The RISE Grant Program
The pandemic has had a significant impact on the Illinois workforce. Small businesses are still struggling to hire qualified employees which has greatly impacted their operations. Illinois policymakers will need to promptly pass forward-thinking policies to help get folks back into the workforce.
The SBAC is advocating for the passage of The RISE Grant Program - HB4455. This legislation connects those interested working in a new field or industry with small businesses struggling to hire new employees. Importantly, HB4455 offsets the costs associated with on-the-job training at the inception of the employer-employee relationship. The legislation provides funding for $5,000 grants which can be awarded to businesses that (1) retrain and hire employees that lost their jobs or businesses because of the pandemic; (2) employ less than 50 employees; and (3) create a new net job.
Illinois received over $8 billion from the American Rescue Plan Act funds. The SBAC contends a responsible portion of those funds should be used to support small businesses struggling to hire new employees. This legislation allocates $250,000,000 in funding for this new grant program. This legislation connects those interested working in a new field, in part, facilitated by the pandemic, with small businesses that are struggling to hire new employees. HB4455 creates opportunities for small businesses, while helping get people back into the workforce.
SBAC/BSM Town Hall This Saturday!
*Heading* The Small Business Advocacy Council in partnership with Building Strong Millennials is hosting a town hall at the Kroc Center this Saturday! Event Info: The Kroc Center 1250 West 119th Street Chicago, Illinois 60643 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM If you’re interested in learning more about commercial vacancies, how to start a…
Thank you to all the participants at the 2022 SBAC Golf Outing!
THANK YOU for attending our 2022 SBAC Golf Outing on June 29th! Thank you to everyone who came out to White Deer Run Golf Club on June 29th, 2022 to play golf and celebrate the SBAC. It was a beautiful day out in the sun. We had a great time and hopefully you did too!…
Neighborhood Revitalization Coalition Agenda
Revitalize, Empower, and Connect The NRC is working hard to support and revitalize neighborhood business districts. You can find some of the policies we are advocating for here: NRC Agenda SPONSORS Fifth Third Bank Saul Ewing Arnstein Lehr Inland Bank Tandem HR Interprenet Signature Bank Lexitas Korey Richardson Open One Solutions Freeborn and Peters Founders…