Grants
Allies for Community Business has partnered with several public and private organizations to provide grants to small businesses over the last several years. Since April of 2020, we have provided over $477M in grants to 23,000 small businesses in Illinois and Indiana.
As new grant opportunities arise, we will post them here along with instructions on how to apply.
As new grant opportunities arise, we will post them here along with instructions on how to apply.
Stephen L. Tadlock Vetpreneurs Grant
Administered by Founders First CDC
The Stephen L. Tadlock Grant program will award $1,000 grants to 25 veterans who are running employer-based small businesses across the country.
Eligibility
- U.S. military veteran who is a CEO, President, or Business Owner
- Must have an active U.S.-based business
- Must have between 2-50 employees
Deadline: October 16, 2023

Small Business Improvement Fund
Administered by the 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
