Aurora officials are encouraging local small businesses to take part in the Back to Business grant program run by the state of Illinois.
The $250 million program is part of the state’s overall economic recovery strategy from the pandemic. The grants are prioritized to support the hardest hit industries and communities.
“It covers operational losses, reopening costs,” said Brian Gay, Invest Aurora president and chief executive officer. “The grants are based on need.”
Grants can run from $5,000 to $150,000. Business with $20 million of revenues or less in 2019, and a reduction in revenue in 2020, are eligible. Priority will be given to companies with less than $5 million in revenue in 2019.
Priority also will be given to businesses in the hardest hit areas. In Aurora, that’s businesses in the 60505 and 60506 area codes. Complete eligibility guidelines are available at: https://www2.illinois.gov/dceo/SmallBizAssistance/Documents/B2B_EligibilityGuidelines.pdf.
Gay said last year, when the state’s Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity did a recovery program, about 11% of the applications came from the Aurora area, but only 3% received funding.
Gay said Invest Aurora wants to help businesses apply, and will be glad to help any of them with applications. Information is available on the Invest Aurora website, www.investaurora.org. That help will include Spanish-speaking individuals.
Also helping are the Quad County Urban League and the Aurora Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
State Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, said her office also will help businesses through her full-time constituent office at 630-585-1308 or email at Stephanie.kifowit@att.net.
“The Back to Business grant program can be a lifeline for businesses struggling to work their way out from the pandemic,” said Kifowit. “If you are a small business and are working to get yourself back on good financial ground, I encourage you to apply for these grants.”
