Gov. Pritzker announced new Illinois state programs for emergency assistance for Illinois’s small business community, augmenting aid from existing federal programs. Applications are available now for the Hospitality Emergency Grant Program and the Illinois Small Business Emergency Loan Fund.

Hospitality Emergency Grant Program

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The Hospitality Emergency Grant Program can help hospitality businesses-- like hotels, motels, bars, and restaurants-- make ends meet during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program offers $14 million to support working capital, like payroll and rent, as well as job training and technology to enable shifts in operations, like increased pick-up and delivery.

Business owners can find more information on the program here, and can submit an application here. A Spanish-language application is available here.

Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. on April 1. Winners will be chosen via a lottery system, so there is no benefit to submitting an application early as long as a valid, complete application is received by the deadline.

Illinois Small Business Emergency Loan Fund

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DCEO and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) will establish the Illinois Small Business Emergency Loan Fund to offer low-interest loans of up to $50,000 to struggling small businesses.

Eligible businesses can submit a full application here beginning April 1. DCEO and IDFPR aim to make a loan decision within ten days of the submission date and make funds available within two days of receiving necessary bank information from the loan recipient.

Small businesses located outside the City of Chicago with fewer than 50 workers and less than $3 million in revenue in 2019 may apply.

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Small businesses within the City of Chicago can apply to a similar loan program here.