Elgin Area Chamber Of Commerce: Governor Announces $250 Million Back To Business (B2B) Grant Program

Press release from the Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce:

August 16, 2021

Governor Announces $250 Million Back to Business (B2B) Grant Program As part of Illinois' COVID-19 economic recovery program, yesterday Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) launched the $250 million Back to Business (B2B) grant program to support the continued recovery of small businesses across Illinois. The first in a series of economic recovery programs by the administration, B2B will offer the hardest hit industries grants of $5K-$150K to help offset losses, bring back workers, and take continued steps to rebuild amid the fallout from the pandemic. To reach the businesses most in need, DCEO will work alongside over 100 community navigators, 42 Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) and other outreach partners who have relationships with their local business community. These partners stand ready to help small business prepare and apply for funding with 1-on-1, and multilingual assistance in every region of the state.  While the State announced the program this week, we are providing businesses with application information early to provide them with a jumpstart in preparing before the application formally opens on August 18, 2021. Locate Locate a local community navigator to help you prepare and apply.  Learn more Learn more about B2B, requirements and how to apply. Join us for a B2B webinar B2B webinar overview on Friday, August 13, 10am for an overview of the grant program and how to prepare for the application. Reminder: Deadline to Apply for Illinois NEU Allocations from ARPA is September 30 Compliance Webinar Monday, August 16 Local governments: Don’t leave money on the table! Under the Illinois NEU Allocations from ARPA, eligible Units of Local Government (populations <50K) can now claim their share critical relief funds. Funds can be used to support households, small businesses, impacted industries, essential workers, as well as investments in building, maintaining, or upgrading water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure. The support is easy to access through ILDCEO’s NEU  portal portal with initial payments made in about 30 days. 

• View the recording of our launch webinar from July 26th. 
• Register for another webinar this Monday, August 16th, on program compliance. 

webinar Register Learn more Learn more  about NEU funding and take the initial steps to claim your allocation, or to transfer your allocation to the State if your local government chooses not to claim an allocation. New $10M Economic Recovery Program Announced to Revitalize Hard-Hit Tourism Industry This week, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced a new $10 million Tourism Attractions and Festivals Grant program to support new and returning tourism attractions and festivals. The program is made possible with support of federal dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and is part of a broader effort underway by the Pritzker administration to revitalize tourism in Illinois.   Hard-hit by the pandemic, the travel and tourism industry is a key driver of the state's economy, employing hundreds of thousands of Illinoisans. The program will help develop new or enhance existing tourism attractions and festivals located across the state – with a goal of attracting additional visitors and overnight stays that will bring foot traffic back in communities across Illinois.  Grants range from $10,000 to $1 million and will require a local match.   Tourism Attractions & Festivals Grant Program (Notice of Funding Opportunity) Tourism Attractions & Festivals Grant Program (Notice of Funding Opportunity) Press Release Press Release $1.5M Grant Supports $31 Million State of the Art Community and Sport Education Center Funded in part with a $1.5 million Rebuild Illinois capital grant, this week DCEO and By The Hand Club For Kids By The Hand Club For Kids joined community leaders for a ground-breaking of a new $31 million, state-of-the-art sports, education and wellness campus in the North Austin Community. The 10-acre site will revitalize a large swath of vacant lots and will help close the opportunity gap for youth on Chicago’s west side by fostering leadership and civic involvement through athletics. This is one of 11 projects funded through the Rebuild Illinois Shovel Ready Infrastructure Capital Program Rebuild Illinois Shovel Ready Infrastructure Capital Program , that leveraged $46 million in local and private funds against the State's $11 million investments to unlock a total $57 million in community impact. The complex will provide wraparound services and programs that will reach hundreds of children and young adults each year. Expected to be complete in the fall of 2022, the project will create hundreds of construction jobs and 75 permanent jobs for the community. Throughout August’s National Black Business month, DCEO will host a series of events and initiatives to raise awareness, share resources and honor the contributions of Illinois’ 132,000 Black-owned businesses across the state.  Register now for Black Business Month Events. Black Business Month Events Enjoy 10 days of thrills and excitement at the 2021 Illinois State Fair 2021 Illinois State Fair , featuring world renowned concert artists, food, carnival rides, livestock shows, agricultural exhibits, contests, educational displays, free entertainment, harness racing, auto racing and much more.   Be sure to stop by the DCEO's booth, located in the Governor JB Pritzker's tent, to learn about new programs and resources available for small businesses and to get your copy of our Enjoy Illinois Enjoy Illinois travel guide.  Virtual Job Fairs Virtual Job Fairs (VJF) are part of the GET HIRED GET HIRED  initiative.  Job seekers can find a hiring event near them, read about how to prepare for a VJF and what to expect when attending the event.

This press release was produced by the Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce. The views expressed here are the author’s own.