The Illinois Business Interruption Grant (BIG)

This round of the Business Interruption Grant program will make $60 million available for 3,500 businesses experiencing losses or business interruption as a result of the COVID-19 public health
emergency.

Businesses eligible for funding in this round include:
• Restaurants and bars that were unable to provide on-site outdoor food or beverage services
between May 29, 2020, and June 17, 2020;
• Barbershops and salons;
• Health and fitness centers;
• Businesses located in specific severe Disproportionate Impact Areas.

For more information, or to apply, go here.

Chicago’s small businesses and non-profits that need addition assistance to  recover from COVID-19 and damage to their storefronts can apply for a grant from the Together Now Fund. Join this webinar to learn about the fund, including  how to apply. Visit www.chicago.gov/togethernow for more information: Register for Wednesday June, 24 at 11:00 AM Webinar   Register for Thursday, June 25 at 3:00 PM Webinar Register for Saturday, June 27 at 10:00 AM Webinar

Phase 4 starts Friday!

Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) today announced that Chicago is on track to transition to phase four of the “Protecting Chicago” framework on Friday, June 26, alongside the rest of Illinois. The guidelines are aligned with the State-issued guidelines, with additional specificity included for Chicago’s context, which has experienced a different arc of COVID-19 than other parts of the state. Read the full press release here.

Grant opportunity

In collaboration with the City of Chicago, The Chicago Community Trust and One Chicago Fund have launched the Together Now fund to raise funds that will be turned into grants to small businesses across the City. These  grants are intended to benefit small businesses hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic and recent unrest. To apply, or for more details, go here.

Gov. Pritzker Announces $900 Million Package of Business Grant Programs

  

Today, Governor JB Pritzker joined members of the Black, Latino and Asian Caucuses of the state legislature and small business owners to announce a package of state grant programs to support communities and businesses impacted by the pandemic and recent civil unrest.

The package includes more than $900 million across more than ten programs and four state agencies to help working families and small businesses who have been hit the hardest by COVID-19’s economic impacts, which was compounded by recent property damage and civil unrest. Read the full press release here.

SBA disaster loans reopen for all businesses

The SBA is again accepting EIDL loans from all disaster affected businesses. To apply , or for more information, go here.

Emergency Alert Registration

The City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) and Office of Emergency Management & Communications (OEMC) have established targeted emergency alerts for the business community via CHIBIZ Emergency Alerts. If you would like to opt in, text “CHIBIZ” to 6-7-2-8-3 or sign up online here.

Cuatro pasos esenciales

Four critical steps if your property is damaged

Chicago resident survey about recovery planning

Phases one and two of the “Protecting Chicago” framework fell under the banner of Mayor Lightfoot’s “Stay Home. Save Lives.” campaign. As the city begins exiting safely out of shelter-in-place, residents will see a new campaign entitled “Be Safe Chicago” for the remaining phases. There are risks with cautiously reopening, and residents must remain diligent in their efforts to keep themselves, their families and neighbors safe during this time. Last month, the City launched a reopening survey that more than 57,000 Chicagoans responded to, which helped inform the City’s plan for reopening. Now, as the city moves into the next phase, it invites residents to fill out a survey to inform Chicago’s recovery planning. You can find the survey here.

Guidelines for Chicago business reopenings

Guidelines for the following industries, which will open the earliest in phase three in Chicago, can be found at www.chicago.gov/reopening:

• Education & Childcare
• Buildings & Real Estate
• Food Service
• Accommodations & Tourism
• Retail
• B2B
• Healthcare
• Transportation

Phase 3 guidelines announced for business reopenings

To prepare businesses and employers to implement the new safety guidelines and to bring many residents back to work, the State of Illinois has developed this business toolkit complete with signage, training checklists, and other resources to ensure business and activities are conducted in accordance with the latest and greatest public health recommendations.

Phase 3 guidelines span 10 different industry categories. Each set of guidelines includes a common set of guidelines that are expected and encouraged among all employers and activity types, as well as workplace and program-specific guidelines. find information about your industry here.