Grants

Back to Business Grant

Administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity and Allies for Community Business

The $250 million Back to Business (B2B) grant program offers Illinois small businesses access to funds that can help offset losses due to COVID-19, bring back workers, and continue to rebuild from the pandemic. Grants range from $5,000 to $150,000.

Eligibility

• Must have revenues of $20 million or less in 2019 and a reduction in revenue of at least $5,000 in 2020 due to COVID-19
• Priority will be given to:
  • Hardest hit industries such as hotels, salons, fitness centers, restaurants, and more.
  • Disproportionately Impacted Areas (DIAs) that are economically distressed and that have suffered higher case counts of COVID-19.
  • Businesses who have yet to receive for state or federal assistance, including the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF), Business Interruption Grants (BIG), and more.

West Side United Small Business Grant Program

Administered by Allies for Community Business

West Side United will distribute grants of $10,000 to 45 West Side small business owners.

Eligibility

• Small businesses located in Austin, Belmont Cragin, East Garfield Park, Humboldt Park, Lower West Side (Pilsen), Near Westside, North Lawndale, South Lawndale (Little Village), West Garfield Park, or West Town
• Priority given to hospital-serving industries and community-serving retail

Deadline: October 31, 2021

Small Business Restart Grant

Administered by the State of Indiana

Indiana has reopened and expanded the Restart Program to help accelerate economic recovery. Eligible small businesses can apply for reimbursement for qualified business expenses incurred between March 1, 2020 and May 1, 2021. Reimbursements of up to $50,000 are available to eligible businesses.

Eligibility

• Registered Indiana business
• Must have been established prior to October 1, 2019
• Demonstrate a monthly gross revenue loss of at least 30% compared to pre-COVID 2019 average monthly revenue

Deadline: December 31, 2021

Indiana Hospitality and Entertainment Grant

Administered by the State of Indiana

The Indiana Hospitality & Entertainment Grant program supports the state’s hospitality and entertainment industries that have been disproportionately impacted throughout the pandemic. Eligible small businesses can apply for reimbursement for qualified business expenses incurred between March 1, 2020 and December 31, 2021. Reimbursements of up to $1,000,000 are available to eligible businesses.

Eligibility

• Registered Indiana business
• Must have been established prior to October 1, 2019
• Entertainment venue, promoter, or hospitality businesses with $10 million – $35 million in revenue in 2019

Deadline: December 31, 2021

Small Business Improvement Fund

Administered by City of Chicago and SomerCor

The City of Chicago’s Small Business Improvement Fund provides small businesses with reimbursable grants for permanent building improvement costs.

Eligibility

• Commercial and industrial business located in Chicago’s TIF districts
• Industrial businesses must have 200 or fewer employees
• Commercial businesses must gross average annual sales under $9M for the prior 3 years

Deadline: Dependent on TIF district

High Road Kitchens

Administered by One Fair Wage and City of Chicago

One Fair Wage in partnership with the City of Chicago has launched the High Road Kitchens program, offering grants between $10,000 and $30,000 to Chicago restaurants.

Eligibility

• Restaurant located in Chicago
• Annual revenue of under $3 million
• Experienced financial loss due to COVID-19 totaling 25% of annual revenue

Deadline: Rolling