Find how and where to get loans and/or free grants in Illinois for your business. There will funds allocated to disadvantaged businesses, which include minority companies (Black, Latino, Asian owned) as well as women owned or veteran businesses. Find the lenders, corporations and programs below that are near you in Illinois for funds. Everything from free grants to low cost loans, mentoring, and other small business or start up assistance is provided.
Small business funding may be provided by the federal government or state of Illinois. There are also non-profit grant programs, loans from banks or foundations, and more. Each loan or free grant program listed will allocate some of the money for women as well as minority owned (or run companies). Some of the agencies may also give startup funding to entrepreneurs or mid sized companies as well.
Funds are allocated across the state. There is financial assistance for minority and black men or women owned businesses in Chicago, Joliet, Springfield and other IL cities. Free grants or loans can generally cover any business expense, ranging from rent to insurance, equipment, payroll, and other costs. The money can help save a business, such as MWBE, or provide the capital they need to grow.
Small business loans or free grants in Illinois
The list below is updated daily, as new free grants as well as loan programs are announced. Call or look online to apply for help. Black owned companies, LGBTQ, Latinos, Asians, and women owned businesses can get the help they need.
Ongoing, year round financial assistance, free grant and business coaching programs
There are free financial assistance programs, marketing or business startup help and other services that operate year round. Find details on these resources below by “category”, including by city/county of Illinois and/or geography. There are also free grants, low cost or 0% loans by month in Illinois. Scroll further down the page to find them.
Statewide programs in Illinois
Advantage Illinois has a few different low-cost and/or interest free loan products. Loan Participation as well as Guarantee Programs, INVENT Venture Capital Program (VCP), and a Climate Fund. About 50%, if not more, of the financial assistance goes to businesses owned by women and people of color. Find details on Advantage Illinois here. https://dceo.illinois.gov/smallbizassistance/advantageillinois.html
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has a major focus on helping small minority, women, veteran, LGBTQ and disabled business owners. All throughout the year are online training courses, grants, information on low cost loans, free one-on-one business advice and so much more. They help with MWBE certification, offer information databases and other aid. Continue reading. https://www2.illinois.gov/dceo/businesshelp/Pages/SmallBusinessAssistance.aspx
Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is based in Chicago but operates across the state. Programs include an Incubator/Startup service; Business Development Center; Procurement and Certification Assistance for Latino businesses; Free Coaching and more. A number of assistance programs, including loans and grants, are offered for Hispanic companies or entrepreneurs. Learn more on the non-profit. https://ihccbusiness.net/
Nicor Gas, and their non-profit foundation known as Northern Illinois Community Initiatives, is providing help (including free grant money) to women and minority owned companies. The funds are issued in partnership with the CDFI non-profit lender Allies for Community Business. There are also loans, free coaching and other support. Read more. https://a4cb.org/
The Women’s Business Development Center helps both women and people of color. They help them access capital, whether loans, government grants, or some other form of financial aid. They have offices in Chicago as well as Aurora. They even offer loans of up to $50,000 (with no application fees) as well as business advising, minority or women owned business certifications, networking and more. Read more here. https://www.wbdc.org/
Women’s Entrepreneurship Hub is an online resource that helps women owned businesses (and females who want to start a company) get assistance. A major focus is on Black and Hispanic owned businesses. Locate free grants, 0% interest loans, counseling and other resources from the HUB here. Continue reading here. https://wehub.org/
Chicago area free business grants and interest free loans
Allies for Community Business (Accion Chicago) is a non-profit community lender in Chicago. They offer loans, grants, free coaching or mentoring to entrepreneurs, financial aid and more. The assistance is for Cook County and Chicago small businesses, with a focus on Black, Latino, Veteran, LGTBG and women among others. Most of the financing will be in the form of loans. Learn more here. https://a4cb.org/
