COVID-19 Disadvantaged Business Grant Opportunities

Back to Business Grant Program – B2B

Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced last week the $250 million Back to Business (B2B) grant program to support the continued recovery of small businesses across Illinois. The program builds on last year’s Business Interruption Grant program, which provided $580 million to small businesses and childcare providers across the state.

• $250 million to small businesses across the state that experienced losses in 2020 due to COVID-19
• Grants will range from $5,000 to $150,000 per business and can be used to cover a wide range of operations/staff/overhead costs
• Allies for Community Business (A4CB), DCEO’s grant administrator, will begin accepting applications on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 (prepare for the application process early by learning about the information and documents required)

Funding Available

• $250 million to small businesses across the state that experienced losses in 2020 due to COVID-19, including the following set-asides:
• $100 million – Businesses located in Disproportionately Impacted Areas (DIAs) – see DIA Map here
• $30 million – Arts and Entertainment businesses that didn’t receive Shuttered Venue Operators grants $25 million – Restaurants and taverns that didn’t receive the Restaurant Revitalization Fund
• $25 million – Hotels
• $25 million – Businesses that didn’t receive a BIG grant due to exhaustion of funds
• Grants will range from $5,000 to $150,000 per business and can be used to cover a wide range of operations/staff/overhead costs
• Up to $250,000 for hotels

Eligibility Requirements

• Businesses with revenues of $20 million or less in 2019 and a reduction in revenue in 2020 due to COVID-19
• $35 million or less for hotels
• Priority will be given to the following categories:
• Hard-hit industries (see eligibility guidelines for a full list of priority industries and their definitions) 
• Hard-hit areas – DIAs comprising of 176 zip codes
• Businesses who have yet to qualify for state funding or federal assistance (including the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF), business Interruption Grant (BIG), Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG), and more)
• Businesses that had less than $5 million in revenue in 2019
• Learn about eligibility guidelines
• Eligibility guidelines also available in: Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Hindi, and Arabic

How/When to Apply

• Back to Business application portal opening August 18.
• Applications can be tracked in real-time
• Allies for Community Business (A4CB), DCEO’s grant administrator, will begin accepting applications on Wednesday, August 18, 2021

Documentation Needed

• Business owner ID (ITIN business owners eligible)
• Business 2019 AND 2020 Federal tax returns
• Two (2) business bank statements – one from the period April through December 2020, and most recent statement

Prepare for the application process early by learning about the information and documents required

List of Frequently Asked Questions

If you have questions or still need assistance with the online application, please contact Brett Whitnel at the Illinois Small Business Development Center at Shawnee Community College by phone (618) 634-3213 or email at brettw@shawneecc.edu

Click to link below to learn more and to apply today.

The City of Metropolis is developing a long-term plan to reduce sewer overflows to the Ohio River, as required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

Combined sewer overflows are a century-old problem in more than 700 U.S. communities, particularly in the Northeast and Midwest. Illinois has more than 100 communities with combined sewers, which combine sewage and stormwater into the same pipe.

During dry weather, sewage flows safely through the City’s sewers to the Metropolis sewer treatment plant (STP). However, about 50 times a year melting snow or rainwater can overwhelm the sewers, causing untreated sewage to overflow into the Ohio River.

Metropolis must examine its sewer overflows and prepare a long-term control plan that meets Clean Water Act requirements and protects the Ohio River. This City is working with Illinois EPA to develop the plan.

The City of Metropolis has installed signage at the CSO outfall location. The signs are weatherproof, and will identify the outfall number along with contact information and phone number.

If you would like to be notified via email whenever an overflow warning is in effect, Contact Us.

Food Vendor License

The City of Metropolis currently permits food vendors to operate on private property in accordance with Ordinance 2012-12. Vendors offering to sell to the public, un-sealed, prepared foods that may be consumed either on or off the vendor’s premises first shall apply for a Local Food Vendors license. Applications should be submitted to the City Clerk’s Office.

City of Metropolis Zoning Code & Zoning Map

In accordance with Illinois State Statute (65 ILCS 5/11-13-1 et seq.), the Metropolis Zoning Code regulates structures and land uses in order to preserve, protect and promote the public health, safety and welfare through implementation of the City’s Comprehensive Plan. The Code is applicable to land situated within the corporate limits of the City and contiguous territory not more than 1 ½ miles beyond the corporate limits and not included in any municipality.

The Zoning Code specifies the areas in which residential, industrial, recreational or commercial activities may take place and restricts the uses that can be made of land and buildings.  Zoning also regulates the dimensional requirements for lots and for buildings on property located within the City of Metropolis, and the density of development. Please be aware that a building permit or demolition permit may be required before any work can begin.

Thank you for your interest in the City of Metropolis! Sorry, there are no postions available at this time. As job openings become available, we will post them here.