
The RISE Grant Program
The pandemic has had a significant impact on the Illinois workforce. Small businesses are still struggling to hire qualified employees which has greatly impacted their operations. Illinois policymakers will need to promptly pass forward-thinking policies to help get folks back into the workforce.
The SBAC is advocating for the passage of The RISE Grant Program - HB4455. This legislation connects those interested working in a new field or industry with small businesses struggling to hire new employees. Importantly, HB4455 offsets the costs associated with on-the-job training at the inception of the employer-employee relationship. The legislation provides funding for $5,000 grants which can be awarded to businesses that (1) retrain and hire employees that lost their jobs or businesses because of the pandemic; (2) employ less than 50 employees; and (3) create a new net job.
Illinois received over $8 billion from the American Rescue Plan Act funds. The SBAC contends a responsible portion of those funds should be used to support small businesses struggling to hire new employees. This legislation allocates $250,000,000 in funding for this new grant program. This legislation connects those interested working in a new field, in part, facilitated by the pandemic, with small businesses that are struggling to hire new employees. HB4455 creates opportunities for small businesses, while helping get people back into the workforce.
SBAC 2022 Legislative Agenda
SBAC 2022 Legislative Agenda The Small Business Advocacy Council (SBAC) is laser-focused on formulating and fighting to pass policies that support small businesses and local communities. Learn more about our 2022 Legislative Agenda here: Legislative Agenda SPONSORS Fifth Third Bank Saul Ewing Arnstein Lehr Inland Bank Tandem HR Interprenet Signature Bank Lexitas Korey Richardson Open…
*CLOSED* the Cook County Small Business Source Grow Grant Program!
Apply for the Cook County Small Business Source Grow Grant Program! The SBAC advocates for the small business community in numerous ways, including by disseminating important information about programs that will support small businesses. The Cook County Small Business Source Grow Grant program will provide grants to certain small businesses still struggling to recover from the pandemic.…
We’ve been busy advocating for you!
We’ve been busy advocating for the small business comunity! It’s been a busy past few weeks for the SBAC. Our fight to revitalize local business districts continues fervently. We are committed to meeting our Illinois Alders individually to discuss our SBAC Agenda and how to build a better Illinois. Small businesses are the heart of…