A mid-1800’s architectural wonder helped make Chicago the city it is today. The 96-mile Illinois & Michigan Canal (I&M Canal) connected the Great Lakes in Bridgeport, Chicago to the Illinois River at LaSalle-Peru, and amazingly unique towns sprung up that maintain their authentic charm to this date.
READ ON!Freedom. The Open Road. The American Dream. All are still alive on The Mother Road. The nostalgia of diners, museums, tourist stops and neon lights are there for you to visit as you make the drive from Chicago to Santa Monica, CA. You can still get your Kicks on Route 66!
READ ON!A visit to Starved Rock State Park consists of many sights to behold, including breathtaking views of its many canyons and awe-inspiring scenes of eagles flying during the winter month.
READ ON!The Heritage Corridor is filled with events that are waiting just for you. Live music, fun festivals, learning programs, and active adventures await.
READ ON!Are you looking for a specific type of place to visit in the I&M Canal Heritage Corridor? If you're a craft beer fan, you will love the Heritage Corridor Ale Trail? Seeing a thrilling journey or just an escape, check out Adventure Outside Chicago. We've got all the info to unlock your next trip right here.
READ ON!With the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus and its detrimental impact on small businesses, the State is invoking its option to adjust Community Development Block Grant allocations to address specific needs to benefit Illinois’ non-entitlement communities in case of unforeseen circumstances. $20 million will be available for this program. The Downstate Small Business Stabilization component has been established to provide working capital funds to community’s businesses economically impacted by the COVID-19 virus.
The program component makes funds available for 60 days of verifiable working capital up to a grant ceiling of $25,000 and is available for businesses that employ 50 people or less. Number of employees includes the business owner(s). These funds may be used to assist private for-profit small retail and service businesses, or businesses considered non-essential by the Governor’s Executive Order without the ability for employees to work remotely.
The Guidebook includes detailed information about program requirements and eligibility, as well as the Application forms.
Applications must be submitted by a unit of local government recognized by the Illinois Constitution and able to support economic development activities on a sufficient scale. This includes cities, villages, and counties. Municipalities must not be a HUD direct Entitlement community or be located in an urban county that receives "entitlement" funds (see list in program Guidebook). Applications will be made “in support of” the benefiting business and funds will be passed through to the business via a Participation Agreement.
To avoid the spread of COVID-19, all applications must be submitted by scanning in the required documents and e-mailing them to: [email protected]
Answers to the most frequently asked questions can be found here: Downstate Small Business Stabilization Program FAQs
You may access a webinar recording covering the Downstate Small Business Stabilization Program Guidebook and Application here.
For technical assistance, please reach out to the grant manager in your area, e-mail [email protected], or call the Office of Community Development at 217/785-6174.
The following items must be completed and included as part of the application: