Aurora Businesses Impacted By Pandemic Receive Relief Grants

AURORA, IL — Thirty Aurora businesses received emergency funds through Illinois' Business Interruption Grant program, which was designed to support small businesses and communities impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

The program awarded $46 million to 2,655 Illinois businesses that were impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. According to Gov. J.B. Pritzker, more than 50 percent of the recipients are minority-owned businesses.

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"The federal PPP program seems to have overlooked too many entrepreneurs and small shops and it was important to me and to the General Assembly to ensure that small businesses, which employ the largest number of people in Illinois, get the help that they need," Pritzker said Wednesday during a news conference.

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Grants were awarded in amounts of either $10,000 or $20,000, to be used to help with working capital expenses, including payroll costs, rent and utilities. The funds may also be used to cover pandemic-related expenses, such as personal protective equipment, training and new technology.

$20,000 grant recipients:
Aurora Fastprint, Inc.
Smallcakes Aurora
Expedited Shipping Containers Company Inc.
The Venue
Insurance Examination Services Ltd.
M14Hoops
Patron Boots Inc
Premier Telecom
Society 57
Rudy's Place
Stolp Island Social
Double Yolk Pancake House Restaurant
The House Pub
Anytime Fitness-Aurora
Harold's Chicken Shack
Tutti Frutti
ilovekickboxing.com
Lao Sze Chuan
Planet Fitness
Sigfit Joint Venture

$10,000 grant recipients:
Don's Downtown Ink, Ltd.
Hibachi Buffet
Laura's Furniture
Shear Talent with Color
Taqueria Muniz
The Cotton Seed Creative Exchange
China Chef
Nails Services
Touch of Elegance Salon, Inc.
Allure Salon and Spa

The 30 grants given to Aurora businesses included 20 grants worth $20,000 and 10 grants worth $10,000. Twenty business are located in the Kane County portion of Aurora and 10 are in DuPage County.

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The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity will release additional BIG grants for small businesses in multiple waves. Future rounds will give consideration to additional business sectors facing COVID-19 related closures or diminished operating capacity. An additional $270 million of the program is set aside for childcare providers.

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At the conference, Pritzker said his administration recognized the need for helping businesses understand the various kinds of assistance available to them. The DCEO partnered with "community navigators" such as the Chicago Urban League and the Illinois Business Immigration Coalition to get information out to businesses across the state, he said.

Small businesses interested in applying for the next round of BIG funding can find information on the DCEO website.

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