Today Governor Pritzker announced a $250 million grant program, Back to Business, allowing small businesses access to funds to offset losses due to COVID-19. Here are some specifics, shared by the Champaign County Economic Development Corporation:
$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, and up to $250,000 for hotels.
The Small Business Development Center at CCEDC is offering several webinars to assist businesses in applying for the grants. The first will be August 17th from 9 to 10 a.m.
Top photo by Anna Longworth.