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!
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…
AZRA PRODUCTIONS
Azra Productions is a premier international video production company. Founded in 2018, they have had the privilege of working with organizations both locally and internationally. Yelp, United Airlines, Ford Next Generation Learning, Colorado State University, Arms of Love International and Spotless Cleaning Chicago are just a few of the amazing partners we’ve been able to…