As part of Governor JB Pritzker’s overall economic recovery strategy, the $250 million Back to Business (B2B) grant program aims 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.
The application for the $250 million State of Illinois Back to Business (B2B) Grant Program is opening today Wed., August 18th. Back to Business offers small businesses access to funds that can help offset losses due to COVID-19, bring back workers, and continue to rebuild from the pandemic.
These organizations will provide technical assistance to businesses, with a focus on underserved businesses including minority, rural, veteran and women-owned businesses.
Funding available:
Grants will range from $5,000 to $150,000 per business and can be used to cover a wide range of operations, staff, and overhead costs.
Eligibility requirements:
Priority will be given to the following categories:
Application Portal Now Open
Applications can be tracked in real-time
Allies for Community Business (A4CB), DCEO's grant administrator, is now accepting applications (create an account first and then select your language of choice)
Learn about the information and documentation required
Documentation required also available in: Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Hindi, and Arabic
Documentation needed:
List of Frequently Asked Questions also available in: Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Hindi, and Arabic
Learn about eligibility guidelines
Eligibility guidelines also available in: Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Hindi, and Arabic
Upon receiving an award, all grantees will need to sign the program Certification Agreement.
The application for the $250 million State of Illinois Back to Business (B2B) Grant Program is opening today Wed., August 18th. Back to Business offers small businesses access to funds that can help offset losses due to COVID-19, bring back workers, and continue to rebuild from the pandemic.
The 51st Street Business Association in collaboration with National Main Street is available to help you with your grant application. If you have any immediate questions, you can submit questions to DCEO by clicking here.
More information, including an area map of DIAs, can be found here:
https://www2.illinois.gov/dceo/SmallBizAssistance/Pages/B2B.aspx
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.
The application for the $250 million State of Illinois Back to Business (B2B) Grant Program is opening today Wed., August 18th. Back to Business offers small businesses access to funds that can help offset losses due to COVID-19, bring back workers, and continue to rebuild from the pandemic.
These organizations will provide technical assistance to businesses, with a focus on underserved businesses including minority, rural, veteran and women-owned businesses.
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 below)
- $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
- Hotels
- 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, and overhead costs.
Eligibility requirements:
- Businesses with revenues of $20 million or less in 2019 and a reduction in revenue in 2020 due to COVID-19
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: disproportionately impacted 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
Application Portal Now Open
Applications can be tracked in real-time
Allies for Community Business (A4CB), DCEO's grant administrator, is now accepting applications (create an account first and then select your language of choice)
Learn about the information and documentation required
Documentation required also available in: Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Hindi, and Arabic
Documentation needed:
- Business owner ID (ITIN business owners eligible)
- Business’s 2019 AND 2020 Federal tax returns
- Two (2) business bank statements – one from the period April through December 2020, and most recent statement
List of Frequently Asked Questions also available in: Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Hindi, and Arabic
Learn about eligibility guidelines
Eligibility guidelines also available in: Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Hindi, and Arabic
Upon receiving an award, all grantees will need to sign the program Certification Agreement.
The application for the $250 million State of Illinois Back to Business (B2B) Grant Program is opening today Wed., August 18th. Back to Business offers small businesses access to funds that can help offset losses due to COVID-19, bring back workers, and continue to rebuild from the pandemic.
The 51st Street Business Association in collaboration with National Main Street is available to help you with your grant application. If you have any immediate questions, you can submit questions to DCEO by clicking here.
More information, including an area map of DIAs, can be found here:
https://www2.illinois.gov/dceo/SmallBizAssistance/Pages/B2B.aspx
