March 29, 2024
Local News

Will County again opens application for COVID-19 small business grants

Online application open as of Monday, eligibility expanded

Small businesses in Will County are able to apply for another round of COVID-19 federal relief grants, county officials announced.

Through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security, or CARES, Act, Will County received about $120 million in federal aid for local governments, small businesses and nonprofit organizations.

A Will County Board committee previously voted to allocate about $24 million for grants to distribute to small businesses impacted by the economic measures meant to slow the spread of the novel virus, according to a news release.

“We are proud Will County has already offered assistance to nearly 500 local small businesses,” Will County Executive Denise Winfrey said in the release. “We are also happy there are funds available to assist additional businesses who need help."

In this round, county officials changed the eligibility criteria to receive the grants to include businesses with up to 50 employees and less than $5 million in annual revenue. Also to receive a grant, a business must have been operating on or before Feb. 15 and be in good standing with the state of Illinois and Will County.

Home-based businesses and sole proprietors located within the county are eligible to apply for funds.

As of Monday, the online application is open and can be accessed at willcountyillinois.com/COVIDbizgrant.

The deadline for filing a small business grant application is midnight Nov. 26. Technical assistance for prospective applicants is available in English and Spanish.

Alex Ortiz

Alex Ortiz

Alex Ortiz is a reporter for The Herald-News in Joliet. Originally from Romeoville, Ill., he joined The Herald-News in 2017 and mostly covers Will County government, politics, education and more. He earned his bachelor's degree at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a master's degree from Northwestern University.