Illinois Policymakers Should Support Small Businesses
The pandemic and COVID-19 mitigations began inflicting immense damage to small businesses in March 2020. Thousands of small businesses initially applied for Illinois Business Interruption Grants. While these grants helped some small businesses, approximately 80% of applicants were not awarded a grant.
Illinois then received over $8 billion in American Rescue Plan Act funds. However, only $250 million was allocated to the new grant program for struggling small businesses. These funds will likely be exhausted before many eligible businesses receive grants. With billions of ARPA funds remaining, policymakers should allocate an additional $300 million for grants to struggling small businesses.
Illinois politicians should finish what they started. They should replenish the Back to Business grant program and promptly get funds to struggling small businesses, some of whom have waited almost two years for a grant to help offset the damage caused by the pandemic and mitigations established to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Please fill out the call to action below and ask your legislators to support struggling small businesses. Thank you for supporting the small business community!
Neighborhood Development and Investing with Community Investment Corp. & Woodlawn
Please join the Woodlawn Chamber of Commerce and the Community Investment Corporation (CIC) via Zoom to discuss targeted investments and working with the organization. Hear about community investment ideas. Learn about the Woodlawn – specific lending program. Understanding steps to work with CIC. Register here: https://www.ticketfalcon.com/e/cic/ SPONSORS Fifth Third Bank Saul…
Our Annual SBAC Golf Outing is BACK!
IT’S OFFICIAL! WE’RE GOING GOLFING! We are thrilled to announce that registration for the 13th Annual SBAC Golf Outing is NOW OPEN! The annual golf outing is a chance to relax and have fun with fellow SBAC members and guests! And it’s in-person! So invite your golf buddies and join us on Wednesday, June 29, 2022…
Legalization of Sandwich Signs to Help Local Businesses
After persistent support from the SBAC to legalize sandwich signs, in June 2021, Chicago Alderman voted to adopt a new policy on sandwich signs, which will go into effect NEXT WEEK. On March 1, 2022, Chicago small businesses can officially use “A-frame” or sandwich signs on the sidewalk to drive foot traffic into their stores.…
