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Illinois Policymakers Should Support Small Businesses

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

Illinois then received over $8 billion in American Rescue Plan Act funds.  However, only $250 million was allocated to the new grant program for struggling small businesses.  These funds will likely be exhausted before many eligible businesses receive grants.  With billions of ARPA funds remaining, policymakers should allocate an additional $300 million for grants to struggling small businesses.

Illinois politicians should finish what they started.  They should replenish the Back to Business grant program and promptly get funds to struggling small businesses, some of whom have waited almost two years for a grant to help offset the damage caused by the pandemic and mitigations established to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Please fill out the call to action below and ask your legislators to support struggling small businesses.  Thank you for supporting the small business community!

Insights Archive

Legislation to Help Black Owned Businesses Receive a Fair Share of State Contracts

By mrevis@sbacil.org | January 8, 2021

READ H.B 2629 HERE TAKE ACTION Black Owned Businesses Deserve Access to Government Contracts Illinois has failed Black and African American owned businesses by failing to provide them access to state contracts.  For too long, they have been denied a fair share of state contracts and revenue.  Legislation has been filed to ensure Black and…

Small Business Community Provides Senator Murphy Crucial Input on Business Interruption Grants

By patti@sbacil.org | January 6, 2021

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.

By patti@sbacil.org | January 5, 2021

  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…

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