Governor J.B. Pritzker announced a $250 million Back to Business (B2B) grant program intended to provide recovery grants to those most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information regarding the B2B grant program, visit Illinois.gov.

Funding:

  • $250 million available for Illinois small businesses that suffered loses in 2020 due to COVID-19, including:
    • $100 million to business in Disproportionately Impacted Areas (DIAs)
    • $30 million to Arts and Entertainment business that didn’t receive Shuttered Venue Operators grants
    • $25 million to Restaurants and taverns that didn’t receive the Restaurant Revitalization Fund
    • $25 million to Hotels
    • $25 million to Businesses that didn’t receive a Business Interruption Grant (BIG) due to exhaustion of funds
  • Ranging from $5,000-$150,000 per business, grants can be used to cover a wide range of operations, staff, and overhead costs
    • Hotels are eligible to receive up to $250,000

A number of eligibility requirements apply, including providing revenue documentation from 2019 as well as showing a loss of revenue in 2020 due to COVID-19. Priority will also be given to a number of businesses, including those in DIAs and those who have not qualified for other assistance. Full eligibility guidelines are available on the B2B Grant Program Overview page at Illinois.gov.

The online application portal opens August 18, and applications can be tracked in real-time.

For complete details regarding this grant program, visit the Back to Business Grant Program Overview page at Illinois.gov.