Skip to content

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

Don’t Miss the Legislative Panel on September 26th

By emma@sbacil.org | September 17, 2024

SBAC INSIGHTS PAGE The Small Business Advocacy Council and NAWBO Chicago are hosting a special Legislative Panel Discussion on Thursday, September 26th, at 8:30 AM, at Hera Hub Chicago (405 W Superior Street, Room 200C). Our engaging panel will feature prominent state legislators, including State Representative Robyn Gabel, State Senator John Curran, and State Senator…

Small Business Financing Transparency Act

By emma@sbacil.org | August 14, 2024

SBAC INITIATIVES PAGE Small Business Financing Transparency Act Find and Contact Your Elected Officials HERE! Resources & Fact Sheets Expand Download Quick Fact Sheet Download One-pager View House Bill Language View Senate Bill Language

Employee Ownership Act

By emma@sbacil.org | August 14, 2024

SBAC INITIATIVES PAGE Employee Ownership Act Find and Contact Your Elected Officials HERE! Resources & Fact Sheets Expand Download Quick Fact Sheet Download One-Pager Employee Ownership 101 Employee Ownership Types In The News Expand The Big Benefits of Employee Ownership Building Public Support for Employee Ownership: Lessons from Colorado

Scroll To Top