24 Evanston Businesses Receive State Business Interruption Grants

EVANSTON, IL — More than two dozen Evanston businesses received emergency funding through the state's Business Interruption Grant program, which was designed to support small businesses and communities disproportionately affected 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.

"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 told reporters Wednesday.

Grants were awarded in amounts of either $10,000 or $20,000, earmarked 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.

The following Evanston businesses received grants, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity announced this week:

House of Blades — $10,000
10Q Chicken — $20,000
As You LIke It Salon — $10,000
La Cocinita Restaurant (c/o Beeyoo Properties LLC) — $20,000
Subway-46614 — $20,000
Subway-53951 — $20,000
Bien Assorti — $10,000
El Pueblito Mexican Grill — $10,000
Fawn Studio — $10,000
Found Kitchen — $20,000
Prairie Moon — $20,000
Golden Olympic Restaurant — $20,000
Gyros Planet — $20,000
IKandi Hair Studio — $10,000
Kuni's Japanese Restaurant — $20,000
La Cocinita Restaurant (c/o La Cocinita Restaurant LLC) — $20,000
Ten Mile House — $20,000
Red Hot Chilli Pepper Restaurant — $20,000
Salon Texture — $10,000
Mt. Everest Restaurant — $20,000
Symphony's Cafe — $20,000
TruFit Personal Training Studios — $20,000
Siam Splendour — $20,000
Viet Nom Nom — $20,000
Ward Eight — $20,000

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.

At a news conference Wednesday, Pritzker said his administration recognized the need for helping businesses understand the various kinds of assistance available to them. With that in mind, 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 operators interested in applying for the next round of BIG grant money can find information on the DCEO website.