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Funding For Local Chambers of Commerce

funding for local Chambers Small Business Package

Chamber Relief Grant Program

Local chambers of commerce provide important support and services to small businesses.  They connect small businesses to potential customers and play a pivotal role in fostering commerce in local communities.  However, many chambers have been devastated by the pandemic.  For that reason, we are asking state politicians to allocate a modest sum of ARPA money to provide crucial relief to these local chambers.

The SBAC is championing legislation that will provide grants to local and regional chambers of commerce to help them recover from the pandemic.  Eligible chambers will receive grants in an amount equivalent to 2 months of lost revenue, or 1/6th of their annual lost revenue, for their losses between 2019 and 2020. Chambers must also have less than 1500 paid members to be eligible.  The total amount allocated for this proposed program is 5 million dollars, a small sum considering Illinois received over 8 billion in federal ARPA money.

You can read the full legislation here.

Chambers of commerce have struggled since the onset of the pandemic. This is the time for politicians to support the non-profit chambers that support small businesses and local communities throughout Illinois.

Reach out to us at 312.548.8608 or email patti@sbacil.org to learn more.

Insights Archive

SBAC President: Chicago Politicians Must Choose Small Business Over Politics

By mrevis@sbacil.org | June 4, 2021

SBAC President Elliot Richardson writes in Crain’s Chicago Business that Chicago politicians must choose small businesses over politics and cut needless red tape now.                 Please translate this page to the language of your choice. Supporters Fifth Third Bank Saul Ewing Arnstein Lehr Inland Bank Ntiva Daily Herald…

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By patti@sbacil.org | June 3, 2021

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SBAC Action Call – Urge Chicago Aldermen to Cut Unnecessary Red Tape

By mrevis@sbacil.org | June 2, 2021

Urge Chicago Aldermen to Cut Unnecessary Red Tape! Chicago politicians must put small businesses and Chicago’s economic recovery over politics. There has never been a more important time for policymakers to work together to cut unnecessary red tape that hurts small businesses and local communities. Small businesses presently need Chicago’s City Council to approve their…

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