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.
Small Business Community Provides Senator Murphy Crucial Input on Business Interruption Grants
CHICAGO, IL – Senator Laura Murphy conducted a meeting with the Small Business Advocacy Council, small business owners and local chamber executives to discuss their experiences with Business Interruption Grants. Many attendees expressed concern and frustration regarding the manner by which BIG grants were awarded. Communication breakdowns impacted small businesses and left them hanging in…
Meet the SBAC Interns – an integral part of the SBAC Team.
Meet the SBAC Interns – an integral part of the SBAC Team. In 2020, we were fortunate to have more than 15 interns supporting our small business initiatives at the SBAC. Hear why they chose to be part of the SBAC Community. And thank you to them all. Please translate this page to…
Chicago’s Cut Red Tape Agenda
CHICAGO’S CUT RED TAPE AGENDA PUBLIC WAY USE SIGN PERMITS Small and local businesses need City Council approval to display a simple sign that protrudes over the sidewalk by less than an inch. The fight to allow small businesses to display signs that protrude over the public way without City Council approval has been ongoing…
