Your Opportunity Region
Hospitality Emergency Grant Program Deadline: April 1 st

To help hospitality businesses make ends meet in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, DCEO is launching the Hospitality Emergency Grant Program with $14 million drawn from funds originally budgeted for job training, tourism promotion, and other purposes. Grant funds are available to support working capital like payroll and rent, as well as job training, retraining, and technology to support shifts in operations, like increased pick-up and delivery.

Eligible applicants will be placed into a lottery, and grant winners will be notified on April 4. Accion Serving Illinois and Indiana, a local nonprofit, will distribute the grant awards on behalf of the State. 

If you have any questions about your application, please submit them here or call (312) 275-3000. We will respond as quickly as we can. We encourage you to submit questions electronically to receive a quicker response. 

Please pass this information along to restaurant, bar, or small accommodation.
Upcoming Informational Calls

April 3 from 1:30 - 2:30 - Illinois Chamber - U.S. economic activity is all set to decline sharply. Is the recovery going to be ‘V’, ‘U’, ‘L’ shaped or something else?
Dr. Venkat Veeramani, SVP of Risk Management at Wintrust will present. This will be moderated by IBC Exec. Dtor. Laura Ortega
There will be opportunity for Q&A at the end of the presentation. Should you have specific questions or inquiries, please send it in advance to Laura Ortega.
Innovation and technology are the heart and soul of aerospace. MAC2020 is continuing to strengthen supply chains, create connections, and share relevant information key to the aerospace industry. 

Join us May 6th. Registration is required.

ABOUT THE RAEDC 
The role of the  Rockford Area Economic Development Council  (RAEDC) is to collaborate with regional stakeholders to cultivate opportunities for primary job growth that increase the economic well-being of our region. The RAEDC markets the region to attract new capital investment, while assisting existing business with resources for sustainable growth. The RAEDC works closely with many partners to improve the competitiveness of the region by taking what it learns from the region's employers and engaging the community in the daily work of economic development. As the economic development organization for the region, the RAEDC also serves as the area's data collection agency on all new capital investment, retained and created quality jobs, and renovated commercial/industrial space.