Deadline: 11-Oct-21
The Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity is pleased to launch the Back to Business (B2B) Grant Program to deploy small businesses recovery grants for those hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The B2B grant program builds on the success of last year’s Business Interruption Grant (BIG) program – an equity focused business relief program, which directed $290 million to 9,000 businesses in 98 communities across Illinois. B2B is a key component of the Governor’s $1.5 billion economic recovery plan, aimed toward a swift and equitable deployment of American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) funds that have been designated for Illinois to assist in recovery from the COVID pandemic.
To assist small businesses with the B2B application process and other upcoming or ongoing economic recovery grant programs offered at the State or federal level. DCEO has invested $9 million in support of Community Navigator organizations working in every region of the state. These organizations will provide technical assistance to businesses, with a focus on underserved businesses including minority, rural, veteran and women-owned businesses.
Priority Industries
They have identified a set of “Priority Industries” that have experienced particular and prolonged hardship throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Those industries are defined as follows. Nonprofits should not include donations in the calculation when calculating the share of revenues derived from an activity.
- Hotels
- Restaurants and bars that are eligible for but have not received a Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) grant
- Arts organizations and businesses
- Clothing and electronics retail establishments (excluding e-commerce)
- Dry-cleaning and laundry services (excluding coin-operated) a.
- Home health care services
- Child care providers
- Barbershop and salon services
- Indoor recreation
- Gyms and fitness centers
- Tourism and group transportation (excluding taxis, limos, or rideshare)
- Spectator and social event support services
Funding Information
- $250 million to small businesses across the state that experienced losses in 2020 due to COVID-19, including the following set-asides.
- $100 million – Businesses located in Disproportionately Impacted Areas (DIAs).
- $30 million – Arts and Entertainment businesses that didn’t receive Shuttered Venue Operators grants
- $25 million – Restaurants and taverns that didn’t receive the Restaurant Revitalization Fund
- $25 million – Hotels
- $25 million – Businesses that didn’t receive a BIG grant due to exhaustion of funds
- Grants will range from $5,000 to $150,000 per business and can be used to cover a wide range of operations/staff/overhead costs
- Up to $250,000 for hotels
Eligibility Criteria
Businesses must meet the following requirements to be eligible for funds available through the Back to Business Grant program. Note that this is a summary, and further terms that recipients must comply with are outlined in the Back to Business Grant Program Certifications and Requirements, found.
- 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;
- Must have been operating during or before December 2019.
- Must have had less than $20 million in gross operating revenue in calendar year 2019, or a prorated amount if in operation for less than a year prior to December 2019.
- Must have experienced a loss in revenue of at least $5,000 in 2020 due to economic disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Must have had reduced operations due to government orders, public health guidelines, or depressed consumer demand during the COVID 19 pandemic.
- Must have complied with all relevant laws, regulations, and executive orders from the State and federal government, including the social distancing guidelines as promulgated by the Executive Orders of the Illinois Governor.
For more information, visit https://www2.illinois.gov/dceo/SmallBizAssistance/Pages/B2B.aspx
