Baking Good Legislation
On August 27, Governor Pritzker signed into law the Home-to-Market Act. The Home-to-Market Act allows producers of home-based food products to sell their goods directly to customers. This new law goes into effect on January 1, 2022. This will foster the growth of home-based entrepreneurs, known as the cottage food businesses.
Prior to the passage of the Home-to-Market Act, cottage food producers were only allowed to sell their products at farmer's markets. They were prohibited from selling at fairs or festivals, and online. Compared to other states, Illinois has one of the most restrictive regulations governing the cottage food industry. This new act will open the door for a vast increase in sales and provide cottage producers the opportunity to start or grow their businesses. The Home-to-Market Act comes at the perfect time as many of these home-based food businesses and farms were hit hard by the pandemic. During the pandemic, many farmer's markets delayed their openings, leaving cottage food producers unable to sell their products. The new bill will especially benefit women-owned businesses, as 77% of cottage food businesses are owned by women.
The SBAC is a strong advocate for home-based businesses. Check out our most recent win regarding HBBs.
Transparency Bill for Government Contracts
View and Download the SBAC FACT SHEET Legislation Focused on Small Businesses Seeking State Contracts Passes! The Illinois General Assembly passed legislation focused on important reforms to the bidding procedures for state contracts. Winning a state contract can be a game-changer for a small business. While much attention is focused on luring large businesses to…
14th Annual SBAC Golf Outing RETURNS
It’s that time of year again! Time to start thinking about the… 14th Annual SBAC Golf Outing 2023 Tuesday, June 6, 2023 The Preserve at Oak Meadows We had such a great turn out last year and made so many fantastic memories with you all (check out pics from last year to the…
Taking Advantage of Your Membership
We want to ensure you are getting the MOST out of your membership at the SBAC. As a member-driven organization, YOU are our top priority, Want to know how to maximize your membership investment? Get involved and join us one Tuesday for our policy committee! Come join us at our Golf outing! Update your information…
