Important Information from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity

Posted on October 8th, 2021 at 1:32 pm by hoyle@dcedc.org

Northeast Region Weekly Update

October 4^th, 2021

It’s October and that means Happy Manufacturing Month and Women’s Small Business Month! DCEO has many events over the next four weeks to celebrate the work across the state in both of these areas. We are also continuing with our Hispanic Heritage Month activities. More information on all the upcoming events can be found below and on our website at dceo.illinois.gov.

The Back to Business grant program continues to move forward as we are receiving applications from around the state and made the first round of award announcements this week. Our team at DCEO and all the Community Navigators are working hard to get the word out on this program. Please feel free to share information on the program. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions and remember We’re All In Illinois!

Manufacturing Month

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is proud to officially proclaim October Manufacturing Month and celebrate the present and future makers across our great state. Led by the Offices of Regional Economic Development (RED), and Minority Economic Empowerment (OMEE), in partnership with the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC), DCEO will honor one of Illinois’ largest industries. As a leader in next-generation manufacturing, Illinois has a rich legacy and a robust ecosystem to showcase. We are the fourth largest manufacturing state in the country, with over 18,000 companies employing over 550,000 Illinoisans. In the years ahead, this industry is on pace to grow for the future – and this month we will educate, inspire, and cultivate the next generation of makers in Illinois.

Throughout the month of October, the State of Illinois, agency leaders, and partners will be hosting a series of webinars, participating in events, and presenting over 30 proclamations to industry leaders and the next generation of makers. For more information, check out our website at Manufacturing Month 2021.

EXPAND YOUR SEARCH: Recruitment Marketing in a Digital World Webinar

October 8, at 11:30am – Register HERE

Don’t discount digital marketing tools that can help you to attract and engage your talent.

The average applicant engages with a company 6-10 times before applying, usually by way of a company’s website or social media pages. How is your employment brand attracting – or excluding – potential employees? This session will highlight tactics that enable your organization to more quickly find and attract the right candidates, increase awareness of your company, and also build your talent pipeline to support recruiting for future roles. Join to learn marketing strategies to recruit talent more effectively. Benefits of a digital recruitment plan include Achievement of hiring goals, faster time-to-fill open positions, and increased retention of employees.

CATCH YOUR BREATH: Improve Team Engagement in Manufacturing Amidst Changes Webinar

October 13, at 3:30pm – Register HERE

Registration Fee: $50

Many manufacturing organizations around the world are reporting logistics delays, shortages of supplies, labor shortages, and due to the PPE guidelines for COVID and increased demand for products. Many workers are having to do 1.5 to 3 times the amount of work they did in 2019. This is leading to massive burnout, disengagement, and high voluntary turnover. If you are experiencing any of this, come join us for an interactive webinar where we will showcase ideas that are working around the world to help.

Building a Sustainable Workforce Through Apprenticeships & the Integration of Advanced Technologies

October 20, at 3:00pm – Register HERE

Across Illinois, manufacturers focus on building a sustainable workforce and integrating emerging advanced technology into the production process. Apprenticeship Illinois is helping fill open positions with registered apprenticeship training programs. The training provides a work-based learning environment while the apprentice earns an income and works towards a nationally recognized credential. Robotics, artificial intelligence, and the application of green processes are creating manufacturing environments to operate more efficiently and flexibility to adapt to the changing workforce. This webinar will allow you to hear directly from manufacturers utilizing Apprenticeship Illinois and advanced technologies to address common pain points changing the future of manufacturing.

ADME: “Making It: Women Manufacturers Find Success”

October 27, at 10:00am – Register HERE

OMEE & Illinois SBDC presents Advancing the Development of Minority Entrepreneurship (ADME), an informative workshop experience where subject matter experts in the field of business share information with Illinois entrepreneurs to help them be successful. Listen to this dynamic panel of women manufacturers as they share best practices on breaking barriers and finding success in a male-dominated industry. This event is in honor of Manufacturing Month and Women’s Small Business Month

Hispanic Heritage Month

DCEO is leading the charge to encourage Illinoisans to “Support Latino Businesses,” by offering various initiatives through DCEO’s Office of Tourism including two detailed itineraries supporting iconic cultural Latino businesses and attractions and online by utilizing the Groupon website and services. As part of the monthlong HHM celebration, DCEO and several organizations will host a series of events, exploring resources available to support businesses and to help businesses navigate the pandemic and look ahead toward recovery. All events are free to attend, and information and registration can be found on the DCEO website at dceo.illinois.gov :

