Local businesses in Will County are beneficiaries of grant funding to help them got back on their feet in midst of the pandemic.
Nearly 50 small businesses across the 43rd District were recently awarded over $1.2 million in Back to Business grant funding, said State Sen. John Connor (D-Lockport).
“I’m glad to know that so many of our local businesses are receiving the help they deserve after the difficulties of the last two years,” Connor said. “Their resilience through even the darkest days of this pandemic has not gone unrecognized.”
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity selects grantees, and the grants are funded through the American Rescue Plan.
The DCEO has dispersed $111 million in B2B grants to nearly 3,000 small businesses across Illinois who have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, said the state senator.
Forty-seven businesses in Connor’s district received grants ranging from $5,000 to $250,000 in this round of funding to help them recoup losses from the past two years, and to continue to keep their doors open to the community.
“I can’t stress enough how integral our small businesses are to the vitality of our community,” Connor said. “I’m proud every day to work alongside other members of the General Assembly to give back to our local businesses who have given so much to us.”
Grants will continue to be awarded statewide on a rolling basis.
Among the beneficiaries of the grants is Professional’s Choice Hair Design Academy in the Stadium Plaza Shopping Center at 2719 W. Jefferson St. in Joliet. Owner John Thompson of the beauty school said the $40,000 grant was applied toward payroll expenses.
“This was a great help and kept us afloat during tough times,” he said. “We were closed for three months. This is the worst I have seen in 40 years.”
Thompson said his 9,000-square-foot beauty school employs six people and has 35 salon chairs where students are taught hair, makeup, perms and coloring skills. Since capacity was limited during the lockdown, Thompson said his students could not see many customers as usual. At Professional’s Choice, people can get haircuts and spa services at a discounted rate while students gain real-world experience.
Other local beneficiaries included Wunderlich Doors for $90,000, Old Joliet Prison for $80,000 and McBride’s on 52 for $70,000, all in Joliet; and Roberty Ryan Studios in Lockport for $5,000.