DES PLAINES – State Senator Laura Murphy (D- Des Plaines) congratulated local businesses struggling from the pandemic that were awarded grants from the latest round of the Back to Business program awards.

The B2B program allocated $250 million in American Rescue Plan dollars for small businesses negatively affected by the pandemic. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $150,000 per business and can be used to cover a wide range of operations such as staff and overhead costs.

“Our small businesses have overcome many difficult challenges over the past year and a half,” Murphy said. “I’m glad to see that many businesses received funding to help keep their doors open.”

 Fourteen businesses in the district Murphy represents have already received a total of $650,000 in grants. They include Automated Lighting Design INC. of Elk Grove, Louie’s Crab House LLC. of Des Plaines and AMA  Dancers & CO. INC. of Des Plaines, demonstrating the diversity of the local small business community.  

For a full list of businesses that have received Back to Business grants, visit the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity awards list at illinois.gov/B2BAwards.