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.
SBAC Women in Business Present Part 2 – Racial Injustice
Post content here. Talking Candidly About Anti-Racism What is My Role, My Business’ Role and the Greater Community’s Role? On July 21st, the SBAC WIB held a very well-received virtual event on better understanding racial injustice. We heard from four engaging and prominent black and brown female panelists who candidly shared their perspectives…
Michael Bempah speaks about Minority Contracting on WVON
Michael Bempah, SBAC Board Member and owner of Pinpoint Precision Engineering, speaks with Perri Small on WVON about minority contracting. The SBAC is pushing forward reforms to help minority contractors receive their fair share of government contracts. These reforms are needed now! To listen to the interview, click HERE. To learn more about our efforts,…
A SAFE HAVEN
OUR MISSION: ASPIRE, TRANSFORM AND SUSTAIN A Safe Haven Foundation is a 501(c)3 not for profit, social enterprise that helps people aspire, transform and sustain their lives as they transition from homelessness to self-sufficiency with pride and purpose. A Safe Haven provides the tools for each individual to overcome the root causes of homelessness through a…