Oct 5th Apprenticeships: Benefits for Businesses and Job Seekers
Join this discussion on apprenticeship programs and how to utilize those programs to assist your business and/or your career journey. Speakers include Hispanic American Construction Industry Association (HACIA), DCEO’s Illinois Works, and Advanced Contractor’s Solutions Inc.
Link: https://illinois.webex.com/illinois/j.php?RGID=r777ef6bc79cf62e182913ab5ecadcdf6

Through the DCEO Office of Tourism, residents can access two exclusive road trips where you can support businesses and the Latino culture while exploring Illinois in From the Quad Cities to Peoria and Rockford to Chicago, exciting opportunities await to enjoy Illinois

o Peoria-Quad Cities
o Chicago-Rockford

Illinois is home to roughly 112,000 Latino-owned businesses, accounting for 10 percent of business owners with employees across the state, not including sole proprietors. Illinois’ cultural identity, legacy as a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, and its current and future economic success are directly tied to the health of this community. Studies consistently show that Latino businesses in Illinois and nationwide have long faced barriers to accessing capital, including PPP funds launched last year.

The State’s Hispanic Heritage Month activities are presented by the Illinois Office of Minority Economic Empowerment (OMEE) and Regional Economic Development (RED), located within DCEO. OMEE plays a crucial role in providing support to minority-owned businesses of all sizes and types, including connection with grants, technical assistance, and incentives to bolster minority entrepreneurs and minority-owned enterprises.

Back to Business Grant Program

The program continues to accept applications. The application deadline is October 13, 2021. DCEO along with our network of community navigator organizations are continuing to conduct outreach and provide assistance to help businesses with this program.

DCEO is making $250 million available for small businesses across the state experiencing significant losses due to COVID-19 under this program. Businesses across multiple types and industries may apply to this program. Eligibility is not limited to priority areas or Disproportionately Impacted Areas. Businesses in the following industries will be given priority status for grants: restaurants and taverns; hotels; arts businesses and organizations; and more. Additionally, businesses located within Disproportionately Impacted Areas (DIAs) will be prioritized. Two main eligibility requirements include that the business must have been in operation during or before December 2019 and must have experienced a loss in revenue of at least $5,000 in 2020 due to economic disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here for the full eligibility guidelines.

B2B seeks to restore operational losses incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic and will provide grants ranging in size from $5,000-$150,000, commensurate with the number of losses experienced. To be considered for a grant, applicants must demonstrate a reduction in revenue in 2020 as compared with 2019, and annual revenues of no more than $20 million in 2019. Businesses must also provide two bank statements, a business owner ID, and federal tax returns for 2019 and 2020. The application is an online application and documents will need to be scanned so they can be uploaded as part of the application. All the information on this program including the application link and a FAQ document can be found on our website here. We have also included recordings of webinars that have been held previously. DCEO has engaged the support of Community Navigator Organizations that are working in every region of the state to provide technical assistance to businesses, with a focus on underserved businesses including minority, rural, veteran, and women-owned businesses. Find your community outreach partner including navigators, SBDCs, as well as DCEO Support Teams with the B2B search tool or view the list by name, county, or language service.

Rebuild Downtowns and Main Streets Capital Grant

Governor JB Pritzker and DCEO have announced a new $50 million capital program designed to bring forward investments to revitalize commercial corridors and main street areas statewide. The Rebuild Illinois Main Street and Downtown Capital program is part of $1.5 billion authorized by the State’s FY 22 budget to help jumpstart the state’s economic recovery from COVID-19. The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) can be found on DCEO’s website.

Community organizations, local governments, and private developers are among the list of eligible parties encouraged to apply for funding. Projects will be prioritized based on: location in a disproportionately impacted area (DIA) or rural area; alignment with local or regional economic development plans; and demonstrates community support. The program incentivizes local match – with private businesses or organizations required to provide a minimum 50 percent match, and with public projects receiving higher priority if they include a local match component. All projects must adhere to participation requirements of the State of Illinois’ Business Enterprise Program (BEP), designed to ensure that state-funded contracting opportunities benefit a diverse set of contractors. The deadline to apply for Main Street and Downstate Capital grants is January 10, 2022.

We are hosting three upcoming webinars to talk about this program. The information is below.

Rebuild Downtowns & Main Street Capital Grant Program

The Rebuild Downtowns & Main Streets Capital Grant program will provide grants of up to $3 million to support improvements and encourage investment in commercial corridors and downtowns that have experienced disinvestment, particularly in communities hardest hit by the COVID-19 public health and economic crisis. Join DCEO’s Regional Economic Development Team to learn more about this grant opportunity.