Aurora Women’s Business Development Center offers a number of assistance programs and services to female owned businesses, including women of color. There are workshops, business training classes, information on loan and grant programs, and so much more. They also help women certify as a women-minority owned company. Find details on the center here. https://wbdc.org/entrepreneurial-programs/womens-business-center-aurora/
Chicago Neighborhood Initiative Micro Finance Group – Greenwood Archer Capital offers microloans to minority and Black owned businesses. The non-profit will lend out up to $50,000, based on business revenue, business plans, income and other factors. Some borrowers with poor or limited credit can also get a microloan from CNI. A major focus is on providing funds to businesses owned by people of color in low income communities in Chicago. Learn more. https://www.cnigroup.org/
Chicago Technology oriented companies can turn to TechRise for assistance. The organization is focused on underserved tech businesses, internet companies, and other “cutting edge” businesses. The organizations helps minority, Hispanic, Black owned technology businesses get access to capital (including grants or loans, helps with networking and community engagement and more. The goal is to help MWBE businesses in the city. Learn more. https://techrise.co/
Chicago Urban League Center for Entrepreneurship offers several services to businesses or entrepreneurs of color, veterans, and women. Free one one one coaching can help with marketing, applications to government grants, strategy and other needs. There are events and workshops, free business training classes as well as other services at the center. African Americans who need help with a business, information on loans or grants and other aid can use the non-profit. More details. https://www.chiurbanleaguecei.com/
Chicago woman owned businesses (in the western suburbs of Cook County) can get assistance from the West Suburban Women Entrepreneurs, or WSWE. This is an organization of woman entrepreneurs, business owners and others who help other female founders. Whether it is free mentoring, information on raising capital or applying for grants or small business loans, the organization has many free resources. Learn more here. https://wswe.org/
Cook County Small Business Source operates year round. There is free business advising solution, workshops and events, information on ongoing grant programs as well as other forms of financial help for Black women/male owned businesses as well as other minorities and more. There is financial help for microbusinesses in Chicago (under 5 employees), women, minorities, LGTBQ, veterans and others. Find about Cook County and Chicago Small Business source here. https://cookcountysmallbiz.org/
Sunshine Enterprises of Chicago helps the underserved, with a focus on Black women, immigrant owned businesses, Latinos, women and others. Whether it is access to Capital, including free government grants or low cost loans, or training from the Community Business Academy or small business accelerators, help is offered. There are mentoring programs, free business coaching, resources for start-ups and other support. Continue reading here. https://www.sunshineenterprises.com/
Southern IL community free grant and loan programs
Elevate CCIC, Inc. is based in Mattoon but supports the wider community/area. The non-profit works to help entrepreneurs and small businesses get the capital they need, including 0% interest loans from Kiva. There is also a business accelerator program, free mentoring, budgeting help and more offered. Learn more here. https://elevate217.org/
March, April, and May 2023
Illinois American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, part of Back to Business (B2B) program, are available. As much as $175 million will go to businesses impacted by COVID, including minority owned, women, veterans and those owned by disabled people. This is a new round of funding, with a focus on restaurants, businesses that serve the public, art, hotels and similar companies. Applications are here. https://ilgrant.communitydevelopmentfund.org/submit
Nicor Gas is operating the Northern Illinois Community Ventures program. Women and minority owned businesses can get help, including grants and more. Also interest free loans of up to $100,000 are issued. There is also 1:1 coaching, legal aid, guidance, accounting support and more from the Allies for Community Business and NICOR Foundation as well as the Kitty Grant. Read more. https://a4cb.org/services/grants/
City of Aurora IL has free grant money to help small businesses rehab/repair a facility they have, such as a store, retail location or manufacturing site. The financial help is for small businesses in the city, with some grants allocated to MWBE owned small businesses in Aurora. Learn more on Re-Start Retention and also the Finish Line grant program here. https://moed-cityofaurora.hub.arcgis.com/pages/grants-incentives
