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Grants Still Available for Businesses Affected by COVID

 By Shayna Griffith


Image by Kane County Chronicle 

State officials are urging business owners to apply for grants to help cover business costs as new COVID-19 restrictions are enforced. These grants will help cover the cost of financial loss of businesses due to the pandemic, including payroll, rent, utilities, and other expenses for struggling business owners.


Since the early days of the pandemic in March, Gov. JB Pritzker’s administration has distributed over $600 million for Business Interruption Grants (BIG). The BIG program is now accepting a second round of applications as stricter COVID-19 restrictions are placed in Will County. Pritzker announced these restrictions, which includes a ban on indoor dining in restaurants and bars, October 23 and Will County officials are urging business owners to take advantage of the BIG program grants.


State Sen. Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant (D., Shorewood) said in a news release, “COVID-19 has created many difficulties and uncertainties for our business community. This grant program can help our local businesses keep their doors open during these tough times.”


This time around, an additional $220 million will be offered to struggling businesses to help mitigate monetary losses due to the novel COVID-19 virus. “Support for small businesses has been one of the central features of our COVID-19 response: Helping entrepreneurs stay afloat, giving business owners the help necessary to keep the lights on and payroll flowing, is vital to preserving jobs and businesses until we get to the other side of this pandemic,” said Pritzker in a press conference last Friday. “These two new programs, combined with the first round of Business Interruption Grants, deliver nearly $300 million in aid to the very small businesses that bring jobs and vibrancy to their communities –offering them increased stability so those jobs and that vibrancy can live on.”


For more information on how to apply, visit the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity website.

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