October 12, 2021 at 3pm Register: https://illinois.webex.com/illinois/onstage/g.php?MTID=e49ac6586929e2881a46cdc090ab306f8

October 20, 2021, at 10 am

November 3, 2021, at 2 pm

Tourism Attractions & Festivals Grant Program

Governor JB Pritzker and DCEO announced a new $10 million grants program aimed at revitalizing the hard-hit tourism industry by bringing back new and returning tourism attractions and festivals to our state. Through a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) issued, tourism and festival businesses and entities can submit for grants of up to $1 million that may be used to establish and enhance tourism attractions or festivals planned for this year or next. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until funds are depleted with awards made quarterly and the department will have the ability to fund applications most closely aligned to eligibility criteria approved for immediate funding. To view the NOFO, please visit https://bit.ly/3fRxKgN.

The Tourism Attraction and Festivals Grant program will help develop new or enhance existing tourism attractions located across the state – including but not limited to museums, businesses, events, performances, and festivals. To maximize the impact of the program, DCEO will utilize ARPA federal recovery dollars to provide grants ranging from $10,000 to $1 million and will require a local match. The goal of the program is to attract additional visitors and overnight stays that will bring foot traffic back in communities across Illinois.

Eligible applicants include units of local government, municipalities, county, not-for-profit and for-profit organizations, or local promotions groups. The funds may be utilized for capital projects, equipment, training, transportation, housing, receptions, entertainment, photography, temporary housing, and interpretive programs, like exhibits and installations – to further develop new attractions and events to attract visitors to Illinois. In turn, these grants will result in increased visitor spending in local communities, generating revenue and creating jobs for Illinoisans. Proposed attractions and festivals must demonstrate how this award will help businesses in the surrounding area and will be evaluated based on marketing value and ability to attract visitors for overnight stays. Projects will score higher based on proximity to commercial corridors and services – including hotels/motels, restaurants, retail, and other commercial operations. Attractions include but are not limited to: museums and cultural centers; theme/amusement parks; outdoor activities and recreation sites; and other facilities or businesses that attract or serve visitors. We are hosting two upcoming webinars on this program:

Tourism Attractions & Festivals Grant Program

Please join the DCEO to learn more about a funding opportunity for tourism attractions and festivals. The Tourism Attractions & Festivals Grant Program is aimed at revitalizing the hard-hit tourism industry by

bringing back new and returning tourism attractions and festivals to our state. Grants up to

$1,000,000 will be awarded to establish and enhance tourism attractions or festivals.

Date and time: Thursday, September 30, 2021, 2:00 pm Click here to register for this event.

Date and time: Tuesday, October 5, 2021, 10:00 am Click here to register for this event.

Local CURE Support Program

Local Coronavirus Urgent Remediation Emergency (Local CURE) Support Program Important Update: For local governments which still have funds available, the Local CURE statute has been updated and now permits costs to be incurred from March 1, 2020, through December 31, 2021. Local governments with unclaimed funds under the program should review the program’s list of allowable expenditures located on the Local CURE web page and review the program’s manual in order to make the most of the program’s funds.

NOTE: This announcement is unrelated to communities awaiting dollars being provided by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which allows for revenue replacement. Local CURE dollars are from the CARES Act and still require that the local government be reimbursed for costs related to mitigating COVID-19, like public safety payroll and public health expenditures.

DCEO is continuing to work with our communities across the state to submit their reimbursable expenses related to COVID-19. It’s not too late to submit expenses. The deadline to submit reimbursable costs has been extended to January 31, 2022. DCEO has posted information on our website here. The website also has some good Q&A documents that can help with determining if an expense is eligible for reimbursement. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can also reach out to our partner at LocalCURE@crowe.com and we will get back to you.

Small Business Administration Program: Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL)

The SBA has recently announced major enhancements to the EIDL program. These program updates include the following:

Increasing the Lending Cap: The SBA will lift the COVID EIDL cap from $500,000 to $2 million. Loan funds can be used for any normal operating expenses and working capital, including payroll, purchasing equipment, and paying debt.
Implementation of a Deferred Payment Period: The SBA will ensure small business owners will not have to begin COVID EIDL repayment until two years after loan origination so that they can get through the pandemic without having to worry about making ends meet.
Establishment of a 30-Day Exclusivity Window: The SBA will implement a 30-day exclusivity window of approving and disbursing funds for loans of $500,000 or less. Approval and disbursement of loans over $500,000 will begin after the 30-day period.
Expansion of Eligible Use of Funds: COVID EIDL funds will now be eligible to prepay commercial debt and make payments on federal business debt.
Simplification of affiliation requirements: The SBA has established more simplified affiliation requirements to model those of the Restaurant Revitalization Fund.