Back to Business grants are available for industries that were hit hard by the COVID pandemic. Restaurants, hairdressers, hotels, pubs, cafes, and “service”/customer facing businesses can apply for free government grants of up to $50,000. Some of the funding is allocated to women and minority owned businesses, and learn more on the Illinois Back to Business program. https://dceo.illinois.gov/smallbizassistance/b2b.html
May and June 2023
Taylorsville and Christian County IL women owned businesses can apply for interest free loans from the Illinois Federation of Business Women’s Club. They use a FB page for applications and information, but the non-profit helps women owned businesses, including those owned by women of color, get financial help. Apply here. https://www.facebook.com/TvilleBusinessWomen/
Hispanic owned food companies in Chicago can apply for free grants from Allies for Community Business Community, PepsiCo, and CDFI partners. The money is being provided by PepsiCo, but many other non-profits and organizations participate as well. Latino owned food businesses in the city will get financial help, and apply here. https://a4cb.org/hbp/
January 2023
Chicago Job Creators Quest Grant and Founders First has a grant program for up to 25 minority and disadvantaged businesses in Chicago. The money is for small businesses and applicants need to hire additional employees over the year. Funds will help veteran, LGTBQ+, minority, or women owned companies in Chicago. Read details here. https://foundersfirstcdc.org/chicago/
November and December 2022
Small businesses in the cannabis industry can borrow up to $500,000 as an interest free loan from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The goal is to encourage development of the industry in IL, with a focus on MWBE and veteran owned cannabis companies. The free loans can pay for rent, property development, salaries and more. Learn more here. https://dceo.illinois.gov/
September and October 2022
City of Waukegan is offering grants of as much as $15,000 and small business loans of as much as $10,000. The money is part of the federal government CARES Act, and financial assistance is for small businesses impacted by COVID. A priority is on minority and women owned businesses. Applicants need to have under 25 employees, and learn more here. https://www.waukeganil.gov/912/CARES-ACT-SMALL-BUSINESS-GRANT-PROGRAM
Cook County Il small businesses can apply for $10,000 grants from the Source Grow program. As many as 2500 businesses will be given funds, with a large number of them owned by people of color, LGTBQ+, veterans , disabled people and women. The grants are paid for by the American Rescue Plan Act and recipients will be given free businesses coaching and mentoring as well. Micro-businesses and those hard hit by COVID will also get priority, and apply here. https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/ae22d00cc1314ddc880a05f07cacd277
Comcast is providing free $10,000 grants to Chicago small businesses. Businesses owned by women and people of color (Black owned, Asian, Latino, immigrant, etc.). There will not only be financial assistance provides but also free marketing and technology services, consultations, help with internet or online businesses and more. Learn more and apply for the Comcast grants here. https://www.comcastrise.com/apply/
August 2022
The City of Galesburg has a few grant programs available. They include the Urban Agriculture Pilot Program, Minority Business Startup Assistance Program, as well as funds from the Southside Occupancy. All of these government grants have various application criteria, but some are focused on BIPOC and MWBE businesses. Learn more on the City of Galesburg economic development services. Learn more. https://www.ci.galesburg.il.us/government/community_development/economic_development/business_incentives.php
Assistance is offered in Chicago to women, nonbinary, Black, Indigenous, trans, Asian, Latino, people of color and LGBTQ+ businesses. Tech help, grants and other help is offered by a partnership between Chicago Tech Desk as well as GET Cities Chicago Tech Equity Working Group. A number of assistance programs, financial aid and other resources can help MWBE entrepreneurs as well as small business owner. Read more here. https://www.getcities.org/chicago/
May 2022
Peoria small businesses can apply for free $50,000 grants from The Recovery, Income, Startup, and Expansion (RISE) Program. The money can be used to expand a company, start one, or help it recover from the Pandemic. Priority is given to businesses that have difficulty in getting access to capital (mostly MWBE or veteran) and also businesses in lower income parts of the city. Learn more on RISE. http://growpeoria.com/rise-program/
February and March 2022
Mercado on Fifth is providing free grant money to minority owned businesses in the Quad City area. Up to $1,000 will be provided to as many as 15 businesses. The financial aid, as well as other support, is offered in partnership with the Illinois Business Development Center of Western Illinois University, which will help ensure MWBE businesses get the advice, support, and coaching they need. A major focus of the grants will be to help businesses buy or repair equipment. Read more. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSebeO6oBkoMvdzRB8SXtsBFey2pUfyI0BHFkORRBG5tCvC-Ew/viewform
January 2022 and February 2022
Springfield Illinois businesses, that are at least 51% minority owned, can apply for a grant. The business also needs to be located in a certain area downtown. Ironically or not, the money for the free government grant is coming from tax dollars that the city has as a result of Cannabis sales. Those the financial aid program is known as the Cannabis Business Grant. The money can be used to pay for real estate, inventory, equipment, and other capital expenses. Read more here. https://www.springfield.il.us/CannabisBusinessGrant.aspx
Founders First CDC is providing grants as well as a business accelerator program to minuity businesses in the Chicago area. Applicants need to be Black, indigenous, Latino, a veteran, a person of color or a member of the LGBTQ+ community, or a woman. 30 businesses will be given financial assistance from the program, and there is also a Job Creators Grants. Learn more here on the non-profit as well as the free grant program. https://foundersfirstcdc.org/chicago/
Businesses that are involved in putting significant capital into developing lower income, under utilized parts of Chicago can apply for free grants of hundreds of thousands of dollars each. This financial aid program is for property developers, Real estate companies and other similar large scale projects, including minority, women, and veteran companies. The Chicago Recovery Plan Community Development Grant program will be open year round, with applications and grants given until funding runs out. Apply here. https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dcd/provdrs/ec_dev/svcs/chicago-recovery-grant-application.html
October and November 2021
Small businesses in Chicago have two different free grant programs that can apply two. There is the Chi Biz Strong Grant Program (which is more wide ranging) as well as the Outdoor Dining Program, which will help restaurants, bars, cafes, and the like pay for outdoor dining needs. Both give priority to MWBE and veteran owned companies. Non-profits can also ally. A major focus is on minority and women owned businesses that operate in the lower income parts of Chicago as well. Learn more. https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/chi-biz-strong-grants/home.html
September and October 2021
Quad Cities region, including Rock Island and Moline in Illinois minority owned businesses, can apply for grants from Mercado on 5th. The non-profit agency is part of the Small Business Community Navigator. The non-profit assists minority, English, and Spanish speaking businesses. They also operate small business development workshops. There is also free counseling around budgeting, raising capital, business plan creation and other services. Read more on the non-profit. https://www.mercadoonfifth.org/
Freeport businesses, that have faced a reduction in revenue during 2020 due to the COVID-pandemic, can apply for free grants from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The city is working with the Greater Freeport Partnership to help small to even mid-sized businesses, with a focus on women, minority, veteran owned businesses. Up to $150,000 can be provided for operation costs, salaries, rent, and more. Continue here. https://greaterfreeport.com/
State of Illinois and federal government funds are used as part of the Back to Business Grant Program. Businesses with under $5 million in revenue, that have been impacted by the pandemic, can apply for free grants. Some funds/priority will be for minority, veteran, LGBTQ, and minority owned businesses among others. Up to $150,000 can be provided to each business, with most money expected to go towards service type businesses. Read up on the program. https://a4cb.loanwell.com/processes/29f7dbe5-c7fe-4554-806a-41162e8b6337/questionnaires/ededc49e-45d7-4f65-a986-6bb85b9dfa5c/agreements/new?utm_source=Members+List&utm_campaign=5548273cb8-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_09_12_02_01_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_71edb48f21-5548273cb8-223007945
August and September 2021
Cook County Small Business Assistance Program is providing financial help to small businesses that were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Grants, interest free loans, and other sources of funding (and support) are offered. BIPOC businesses as well as others can apply. There is also a free Advising Program, and the funds are available in Chicago too. Learn more. https://cookcountysmallbiz.org/
Up to $2 million in micro-loans is being provided to small businesses in the city of Springfield. Some of the financial assistance will be allocated to women owned businesses, minorities, black owned companies and even borrowers with limited or poor credit. The city is working with a non-profit known as Justine PETERSEN as well as the Springfield Black Chamber of Commerce. Get details and funding here. https://www.springfieldbcc.org/business-resources/
March and April 2021
Chicago small disadvantaged businesses can receive financial help from a $25 million program created by the city. The funds are for minority, veteran, immigrant, Black or Latino owned and borrowers with bad or poor credit. It is run in partnership with the SBA as well as PPP program. The Chicago Impact Fund is aimed at ensuring the most disadvantaged businesses have access to the capital they need. Read more here. https://crfusappploans.com/partners/city-of-chicago/
November and December 2020
Rockford Illinois small businesses can get free cash/grants from the CARES Act. The funds are part of the Community Development Program. Everything from rent to working capital, sales and marketing help, utilities, salaries, and other bills can be paid. Tens of thousands of dollars will be allocated to minority businesses, including females, LGTBQ, Veterans, African Americans and others. Apply here https://rockfordil.gov/city-departments/community-and-economic-development/neighborhood-development/
Restaurants and/or bars in Chicago can get financial help in the form of free grants. The federal government, state, and city of Chicago are partnering together to help small, independent owned restaurants, pubs as well as bars including Black, Brown, and women keep their doors open. The assistance program is known as the Chicago Hospitality Grant, and up to $10,000 can be paid out for rent, salaries, food, utilities, inventory, and other bills. It can also help food delivery costs. Apply here. https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/cdph/provdrs/health_protection_and_response/news/2020/november/mayor-lightfoot-announces–10-million-chicago-hospitality-grant-.html
Chicago and Cook County businesses that have been hit by riots’, fire, civil unrests or other issues can apply for the Rebuild Distressed Communities (RDC) program. The funds are only for businesses impacted by civil disorder, whether minority, male, women, or anything else. Most of the grants are for the city of Chicago. Read more or apply here. https://www2.illinois.gov/dceo/Pages/default.aspx
Service type businesses in Illinois, such as bars, restaurants, gyms, fitness centers, pubs and others can get grants from the Illinois Business Interruption Grants (BIG). While funds are offered to all small businesses or sole-proprietors, some of the BIG grants will be reserved for minority owned companies, black owned businesses, veterans and others. Millions of dollars are being paid out to businesses hard hit by COVID. Apply here or read more. https://www2.illinois.gov/dceo/SmallBizAssistance/Pages/C19DisadvantagedBusGrants.aspx
September 2020
Over $200 million in grants will be issued to businesses struggling from the Pandemic and/or Civil Unrest. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is accepting applications and disbursing funds. Both of them, the Business Interruption Grants (BIG) as well as the Rebuild Distressed Communities (RDC), are free grants with a focus on disadvantaged businesses, including immigrants, Black, Latina, female, veterans and others in Illinois. There are funds for small businesses in low income communities, farmers, and others. The bottom line is Illinois is offering many startup and small to mid sized business grants to minorities, women, and struggling companies. More details are here. https://www2.illinois.gov/dceo/Pages/default.aspx
The Chicago Urban League is offering free grants (of up to $5000), technical assistance, mentoring and other support to small businesses that are Black owned. Most of the aid is for very small businesses that are one, two, or small firms. the grants and resources are offered in partnership with the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company. Applications are at the Urban League Chicago Help Center. https://www.culcovid19.com/
Over $270 million in free grants will be issued by the state of Illinois run Business Interruption Grant program. To date, about 50 percent of BIG grant recipients are women and/or minority owned. About one quarter are Asian owned companies and about 25% are Latinx-owned or Black business owners. https://www2.illinois.gov/dceo/SmallBizAssistance/Pages/C19DisadvantagedBusGrants.aspx
By Jon McNamara
