Illinois Back to Business New Business Grant Program – US

Deadline: 11-Jan-24

The Illinois Back to Business New Business Grant Program (B2B NewBiz) is providing financial relief to businesses that started during the pandemic in the industries most impacted by the pandemic.

Businesses that started during the pandemic have not been eligible for state grants and most federal emergency support provided for emergency relief to small businesses thus far.

Grant Awards

• Illinois B2B NewBiz will provide sub-awards ranging from $5,000 to $30,000 determined based on whether the business is home-based or brick-and-mortar, and the amount of time the business was in operation during the pandemic, as shown in the following table:
  • Business Start Date: January 1, 2020 to June 30, 2020
    • Brick-and-Mortar: $30,000
    • Home-Based: $10,000
  • Business Start Date: July 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020
    • Brick-and-Mortar: $20,000
    • Home-Based: $5,000
  • Business Start Date: January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021
    • Brick-and-Mortar: $10,000
    • Home-Based: N/A
• The business start date is based on the date the business was incorporated or date on business license. Sole proprietors that started in 2020 whose professional licenses do not reflect a start date will be eligible for $5,000.

Eligibility Requirements

• To be eligible for a grant award under the B2B New Biz Program, for-profit businesses and nonprofit organizations must meet all the criteria listed below:
  • Must be an independently owned and operated for-profit corporation or limited liability corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship authorized to conduct business in the State of Illinois; or a nonprofit operating in Illinois and registered with the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c) organization;
  • Started operations on or between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2021.
  • Had between $25,000 and $20 million in gross operating revenue in calendar year 2021, or a pro-rated amount if operations began starting in 2021.
  • Must meet one of the following two criteria:
    • The business or organization operates primarily in one of the following priority industries:
      • Hotels
      • Restaurants and bars
      • Arts organizations or businesses
      • Clothing and electronics retail establishments (excluding ecommerce)
      • Dry-cleaning and laundry services (excluding coinoperated)
      • Home health care services
      • Child care providers
      • Barbershop and salon services
      • Indoor recreation
      • Gyms and fitness centers
  • The business is majority owned by an individual or individuals that became eligible for and received unemployment insurance benefits – including from Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) – between March 13, 2020, and the date the business began operations.

For more information, visit Illinois Back to Business.