In response to COVID-19, small business owners, including agricultural businesses, and nonprofit organizations in all U.S. states, Washington, D.C., and territories can apply for the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL). The purpose of EIDL is for small businesses to meet financial obligations and operating expenses that could have been met had the disaster not occurred. Eligible small businesses, nonprofits, and agricultural businesses in all U.S. states and territories can apply. Visit www.sba.gov/eidl to learn more about eligibility and application requirements. The last day that applications may be received is December 31, 2021. All applicants should file their applications as soon as possible.

Help Illinois Families Assistance Now Available

Governor JB Pritzker and DCEO announced $327 million in Help Illinois Families assistance is now available through the Low-Income Household Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Community Services Block Grant Program (CSBG). The program offers expanded services to support Illinois’ most vulnerable residents with rent, utilities, food, and other household expenses regardless of immigration status.

With support from the American Rescue Plan Act and increased eligibility provisions by the State of Illinois, residents will have access to more utility assistance than ever before, as well as increased availability of funds per household. The State is leveraging $209 million from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to expand relief for Illinois families struggling to pay their bills as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. LIHEAP funds are available from now through May 31, 2022. The remote application for LIHEAP and CSBG is available now on www.helpillinoisfamilies.com. To help eliminate any barriers to the application process, the State also provides a hotline service with multilingual assistance in over 30 languages. Residents may visit their local CAA’ in-person or call the hotline at 1-833-711-0374. For more information about the relief programs, visit the DCEO website.

Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program

Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) recently announced the launch of the new Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program, leveraging a $10 million commitment from the State to provide additional training programs that will expand the talent pipeline while boosting diversity within the construction industry and building trades. A Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) released by the DCEO Illinois Works Office aims to expand access to training programs that will prepare residents for well-paying jobs in the trades – with plans to focus on reducing barriers to entry and increasing representation of women and people of color in these fields. DCEO is now accepting applications for grant proposals– to view the NOFO, please visit DCEO’s website.

Eligible applicants include non-profit, community-based organizations, such as colleges, industry associations, chambers of commerce, local workforce areas, community colleges, technical schools, and school districts. Grants awards will range from $200,000-$550,000 for a one-year agreement. With pre-apprenticeship training programs lasting three to four months on average, the State of Illinois aims to award funds and launch training programs that will put more residents on the job site in time for the spring 2022 construction season. The deadline for the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program is October 4, 2021. For more information on the Illinois Works program, please visit https://www.illinoisworknet.com/ilworkspreapprenticeshipnofo2021.

Workforce Recovery Grants

The new initiative is a $40 million workforce recovery grant program aimed to get more job seekers back to work while helping sectors impacted most by COVID-19. The funding will expand workforce training, job training, and support services as well as cover basic expenses that are barriers to those seeking employment.

The workforce recovery grant program will utilize the state’s Job Training and Economic Development Program (JTED) model to boost access to education, training, and supportive services needed for vulnerable residents to successfully re-enter the labor force. A $20 million NOFO released marks the first phase of the workforce recovery program, with a second-round expected by next spring. JTED funding will focus on hard-hit sectors which have seen a labor shortage since the onset of the pandemic – such as manufacturing, healthcare, arts and entertainment, waste management, and retail. To ensure the maximum impact of these dollars, the administration will focus on underserved populations, including those facing barriers to employment due to layoffs and those underrepresented groups from communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Applications for this round of funding are due at 5:00 pm Central Time on October 29, 2021. All program details can be found here.

Team RED Office hours

DCEO’s Regional Economic Development Team is hosting weekly office hours on the days and times listed below. These sessions are designed as open times that the Team is available. The Team will provide you with the latest updates and answer any questions you may have on state or federal programs including providing assistance with the Back to Business Program. Feel free to drop in for any assistance you need. If these times do not work for you, please reach out to your regional Team RED representative. We’re always here to help.

Mondays from 3 pm – 4 pm. Click on this link to join.

Wednesdays from 1 pm – 2 pm. Click on this link to join.

Thursdays from 3 pm – 4 pm. Click on this link to join.

Fridays from 10 am – 11 am. Click on this link to join.

Following DCEO

If you have upcoming meetings or events and would like DCEO to participate, please reach out to me. One of our goals is to ensure information about our programs and activities is getting out to the communities and we’re happy to participate. We continue to schedule workshops and presentations for 2021 and are now looking towards 2022, so please let us know if you are interested in partnering with us to provide program information to your organization and region. I also encourage you to follow us on our social media channels for real-time updates.

