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!
Childcare Tax Credit
One issue that has lead many to put off re-entering the workforce from the pandemic fallout is the cost and difficulty in terms of finding affordable and quality childcare. The SBAC has determined it is such a significant issue that it has been added to our agenda for the 2022 Spring Session. The childcare tax…
CDC Shortens Quarantine Period and OSHA Updates Guidance on the ETS
The last two weeks have provided a rollercoaster ride for employers as they grapple with the resurrection of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA’s) Emergency Temporary Standard (“ETS”) by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, updated guidance from OSHA on the testing protocols under the ETS and new CDC guidance shortening quarantine periods. Employers…
2021 SBAC Small Business Pitch Throwdown Photos
Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2021 SBAC Small Business Pitch Throwdown on December 2nd at Workbox! We had a blast watching the finalists pitch their business with a hearty CONGRATULATIONS to this year’s winner, Mycocycle!! Special thank you to Kristi Ross for being such an inspiration and giving some incredible business advice…