Over the past several months, we have witnessed a level of devastation among our neighborhood small businesses unlike anything we’ve seen before. Foot traffic and sales have dropped. Many businesses are operating with limited staff. For business owners, every single day has become a test of strength, resilience, and resourcefulness.

That is why the IHCC launched a microgrant program, an immediate and focused effort to raise funds that will be distributed directly to the businesses in our community that need help now. These grants will provide a much-needed boost to help cover rent, pay employees, or replenish essential inventory.

The Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is helping businesses meet the extraordinary challenges presented by federal immigration enforcement activities targeting immigrant communities throughout Chicago and the suburbs, offering enhanced business support services and workshops. Now, the IHCC Foundation (501c3) is sponsoring a microgrant program to help small businesses that have suffered. We need your help to fund the program, which will offer $1,500 – $5,000 microgrants that will then be distributed to affected businesses.

Impacted businesses may include:

• Brick-and-mortar shops facing reduced foot traffic
• Seasonal construction or landscaping businesses whose workforce and schedules have been disrupted

The tax-deductible donations will fund microgrants of $1,000 – $5,000 to eligible Illinois businesses that are registered and in good standing with the state. Additional details for donors and applicants, including eligibility criteria, are listed below.

Thanks to the Searle Funds at The Chicago Community Trust, the IHCC Foundation is excited to offer 52 grants of $5,000 each to affected small businesses, dispersed in 3 phases of funding. Each phase will focus on specific communities throughout the Chicagoland area to equitably disperse funds throughout affected areas. 

Our next phase will open for applications on Monday, August 24th. Applicants can find the link for the digital application below, as well as printable PDF versions if preferred once the application period opens. Applications will close on September 14th. The first phase will be focused on the communities of: 

• Pilsen
• Brighton Park, McKinley Park & Archer Heights
• Back of the Yards
• Little Village
• Chicago Lawn & West Lawn
• Berwyn / Cicero

Eligibility: 

For those who would like to apply through a paper copy or submission through email, please see below downloadable PDF applications in Spanish and English, and make sure that the application is received on or before the deadline date. 

• Must be in business for at least 2 years
• Be a registered business within Illinois. Either registered and in good standing with the State of Illinois as an LLC, or registered with your city/municipality as a sole proprietor
• Submit a copy of your business license 
• Businesses with 10 or less employees
• Only one business / location per owner eligible
• Include a written explanation describing how the actions of immigration authorities affected your business, including any documented loss of income and mentions of specific timelines (fewer customers, drop in sales, reduced hours, cancellation of events, etc) in between 100 – 250 words. The strongest applications will clearly describe how their business was directly affected via loss of revenue.

Elegibilidad

• Tener al menos 2 años de operación,  ser un negocio registrado y estar activo en Illinois: ya sea registrado y en buen estado en Illinois como LLC (Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada), o registrado en su ciudad o municipio como propietario único (*sole proprietor*).
• Adjunte una copia de su licencia de negocio.
• Contar con 10 empleados o menos
• Solo una empresa o una sola ubicación por propietario es elegible
• Incluir una explicación que describa cómo las acciones de las autoridades migratorias afectaron su negocio, incluyendo cualquier pérdida de ingresos documentada y menciones de plazos específicos (menos clientes, caída de las ventas, reducción de horarios, cancelación de eventos, etc) de 100 a 250 palabras. Las solicitudes más sólidas describirán claramente cómo el negocio se vió afectado directamente mediante la pérdida de ingresos.