Eligibility

The following businesses and organizations are NOT eligible to apply:
● Nonprofit organizations
● Home-based businesses
● Private clubs or businesses 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 strip club
● 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.
● A businesses that opened AFTER December 31, 2021

*Eligible businesses must have 25 or fewer W2 employees and operate an independently-owned BRICK AND MORTAR business legally in the 7th District service area (click here for 7th District map). Businesses that received IL B2B, BIG grants or any other pandemic-related financial support are eligible to apply. Businesses must have opened prior to 12/31/21 to qualify for the grant. Please note this grant does not apply to businesses located in the 7th Congressional District.