Resources for minority-owned businesses

 

Dear friend,

 

The COVID-19 pandemic in Illinois has undeniably hit minority communities and small business owners the hardest. That’s why this year’s state budget included over $600 million in funding to help businesses get back on their feet. Some of this funding is available now through the Business Interruption Grant (BIG) program.

For owners of small business who are also members of a minority community, finding the right resources can be even more challenging, but there is help available.

To help business owners in your community take advantage of available opportunities, the Illinois Office of Minority Economic Empowerment (OMEE) is hosting a series of webinars with helpful information about grant programs, reopening guidelines and more.

 

Here are two upcoming webinars you may be interested in:

 

• Thursday, July 2, 2020, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. (Spanish).
  
  • Business Interruption Grants Program (BIG) webinar, cohosted by the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus. Register here.
• Jueves, 2 de julio de 2020, 10:00 am. – 11:00 a.m. (Español).
  
  • Programa de Subsidios por Interrupción Comercial (BIG por sus siglas) (seminario web), co-organizado con Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus. Regístrese aquí.
• Wednesday, July 15, 2020, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. (English).
  
  • Online with OMEE, open to all OMEE constituents (racial/ethnic minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and veteran owned businesses). Register here.

 

As more webinars are scheduled, you can find more information and register on the OMEE website.

I hope these resources will be useful to you or a business owner you know. With questions about the above information or other issues facing our community, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office via email here.

You can support our small business community in other ways, too. As our state reopens, please continue to shop and eat local whenever possible to help our main streets bounce back from pandemic-related losses.

 

The recovery process won’t be easy—it’s important we come together as a community to help our friends and neighbors through these tough times.

 

Stay safe and healthy.

 

Sincerely,

Jacqueline Collins
State Senator, 16th Illinois Senate District