Advocacy Initiatives

Back to Business Grant Program - Illinois' new Back to Business grant program has $250 million available for small businesses still in need of relief. We are urging lawmakers to allocate additional funds to ensure that the state is not picking winners and losers and as many small businesses receive grants as possible. Fill out our Back to Business grant action call here.

Vacant Properties - HB 4374

The SBAC is working with a large coalition to reduce commercial vacancies in Chicago and surrounding neighborhoods. We are advocating for legislation that would stop commercial property owners from receiving a tax break when they are not attempting to lease, sell or improve their spaces.

R.I.S.E. Grant Program - HB4455

The Recovery Initiative to Support Employment provides businesses of 50 employees or less a grant for retraining and hiring employees to work in their small business.

Reduce Recidivism and Grow the Workforce – Returning Citizens - A grant program for business owners who hire individuals re-entering the workforce after a period spent in incarceration.

Funding for Local Chambers of Commerce -  A grant program to provide grants for local chambers of commerce with less than 1500 members that can demonstrate a loss of revenue.

Childcare Incentive Program - A program designed to get working families the chance to offset some of the costs associated with raising children.

Funding for Intrastate Equity Crowdfunding Portal - A portal used to encourage local investment in main street businesses and commercial corridors throughout Illinois.

Property Tax Reform - A bipartisan platform with 2 separate bills both attempting to address structural issues in the IL property tax system: school district consolidation and government consolidation.

Occupational Licensing Reform - Our occupational licensing agenda focuses on 4 separate components: Guarding Against Unnecessary and Burdensome Licenses; Eliminating Unnecessary and Burdensome Licenses; Growing Illinois’ Workforce and Tax Base; Reduce Recidivism and Grow the Workforce.