Back 2 Business Grants Available August 18
Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) today announced the $250 million Back to Business (B2B) grant program to support the continued recovery of small businesses across Illinois. The first in a series of economic recovery programs set to launch by the administration, B2B will offer small businesses access to funds that can help offset losses due to COVID-19, bring back workers and take continued steps to rebuild amid the fallout from the pandemic. The program builds on last year’s Business Interruption Grant program, which provided $580 million to small businesses and childcare providers across the state.
- $250 million to small businesses across the state that experienced losses in 2020 due to COVID-19
- 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
- Allies for Community Business (A4CB), DCEO’s grant administrator, will begin accepting applications on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 (prepare for the application process early by learning about the information and documents required)
Funding Available
- $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) – see DIA Map here
- $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 Requirements
- Businesses with revenues of $20 million or less in 2019 and a reduction in revenue in 2020 due to COVID-19
- $35 million or less for hotels
- Priority will be given to the following categories:
- Hard-hit industries (see eligibility guidelines for a full list of priority industries and their definitions)
- Hard-hit areas – DIAs comprising of 176 zip codes
- Businesses who have yet to qualify for state funding or federal assistance (including the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF), business Interruption Grant (BIG), Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG), and more)
- Businesses that had less than $5 million in revenue in 2019
- Learn about eligibility guidelines
- Eligibility guidelines also available in: Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Hindi, and Arabic
How/When to Apply
- Back to Business application portal opening August 18
- Applications can be tracked in real-time
- Allies for Community Business (A4CB), DCEO’s grant administrator, will begin accepting applications on Wednesday, August 18, 2021
- Documentation needed:
- Business owner ID (ITIN business owners eligible)
- Business 2019 AND 2020 Federal tax returns
- Two (2) business bank statements – one from the period April through December 2020, and most recent statement
- Prepare for the application process early by learning about the information and documents required
- List of Frequently Asked Questions
Click here to see the marketing flyer with information as well.
The Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity will be hosting webinars on the Grant and the Grant submission process. To register for one of the upcoming seminars, click on the link below for the date you would like to attend.
CLICK HERE TO START YOUR APPLICATION.
B2B Webinar: Thursday 8/19 at 11AM: https://illinois.webex.com/illinois/onstage/g.php?MTID=e3b97ec9d198c7b0ba64625d8266cd09e
Have questions and/or need technical assistance? Please contact us or reach out to a local Community Navigator. All Community Navigators provide technical assistance to businesses, with a focus on underserved businesses including minority, rural, veteran and women-owned businesses.
Thank you for your continued support of the Greater Belleville Chamber of Commerce.
