our Illinois Secretary of State Candidate’s Forum! The Secretary of State’s office provides important services to small businesses and can help improve the confidence the small business community has in our government. Hear opening statements from…
