Reaching out to Latinx & Hispanic owned Businesses - Webinar

Join the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO) to learn about the Business Interruption Grant Program (BIG). In this webinar, Latinx, Latino, Latina, and Hispanic owned businesses will learn about eligibility, program details, and the application process. Technical assistance support will also be provided for the last 30 minutes of the session to help answer your questions about the application process.
Applications for a second round of funding are now being accepted and can be found here. A total of $220 million will be made available for small businesses of all types in Illinois. Grants will be awarded and funded on a rolling basis until funding is depleted. The grant size will be equivalent to two months of expenses.
The BIG program is open to all eligible businesses (for profit and nonprofit) with $20 million or less in annual revenue in 2019 and experienced losses due to COVID-19. Of the total funding, $70 million will be invested in Disproportionately Impacted Areas (DIAs) and $60 million in heavily impacted industries. A map of the DIAs and the eligibility guidelines can be found on our website.
 
“Highly Impacted Industries” have been identified as those businesses that have been closed or operating at significantly diminished capacity since March and are likely to continue doing so until we reach Phase 5 of the Restore Illinois plan and as having annual revenues of $10 million or less.
 
These Heavily Impacted industries include the following:
Event spaces
Music venues
Performing arts venues
Indoor recreation
Amusement parks
Movie theaters
Museums
Charter/shuttle buses
 
Outside of the highly impacted industries listed above, there are a set of “Priority Industries” that – although they have not experienced long-term shutdowns in the same way that highly impacted industries have – continue to experience significantly depressed demand as a result of the COVID 19 pandemic.

 
Priority Industries include:

• Independently owned retail
• Restaurants and bars
• Fitness Centers
• Tourism and travel related activities

 
And support services for arts and entertainment venues including design, sound, equipment rental or preparation, casting, hair and makeup, talent management, booking agents, caterers, photographers/videographers, event planners, florists, and printers.
You can register for an informational webinar by using the link below:

• Wednesday, November 18, 2020 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Registration link:

https://illinois.webex.com/illinois/onstage/g.php?MTID=e608a5ada06c83648c70cd494505e9a73

• For more information, please contact Agnes Masnik at 312-882-6840 (Agnes.Masnik@illinois.gov) or Tracey Glenn at 217-622-3242 (Tracey.Glenn@illinois.gov)
• Visit our website: www.illinois.gov/dceo

 
 
 
Agnes Masnik
Northern Stateline Regional Manager & FDI
Office of Regional Economic Development
Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity
C: 312-882-6840
Agnes.Masnik@illinois.gov
www.illinois.gov/dceo