Back to Business (B2B) Illinois grant program

 The state of Illinois has launched three grant programs that aim to help businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic get back on their feet. The Back-to-Business Hotels Grant Program (B2B Hotels) offers up to $75 million in recovery grants to hotels and lodging businesses, with funding of up to $1,500 per hotel room. The Back-to-Business Creative Recovery Grant Program (B2B Arts) provides $50 million in recovery grants to businesses in the arts and creative sector, including performing arts organizations and museums. The Back-to-Business Restaurants Grant Program (B2B Restaurants) offers up to $50 million in recovery grants to restaurants with 50 or fewer employees. These programs aim to support businesses that have been hit hard by the pandemic, with a focus on supporting jobs and promoting economic recovery. 

Important Dates:
March 21st, 2023 - Program Announcement
April 5th, 2023– Application Portal Opens
May 10th 2023– Application Portal Closes

Click here to see the full announcement.

FAQ's

B2B Hotels Grant

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B2B Hotel Grant Information

The Back-to-Business Hotels Grant Program (B2B Hotels) makes available $75 million in recovery grants to hotels and lodging businesses which were greatly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

As part of the program’s focus on supporting Illinois jobs, 80 percent of the grant funding is required to be spent on payroll costs for the upcoming year, with the remaining 20 percent for broad business expenses.

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B2B Arts Grant

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B2B Arts Grant Information

What is the IL Creative Recovery Grant Program?
The Back-to-Business Creative Recovery Grant Program (B2B Arts) makes available $50 million in recovery grants to businesses in the arts and creative sector that experienced financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program will provide grants ranging from $5,000 to $250,000 to concert and theatre venues, performing or presenting arts organizations, arts education organizations, museums, and cultural heritage organizations in Illinois.

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B2B Restaurants

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B2B Restaurants Grant Information

What is the B2B Restaurants Grant Program?
The Back-to-Business Restaurants Grant Program (B2B Restaurants) makes available $50 million in recovery grant funding for restaurants that experienced extended closures and other financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program will provide grants ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 to restaurants with 50 or fewer employees and is designed to support businesses that have not yet received substantial relief from other state or local grant programs during the pandemic.

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Eligibility Guidelines

B2B Hotels Eligibility Guidelines

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B2B Hotels

Hotel Jobs Recovery Grant Program (B2B Hotels) - Eligibility Guidelines

Are you a hotel operating in Illinois, struggling to recover from the impacts of the pandemic? The Hotel Jobs Recovery Grant Program is here to help. However, before you apply, it is important to ensure that you meet the eligibility guidelines. Here is a quick overview: 

Eligible Businesses:

  • • Must be an independently owned and operated for-profit corporation or limited liability corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship authorized to conduct business in the State of Illinois, or a nonprofit operating in Illinois and registered as a 501c organization;
  • • Must have begun operations prior to March 12, 2020, and maintain active operations in Illinois at the time of application.
  • • Must be operating as a hotel, including but not limited to inns, motels, tourist homes or courts, lodging houses, rooming houses, retreat centers, conference centers, and hunting lodges.

Ineligible Businesses:

  • • Short-term rentals – including vacation rentals – defined as a single-family dwelling, or a residential dwelling unit in a multi-unit structure, that is rented for a fee for less than 30 consecutive days;
  • • A private club or business that limits membership for reasons other than capacity;
  • • A business that derives at least 33% of its gross annual revenue from legal gambling activities;
  • • A business engaged in pyramid sales, where a participant's primary incentive is based on the sales made by an ever-increasing number of participants;
  • • A business engaged in activities that are prohibited by federal law or applicable law in the jurisdiction where the business is located or conducted. (Included in these activities is the production, servicing, or distribution of otherwise legal products that are to be used in connection with an illegal activity, such as selling drug paraphernalia or operating a motel that knowingly permits illegal prostitution);
  • • A business principally engaged in teaching, instructing, counseling, or indoctrinating religion or religious beliefs, whether in a religious or secular setting;
  • • A government-owned business entity (except for businesses owned or controlled by a Native American tribe);
  • • A business primarily engaged in political or lobbying activities;
  • • A business that manufactures or sells at wholesale tobacco products or that manufactures or sells firearms at wholesale or retail;
    • • A night club or strip club;
    • • A pawn shop
    • • A liquor store;
    • • An establishment similar to any enumerated above; or
    • • A business in which a majority owner has a financial or familial connection to a director, principal shareholder or leadership member of the Department or Department's partner under the program.

For more information please click here.

B2B Arts
Guidelines

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B2B Arts

Illinois Creative Recovery Grant Program (B2B Arts) eligibility guidelines:

    • •  Eligible businesses must be independently owned and operated for-profit corporations or LLCs, partnerships, or sole proprietorships authorized to conduct business in Illinois, or registered 501c non-profits in Illinois.
    • • Businesses must have started operations before March 12, 2020, and maintain active operations in Illinois at the time of application.
    • • Businesses must have experienced a loss in earned or contributed revenue of at least $5,000 due to COVID-19 economic disruptions.
    • • Eligible industries are independent live venue operators, performing or presenting arts, arts education, museums, and cultural heritage organizations.
    • • Ineligible businesses include independent contractors, child care providers who have received Child Care Restoration Grants, private clubs, businesses primarily engaged in gambling, pyramid sales, illegal activities, religious instruction, political or lobbying activities, night clubs or strip clubs, pawn shops, liquor stores, businesses with connections to the Department or Department’s partners under the program, or those similar to any of the above.
    • • Eligible businesses in each industry category must meet specific criteria detailed under the category.

For more information please click here. 

B2B Restaurants Guidelines

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The Restaurant Employment and Stabilization Grant Program offers funds to eligible businesses that comply with the following requirements:

  1. Must be a for-profit corporation, LLC, partnership, or sole proprietorship authorized to do business in Illinois or a nonprofit registered as a 501c organization;
  2. Must have started operating before March 12, 2020, and remain active in Illinois;
  3. Must have suffered a loss of at least $5,000 in revenue due to COVID-19 related disruptions;
  4. Must have 50 or fewer employees;
  5. Must primarily operate as a properly licensed restaurant, tavern, brewpub, etc.;
  6. Certain businesses are not eligible, including those who have received other COVID-related financial assistance or are involved in prohibited activities.
For more information please click here. 


 Applications will be open between April 5 and May 10, 2023. DCEO encourages applicants to familiarize themselves with program eligibility requirements and reach out to local community navigators with any questions.

Community Navigator Contact List

Angela Griffin
angela@colestogether.com

http://colestogether.com/