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The Back to Business Grant Program

Supporting Struggling Small Businesses

The pandemic and Covid-19 mitigations began inflicting immense damage to many small businesses in March of 2020.  Thousands of small businesses initially applied for Illinois Business Interruption Grants.  While these grants helped some small businesses, approximately 80% of eligible small businesses which applied were not awarded a grant.

Subsequently, Illinois received over 8 billion dollars in American Rescue Plan Act funds.  However, only $250 million were allocated for Back to Business grant program.  These funds will likely be exhausted before many struggling and eligible businesses receive grants.

Illinois still has billions of federal funds and should replenish the Back to Business grant program with an additional $300 million.  Our policymakers should not pick winners and loses when there is adequate funding to support the struggling small businesses.

House Bill HB5489 will allocate an additional $300 million for the Back to Business grant program.  Please ask your legislators to support this legislation so that struggling small businesses can receive the support they need to recover from a pandemic, and associated mitigations, which they could not control.

VIEW THE FULL ILLINOIS HOUSE BILL HERE

Insights Archive

ACTION CALL: Big Legislation for Small Businesses

By mrevis@sbacil.org | April 5, 2021

Big Legislation for Small Businesses President Biden has signed The American Rescue Plan Act (H.R. 1319) into law.  Accordingly, the State of Illinois is expected to receive over 7.5 billion in funds to foster recovery from the pandemic. A robust coalition of small business advocates are urging lawmakers to pass Senate Bill 1982, which will…

The SBAC Supports Relief For Chicago Small Businesses Through Reimbursement of Liquor License Fees

By patti@sbacil.org | April 5, 2021

The SBAC supports a proposed Chicago ordinance which will reimburse small businesses a portion of the liquor license fees they paid because they could not use their license during pandemic related shutdowns.  This ordinance will help many local businesses recover from the pandemic. Please translate this page to the language of your choice. Supporters Fifth…

PPP Deadline Extended To May 31st

By mrevis@sbacil.org | March 31, 2021

President Biden Signs PPP Extention Act Attention Small Business Owners: President Biden just signed the PPP Extension Act of 2021 which extends the Paycheck Protection Program an additional two months until May 31st. The Act also provides an additional 30-days for the SBA to process pending applications. Please translate this page to the language of your choice.…

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