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Expanded Technical Assistance and Resources Available to Assist During COVID-19
With new rounds of federal COVID-19 emergency funding programs opening for applications, the Illinois Department of Commerce (DCEO) has expanded direct support available to businesses to help them learn which programs they may qualify for, how to navigate application processes, and to get further assistance that can help recover and grow their business. These resources are available to help with accessing the renewed Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and other programs set to launch in the coming weeks, including the EIDL Advance and Shuttered Venue Operators (SVO) grant programs. Details from the Small Business Administration available here.
Businesses in need of information and assistance have several options to access, including the Illinois Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), Community Navigators, DCEO’s Office of Regional Economic Development (Team RED) and Office of Minority Economic Empowerment (OMEE). More information on the state’s expanded small business assistance, including nearly 100 virtual events hosted through the end of February, can be found below.
- Illinois Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs): Illinois SBDCs provide one-on-one counseling, assistance with navigating best options for financial support programs, technical assistance with documentation requirements to prepare applications, and more. Find your nearest SBDC here.
- Community Navigators: The state is working with 12 community navigators - grassroots organizations connected with other community services. Community navigators can help determine your eligibility for programs, assist with documents, and refer to other specialized services. A full list of community navigators can be found here.
- DCEO Office of Regional Economic Development (Team RED) and the Office of Minority Economic Empowerment (OMEE): These DCEO teams provide targeted referrals and counseling for economic opportunities to businesses and communities based on geography (Team RED) and in support of minority enterprises including racial/ethnic minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and veteran-owned businesses (OMEE). To connect with your area Team RED member, please click here. To connect with OMEE, please click here.
For a list of upcoming webinars, please visit...
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