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Business Grants Closing in November 2021!

Business Owners,

Here are a few grant opportunities that will be closing in the month of November. The Back to Business grant is added to confirm that it is indeed closed at this time. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns. 

Khayeem Anderson kanderson@gagdc.org
Norma Sanders nsanders@gagdc.org


Back to Business (B2B) Grant Program – CLOSED


You can verify the status of your application by going to the portal and entering the username and password you used to create your application account. You can find the portal HERE.

If A4CB emails you about needing more information, you will have 3 days as a priorityPlease check your email daily.

If you need help with entering the requested information from A4CB or needing help with verifying your status of your application, you can reach out to the following:


  • Illinois Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs):  Illinois SBDCs provide one-on-one counseling, assistance with navigating best options for financial support programs, technical assistance with documentation requirements to prepare applications, and more.  Find your nearest SBDC HERE.

  • Community Navigators: They provide outreach to hard-to-reach and underserved businesses to increase awareness of federal and state opportunities, provide 1-on-1 technical assistance to small businesses, and offer services in multiple languages. To find one near you, please click HERE or use the B2B search tool or namecounty, or language service.

For a complete list of DCEO grants, please visit click HERE


  • (Black-owned businesses) IL Black Survey – DCEO, Chicago State University, and Chicago Urban League are conducting a statewide survey on black owned businesses. To complete the survey, please click HERE.
  • Child Care Restoration Grant – Round 4
    • For more information, please click HERE.
    • Deadline Wednesday, December 15, 2021

City of Chicago Grants / Local Governments

Chi Biz Strong Grant Program, for more information, please click HEREDeadline November 12, 2021

Outdoor Dining Grant Program, for more information, please click HEREDeadline November 12, 2021.

Small Business Improvement Fund, for more information, please click HERE.  Deadline varies.

(not business but personal) All Chicago COVID-19 Emergency Rent Assistance Program, for more information please click HERE

(not for businesses but personal) City of Chicago Mortgage Assistance Grant 2021, for more information, please click HERE.


Community/Private Grant Resources

(Women owned businesses) I Fund Women, provides women owned businesses with a list of open grants, please click HEREDeadline varies.

  • A4CB, provides businesses with a list of open grants, please click HEREDeadline varies.
  • (Chicagoland Area Restaurants) DishRoulette Kitchen 2 Kitchen, grant for minority owned restaurants in the Chicagoland area. For more information please click HERE. Open to undocumented business owners. 
  • (open nationwide) Small Business Majority – Holiday Gift Guide 2021, you can now submit your business information to potentially be included. For more information please click HEREDeadline is November 6, 2021.
  • (open nationwide to women of color) Democratizing the Friends & Family Round for Female Founders of Color, a grant program by Hello Alice and Project Entrepreneur, a program by UBS. For more information please click HEREDeadline is November 10, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. 
  • (open nationwide) Fast Break for Small Business, grants to assist small businesses from LegalZoom, NBA, WBNA, and NBA G League. For more information please click HEREDeadline is Tuesday, November 23, 2021.
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