Black-owned businesses faced the highest rejection rate for financing in 2024, with 39% denied loans, lines of credit, or merchant cash advances, while white-owned businesses only faced an 18% rejection rate.
small businesses
Posted inState
Manley voices opposition to extreme Trump agenda
State Rep. Natalie Manley of Illinois condemned the extreme policies of President Donald Trump and called out his administration for jeopardizing the economy and services for working families.
Posted inState
Local Business Spotlight Initiative Launched in Illinois’ 37th District
State Representative Patrick Sheehan has launched a new program to recognize local small businesses in Illinois’ 37th District through his social media and press releases, and presents the businesses with a certificate of recognition each month.
Posted inBusiness, Business, State
Bill guaranteeing workers five days of paid leave will head to governor
“Paid leave for all is about the dignity of work,” said Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth, D-Peoria, a lead sponsor on the bill. “It’s about humanizing and honoring the realities that we know that adult workers have in our daily lives and providing a space for folks to just do what it is that we all have the luxury and are so blessed to do.”
Posted inNews
Small business grants
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).
Posted in#NNPA BlackPress, Business, Commentary, Community, Economy, Featured, Food, National, News, NNPA, NNPA Newswire, Op-Ed, Politics
OP-ED: Liberty, Justice and Contracting Opportunities for All Our Entrepreneurs and Innovators
NNPA NEWSWIRE — Achieving President Biden’s new contracting goal will be a giant leap forward and make a big difference for many small businesses and communities across the country, putting an extra $50 billion into the hands of America’s small, disadvantaged businesses over the next five years.
Posted inTimes Weekly News
Illinois Office of Tourism releases annual Illinois Made Holiday Gift Guide in time for Small Business Saturday
Thetimesweekly.com The Illinois Office of Tourism released the annual Illinois Made Holiday Gift Guide featuring twenty small businesses around the state and their one-of-a-kind products. Just in time for Small Business Saturday on Nov. 27, the 2021 Illinois Made Holiday Gift Guide offers a wide array of unique gifts and experiences — from locally-sourced spirits and wine, to handmade ornaments and pottery, to wellness products from lavender and hemp farms —for shoppers to discover this holiday season. Sue Regis Glass Art in Joliet, hand-blown ornaments and memorial pieces was included in this years gift guide.
Posted inTimes Weekly News
Small businesses encouraged to apply for Back to Business grants before deadline
A deadline is fast approaching for small businesses to apply for state grants available through the American Rescue Plan.
Posted in#NNPA BlackPress, Black Experience, Black History, Business, Community, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Economy, Featured, Health, Howard University News Service, National, News, NNPA, NNPA Coronavirus Task Force, NNPA Newswire
Black Businesses Continue to Face Down the Pandemic
HOWARD UNIVERSITY NEWS SERVICE — H&R Block conducted a study that revealed more than half of Black-owned businesses experienced at least 50% decrease in revenue during the pandemic compared to 37% of White business owners.
Posted inTimes Weekly News
Boys & Girls Club, Joliet receives new WiFi-Connected “Lift Zone” from Comcast
TTW Pressroom Comcast launched this week a new WiFi-connected “Lift Zone” at the G.W. Buck Boys & Girls Club of Joliet (GWBBGC) located at 226 E. Clinton St. Lift Zones are safe spaces where children can get online to do schoolwork and adults can get online to learn new digital skills, search for employment and access an array of services. The COVID-19 crisis put many low-income students and families at risk of being left behind and accelerated the need for comprehensive digital equity and Internet adoption programs to support them. The Lift Zones are part of a larger multiyear plan by Comcast to support community-organization-based WiFi at more than 1,000 Lift Zones throughout the country – including in the Chicago area.
