Skip to content

Illinois Launches Back to Business (B2B) NewBiz Program

The application window for the B2B NewBiz program opens on November 30, 2023, and will remain open until January 11, 2024.

The Small Business Advocacy Council has advocated for a program that provides grant funding to businesses that launched in 2020 (prior to the pandemic) and in 2020 and 2021 after the pandemic began. Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) have launched the Back to Business (B2B) NewBiz program, which allocates $25 million for grants to businesses that launched in 2020 and 2021 in certain industries, or businesses started by people that became unemployed during the pandemic.

Details about the grant program, including eligibility and grant sizes, can be found here

The SBAC will continue to provide important information about funding opportunities for small businesses.

Check out more small business grant opportunities here!

Insights Archive

Welcome Our New BOD Member!

By growthzone | January 25, 2023

Welcome Sherry Jursa! We’re happy to welcome Sherry Jursa from PNC‘s Business Banking wing to the Empower Board. Sherry holds an MBA from Northern Illinois University and a BA from North Central College in Political Science. With over 15 years’ experience in banking, Sherry is a proven professional who strives to provide excellence while meeting…

Small Business Mayoral Forum

By growthzone | January 11, 2023

SPONSORS Fifth Third Bank Saul Ewing Arnstein Lehr Inland Bank Interprenet Signature Bank Lexitas Korey Richardson Open One Solutions Byline DoorDash RockyTop Insperity SpeedPro Chicago Loop CVS

Legislation to Support Local Chambers Passes

By growthzone | January 10, 2023

Many chambers of commerce were devastated by the pandemic.  However, this did not stop them from providing crucial support to local businesses. The SBAC is thrilled to report that Illinois politicians have provided 5 million dollars to support the recovery of chambers of commerce in Illinois.  The SBAC has been working to procure this funding…

Scroll To Top