These 33 La Salle County businesses got $730k in Business Interruption Grants. How to apply and who's eligible

Small businesses around the world have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, but in Illinois, they can receive some relief with the Business Interruption Grant (BIG) program.

Businesses in La Salle County were awarded $730,000 in total through the program so far, to help offset devastating dips in revenue as the COVID-19 pandemic surges on.

Additionally, businesses in Bureau County were awarded $75,000 in total.

The BIG program is a $636 million program developed by Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois General Assembly to provide economic relief for small businesses hit hardest by COVID-19.

The grant funding helps small businesses with capital expenses, including payroll costs, rent, utilities and other operational costs.

And as COVID-19 case numbers surge across the state but especially in the geographical health region known as Region 2, which includes La Salle, Bureau, Putnam, Marshall and Livingston counties, state officials have spent the month of October heralding the BIG program as a bone to throw struggling small business unable to offer indoor dining.

Priority will be given to applicants that did not receive Paycheck Protection Program loans or other forms of emergency aid from the CARES Act or other governments, are located in DIAs, are subject to regional mitigation measures because of COVID-19 resurgence and have less than $5 million in annual revenue.

How to apply, who's eligible, and who's not

According to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity website, BIG is the largest program of its kind in the nation – leveraging federal CARES Act funds to establish economic recovery programs: more than $270 million for small businesses, and an additional $270 million exclusively for childcare providers, administered jointly by DCEO and IDHS.

During a conference Thursday, Erin Guthrie, the director of the Illinois DCEO, said that more than 4,000 small businesses have received grants through the BIG program, with half of the recipients minority-owned and one-third women-owned.

Roughly $174 million of BIG money remains available, and applications will be accepted until funds are exhausted.

In the first round of funding, BIG directed $49 million to about 2,800 businesses in 400 cities in 78 counties. First round grants ranged from $10,000 to $20,000 and averaged $17,000. More than 5,000 businesses applied for funding, with grantees selected via random lottery.

The second round has a focus on businesses downstate and those in disproportionately impacted areas. These areas are defined by ZIP code for communities most economically distressed and vulnerable to COVID-19. The Marseilles ZIP code area was the lone one designated in La Salle County.

So far, in the second phase of the program that began in Sept. 1, 200 businesses received grant funds in 340 cities in 79 counties. Second round grant size will be calculated based on revenue losses and/or expenses over the last two months, ranging from $5,000 to $150,000.

The second round of grants sets aside $60 million for heavily impacted industries, such as movie theaters, performing arts venues, concert venues, indoor recreation and amusement parks, $70 million for DIAs, $5 million for livestock production disruptions, more than $100 million for downstate communities and loan forgiveness for Illinois Small Business Emergency Loan recipients.

To be eligible for the second round of BIG, businesses must meet the following criteria:

• Must be an independently owned and operated for-profit corporation or limited liability corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship authorized to conduct business in the state of Illinois; OR a 501c3, 501c6, or 501c19 nonprofit

• Must have been operating for at least three months prior to March 2020

• Must have had less than $20 million in gross operating revenue in calendar year 2019, or a pro-rated amount if in operation for less than a year prior to March 2020

• Must have experienced operating losses since March 21, 2020

• Must have been closed or had reduced operations due to government orders, public health guidelines, or depressed consumer demand during the COVID-19 pandemic

• Must have complied with all relevant laws, regulations, and executive orders from the state and federal government, including the social distancing guidelines as promulgated by the Executive Orders of the Illinois Governor

For information about the Business Interruption Grants program, visit the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity's webpage.

BIG Recipients in La Salle County

$150,000

G.L. Scheri Electric Co., Peru

$55,000

Hegeler Carus Foundation, La Salle

$40,000

Uptown Grill, La Salle

$35,000

Broadway Pub, Streator

$25,000

Ottawa Travel & Cruises, Ottawa

$20,000

Buzzy Holdings, Inc., La Salle

Los Jarritos Bar & Grill, La Salle

Jakes Pour House, La Salle

Suzi's of Ottawa, Ottawa

The Bears Den, Naplate

Sunfield Restaurant, Ottawa

Bailey's Place 03, Ottawa

Bailey's Place 01, Peru

YMCA, Ottawa

Art Deco Saloon, Peru

Anytime Fitness, Peru

Planet Fitness, Peru

X-ercise Science, Peru

Jerry's Tap, Ransom

Tekes Lounge, Streator