Beginning Wednesday, Aug. 18, Illinois small business owners can apply for COVID-19 recovery assistance through the new Back to Business (B2B) grant program. The grants are funded by the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
The new $250 million rolling grant program builds on last year’s Business Interruption Grant (BIG) program. Within the new program, $100 million is earmarked for businesses in areas disproportionately affected by the pandemic, $30 million for entertainment and art businesses, $25 million for restaurants and taverns that did not receive grants through the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, $25 million for hotels, and $25 million for small businesses that did not receive funds through the BIG program.
To be considered for a grant between $5,000 and $150,000, applicants must demonstrate they had a reduction in revenue in 2020 when compared with 2019, and annual revenues of no more than $20 million in 2019. Hotels with $35 million or less in 2019 revenues are also eligible. As part of the application, businesses must also provide two bank statements, a business owner ID, and federal tax returns for 2019 and 2020.
For more information and assistance in applying for grants through this program, please find a location near you below:
IL DCEO Regional Economic Development – Northwest Region
Adrian Madunic 217-299-5532 adrian.madunic@illinois.gov Counties: Jo Daviess, Carroll, Whiteside, Lee, LaSalle, Bureau, Henry, Rock Island, Mercer, Putnam SBDC at WIU - Quad Cities Ann Friederichs 309-762-3999 x 62243 ae-friederichs@wiu.edu Counties: Jo Daviess, Carroll, Whiteside, Henry, Rock Island, Mercer SBDC at Sauk Valley Community College Kim Ewoldsen 815-835-6244 kim.s.ewoldsen@svcc.edu Counties: Whiteside, Lee, Carroll, Ogle, Bureau, Henry, Stephenson Silvis Main Street Amanda Sherwood 309-429-9238 Director@silvismainstreet.org ALL: Women, Veterans Rural Rock Island & Silvis Mercado on Fifth Annamaria Rocha 941-343-7579 anamaria@mercadoonfifth.org ALL: LatinX/Hispanic, Immigrants, & Rock Island County English and Spanish Translation Available Main Street of Sterling, Inc. Janna Groharing 815-626-8610 janna@sterlingmainstreet.org ALL: Women, Rural Whiteside, Downtown Business District of Sterling Blackhawk Hills Regional Council Daniel Payette 815-625-3854 daniel.payette@blackhawkhills.com Counties: Carroll, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside