May 4th, 2020- Small businesses in Illinois trying to stay afloat during the pandemic can now apply for state grants to help avoid layoffs.
The funding range for COVID-19 Layoff Aversion grants is $5,000 to $50,000 per employer and physical location. The grant program is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
To receive funding, employers must document the impact of the emergency on their business and the associated layoff risk factors.
The funds can be used for a variety of purposes. They cannot be used for wages, but they can be used for activities and equipment that the business may purchase to help keep employees working, whether it be remotely or on-site. The grants can also be used to make the workplace safer.
All funded projects must produce measurable outcomes including the number of jobs saved, an estimated amount of annual wages saved, and other relevant project-specific results.
