The Back2Business Grant Application Portal is now open. An Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity program, the B2B grant is designed to help small businesses that suffered revenue losses between 2019 and 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of $250 million in grants are available, ranging from $5,000 to $150,000. The eligibility for the program is very broad and most businesses with $20 million or less in annual revenue are qualified.
The program also has set-asides and priorities for certain hard hit business types like restaurants and hotels, smaller businesses (under $5 million in revenue), businesses in low-income census tracts, and businesses who were not helped by other programs like Paycheck Protection Program and Business Interruption Grant.
The state's application portal will be open to accept submissions starting Wednesday, August 18. The last day for applications will be Monday, October 11.
Apply for the Back 2 Business Grant.
A local Community Navigator, Steve Matheny, is available to help all East Peoria and Creve Coeur businesses with the application process. For more information or to contact Matheny, call the East Peoria Chamber of Commerce at 309-699-6212.