DES PLAINES - State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) congratulated the five businesses in the 28th Legislative District that have already received $150,000 in Back to Business grants and encouraged more small business owners to apply.
“We created the Back to Business grant program to help our vibrant small business community recover from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,” Murphy said. “We know that necessary health restrictions and people’s cautions about going to enclosed public spaces have hurt many company’s bottom lines, and we want to do all we can to help. If your business still needs assistance, it’s not too late to apply!”
The businesses in the 28th District that have successfully received grants illustrate the diversity of the area’s economy and how many different enterprises are eligible for the B2B program. They include:
- Sushiya sushi restaurant in Schaumburg,
- Boston Fish Market restaurant and wholesale seafood market in Des Plaines,
- AMA Academy of Performing Arts in Des Plaines, which teaches music and dance,
- Automated Lighting Design in Elk Grove Village, which builds and installs customized lighting, and
- Modus Technologies, which provides business to business services.
The B2B program is distributing $250 million in grants to businesses that brought in $20 million or less in 2019 and that sustained a documented revenue reduction in 2020. Grants range between $5,000 and $150,000 for all industries except hotels, which have higher allowable revenue and grants.
Priority is given to businesses in hard-hit industries, in hard-hit areas, and with revenues less than $5 million, as well as businesses that have not yet received any government assistance.
Interested business owners and managers can learn more and apply on the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s website. The final deadline to apply is Oct. 13.
