Nearly 200 businesses in district Sims represents receive $4.5 million in business assistance

CHICAGO – Today, State Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr. announced that 200 businesses across the 17th district were awarded nearly $4.5 million in funding from the Back to Business program thanks to his advocacy and support.

“As we continue to deal with the impact COVID-19 has had on our daily lives, we are also seeing local businesses face tremendous financial distress as they also work to bounce back,” said Sims (D-Chicago). “The Back to Business Grant program has continued to be a nation-leading small business assistance program that has provided thousands of businesses across the state with millions of dollars in assistance to help them through these challenging times.”

A total of $4.475 million was awarded to 174 businesses in the 17^th District. The B2B grants are awarded by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity using funds allocated to them by the American Rescue Plan through last year’s state budget.

DCEO has provided $250 million in B2B grants – thanks to strong support from Senator Sims – to small businesses throughout the state, with an emphasis on hard hit sectors, such as hotels, restaurants, bars, barbershops and salons, and disproportionately impacted areas.

“Small businesses enrich our communities,” Sims said. ” I am proud to have led efforts in the Senate to ensure this much-needed funding assistance reaches our hardest-hit areas.”

With strong leadership from Sims, the state has seen five Illinois’ General Obligation bond rating upgrades in the last year from all three of the nation’s primary credit rating agencies. The latest two-notch upgrade comes from Fitch Ratings, as a result of the state paying down its bill backlog from over $16 billion to less than $3 billion in a course of just a few years.

Because of the fiscally responsible budgeting approach taken by the state, Illinois saw an increase in funds available to assist small businesses.

Sims urges small businesses to visit the DCEO website for additional resources or contact DCEO’s First Stop Business Information Center Services at 800-252-2923 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Sims on improved bond ratings: Our responsible spending model is working

CHICAGO – For the fourth time in a year, Illinois has seen another improved bond rating. Fitch Ratings – one of the nation’s major credit rating agencies – announced upgrades Thursday thanks to the fiscally-responsible decisions made by Illinois Democrats.

State Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr. (D-Chicago) – who serves as the Senate’s lead budget negotiator and Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee – released the following statement in response:

“When I look at the budget we passed last month, I see the work and years of fiscal responsibility paying off. We were able to pay down our bills and put money back in the pockets of the state’s hardworking families. Illinois is a stand-out state when it comes to putting the needs of our residents first – and we do so in a responsible, equitable way.

“Fitch’s two level rating upgrade shows our fiscally responsible budgeting approach is working and is independent proof that our state is headed in the right direction, our unemployment rate is down and we’ve added thousands of new jobs in key industries, like hospitality and professional services. Our future looks bright and I look forward to continued collaborative efforts with my colleagues to keep Illinois on this upward economic trajectory.”

Senator Sims: Dismantling Roe v. Wade is just the first step toward infringing on people’s rights

CHICAGO – State Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr. (D-Chicago) issued the following statement after a draft Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade was leaked:

“A woman’s right to choose is just that – a fundamental right that should not be stripped due to antiquated politics or an attempt to disregard the progress we’ve made in the area of human rights. In reading the decision, it is clear that other fundamental rights in this country are in jeopardy so silence in this moment is not an option. Each of us, regardless of your feelings on reproductive rights, should be concerned. This type of activism by judges, to push a culture war driven agenda, should be concerning for us all.”

“Should this long settled law be overturned, women in Illinois can take solace in knowing that Illinois respects their right to choose and that this fundamental right still hold value. As always, I hope other states are looking to Illinois for leadership in this fight for protecting a woman’s right to choose.”

Sims reacts to Illinois' second credit rating upgrade

The state of Illinois received its second credit rating upgrade, from Moody’s Investors Service, just days after the Illinois fiscal year 23 budget was signed into law. Following the announcement, State Senator Elgie Sims, Jr. (D-Chicago) released the following statement:

“Creating a fiscally responsible budget that invests in the education of our children, supports our seniors, invests in community safety, protects working families and grows our economy is one of my top legislative priorities.

From the beginning of this year’s budget cycle I said that the actions we take must be fiscally responsible and have positive results for Illinois families. When budget negotiations began this session, as Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman, my colleagues and I set a goal to build on the progress we made last year to keep putting Illinois back on track, because after several years of a manufactured budget impasse and a global pandemic, Illinois was on the brink of fiscal disaster. But by passing policies to grow and diversify our economy, making fiscally responsible decisions that helped us bounce back and passing balanced budget after balanced budget we received two credit upgrades for the first time in a generation. 

Moody’s announcement comes as welcome news just days after Governor Pritzker signed the fiscal year 2023 budget into law. This action by Moody’s gives Illinois three credit upgrades from two different rating agencies. We are seeing outside entities acknowledge that the hard work and disciplined approach we are taking to being good stewards of taxpayer dollars is working.

Unfortunately, there are some who want to diminish these accomplishments for political reasons, but the facts are undisputed, and independent sources agree, Illinois is on the right track.

I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and the Governor to continue our progress to ensure fiscal stability and growth for all Illinoisans. I am proud of how far we’ve come but our work continues.”