PC’s for People Partnership

PCs for People and various community partners, Illinois has launched a statewide network that will receive, refurbish and redistribute used computers to those in need. For more information, click here.

If you are interested in donating equipment to this program, PCs for People will accept any and all used computer equipment, redistributing what it can refurbish and recycling what it cannot refurbish. PCs for People is NAID AAA and R2 certified, requiring the non-for-profit to practice the highest standards of information destruction, hard drive sanitization, and environmental computer device recycling along with a zero-landfill policy. If your entity is undertaking a pc refresh or you know of an entity that is looking to undertake one and would be interested in donating to this program, please let me know and we’ll help make the connection to PCs for People.

Ameren Illinois

The 2021 Ameren Illinois Virtual Business Symposium has been announced. The Virtual Symposium will take place on Wednesday, October 20, 2021, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. This symposium is your one-stop shop for energy efficiency — making it easy for your business or organization to learn about the latest technologies, connect with trusted energy professionals, and gain additional financial incentives to move your next energy efficiency project forward. To find out more information on this event, please go to https://energyefficiencybusinesssymposium.vfairs.com/

U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) ARPA Programs

The US Economic Development Administration (EDA) has announced six new programs, collectively called Investing in America’s Communities, that they will execute to equitably invest the $3 billion it received from President Biden’s American Rescue Plan. This EDA investment is the largest economic development initiative from the Department of Commerce in decades and will help communities across the country build back better.

Investing in America’s Communities includes:

Build Back Better Regional Challenge($1 billion) will capitalize on American ingenuity and American workers by providing a transformational investment to regions across the country to revitalize their economies. Phase 1 deadline is 10/19/21.
Good Jobs Challenge($500 million) is designed to help get Americans back in good-paying jobs. The program will develop and strengthen regional workforce training systems and sector-based partnerships with a focus on programs targeted at women, people of color, and historically underserved communities. The application deadline is 1/26/22.
Economic Adjustment Assistance($500 million) grants will help hundreds of communities across the nation plan, build, innovate, and put people back to work through projects tailored to meet local needs. Applications are rolling.
Indigenous Communities($100 million) program will work hand-in-hand with Tribal Governments and Indigenous communities to develop and execute economic development projects they need to recover from the pandemic and build economies for the future. Applications are rolling.
Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation($750 million) program will focus on revitalizing the hard-hit travel, tourism, and outdoor recreation industries and accelerate the recovery of communities that rely on these sectors. Applications are rolling.
Statewide Planning, Research and Networks($90 million) grants include funding for state planning efforts as well as grants to build Communities of Practice to extend technical assistance to support EDA’s work with grantees. Applications are rolling.

As part of the six programs, EDA is making a Coal Communities Commitment, allocating $300 million to ensure support for these communities as they recover from the pandemic and create new jobs and opportunities, including through the creation or expansion of a new industry sector. EDA has also set up webinars that dive into each program in more details. To find information on these webinars and program opportunities, visit www.eda.gov/ARPA .

Ameren Illinois

The 2021 Ameren Illinois Virtual Business Symposium has been announced. The Virtual Symposium will take place on Wednesday, October 20, 2021 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. This symposium is your one-stop-shop for energy efficiency — making it easy for your business or organization to learn about the latest technologies, connect with trusted energy professionals, and gain additional financial incentives to move your next energy efficiency project forward. To find out more information on this event, please go to https://energyefficiencybusinesssymposium.vfairs.com/

U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) ARPA Programs

Investing in America’s Communities includes:

Build Back Better Regional Challenge($1 billion) will capitalize on American ingenuity and American workers by providing a transformational investment to regions across the country to revitalize their economies. Phase 1 deadline is 10/19/21.
Good Jobs Challenge($500 million) is designed to help get Americans back in good-paying jobs. The program will develop and strengthen regional workforce training systems and sector-based partnerships with a focus on programs targeted at women, people of color and historically underserved communities. Application deadline is 1/26/22.
Economic Adjustment Assistance($500 million) grants will help hundreds of communities across the nation plan, build, innovate, and put people back to work through projects tailored to meet local needs. Applications are rolling.
Indigenous Communities($100 million) program will work hand-in-hand with Tribal Governments and Indigenous communities to develop and execute economic development projects they need to recover from the pandemic and build economies for the future. Applications are rolling.
Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation($750 million) program will focus on revitalizing the hard-hit travel, tourism, and outdoor recreation industries and accelerate the recovery of communities that rely on these sectors. Applications are rolling.
Statewide Planning, Research and Networks($90 million) grants include funding for state planning efforts as well as grants to build Communities of Practice to extend technical assistance to support EDA’s work with grantees. Applications are rolling.

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