Back to Business (B2B) NewBiz Grant

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced $25 million in available grant funding through the Back to Business (B2B) NewBiz program. Following state recovery programming for businesses totaling $1.5 billion, the latest American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)-funded opportunity is designed to provide additional support for businesses in hard-hit sectors who launched during the pandemic. Businesses that launched in 2020 or 2021 and remain in operation have faced significant impacts during the pandemic, but they have not been eligible for other federal or state relief programming since they were not operational prior to the pandemic.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: Businesses must have launched between January 2020 and December 2021 and be in an industry that was particularly impacted by the pandemic (as outlined here), or a business that was started by an individual or individuals that became unemployed during the pandemic.

Applications are open from November 30 through January 11, 2024, and awards are expected to be made several weeks after the deadline date. All eligible applicants will receive a grant as long as the business meets eligibility requirements and submits proper documentation and attestations.

The Champaign County Economic Development Corporation is hosting webinars about the grant program to cover eligibility requirements, what documents are necessary to apply, program terms, how to apply, answer questions, and more. Register for upcoming webinars below:

·    

Thursday, November 30, 2023 - 10 AM - Register 

·    

Tuesday, December 5, 2023 - 2 PM - Register 

·    

Monday, December 11, 2023 - 2 PM - Register 

·    

Wednesday, December 20, 2023 - 6 PM - Register

·    

Thursday, January 4, 2024 - 10 AM - Register 

·    

Wednesday, January 10, 2024 - 10 AM - Register

Questions can be directed to Jordan Landeck:

Email: jordan@champaigncountyedc.org

Phone: 217-840-0380

Schedule a meeting: https://calendly.com/jordanccedc/