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The Back to Business Grant Program

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.

VIEW THE FULL ILLINOIS HOUSE BILL HERE

Insights Archive

The SBAC Small Business Package

By growthzone | September 8, 2021

THE SMALL BUSINESS PACKAGE Many small and local businesses have been devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Illinois unemployment rate remains high. Illinois politicians can partner with the small business community to enact policies that will help small businesses through this pandemic, reduce unemployment in our state, grow the Illinois workforce and generate revenue. There…

Conversation on Property Taxes with Commissioner Cabonargi

By growthzone | August 30, 2021

Conversation on Property Taxes with Cook County’s 2nd District Board of Review Commissioner Michael Cabonargi The SBAC hosted Cook County’s 2nd District Board of Review Commissioner Michael Cabonargi and his Chief of Staff Roland Lara to discuss property assessments and tax appeals. It is important to remind small business owners of their right to appeal…

Thank you to all Participants at the SBAC Golf Outing!

By growthzone | August 27, 2021

Thank you to all who came out to celebrate the SBAC on August 18th, 2021 at Cog Hill. We all had a great time.  Miss it? Or just want to relive some memories? Take a gander at our lovely Digital booklet highlighting our volunteers and sponsors. AND – Check out our FB page for all…

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