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Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle Announces Applications
Open for $10M Recovery Fund for Suburban Cook County’s Small
Businesses & Independent Contractors
COOK COUNTY – Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle announced today that
applications are now open for the Community Recovery Loan Fund. Launched as part of
the Bureau of Economic Development’s Community Recovery Initiative, the $10 million
Community Recovery Fund offers one-time, zero-interest loans of up to $20,000 for small
businesses and up to $10,000 for independent contractors.
“Cook County is committed to having a meaningful impact in the communities that are facing
tough economic challenges in the face of COVID-19,” said Cook County Board President Toni
Preckwinkle. “While we know the funds will go fast, through these investments in local small
businesses and independent contractors, the County hopes to positively impact financially
underserved communities while providing growth capital to help sustain operations and
provide assistance to our most vulnerable businesses.”
This program will serve suburban Cook County businesses with less than 25 employees
and less than $3 million in annual revenue, or independent contractors with less than
$100,000 in yearly income who earn at least 50 percent of their revenue from contracting
work. Self-employed, independent contractors such as rideshare drivers and other gig
industry workers residing in South Suburban Cook County are eligible.
Since the announcement of the recovery fund in April, more than 8,000 small businesses,
independent contractors, and non-profits have reached out to express need and interest in
the County’s loan fund program and technical assistance resources.
“While we understand $10M is not enough to help the thousands of small businesses that
expressed a need in this program, we are hopeful that it will offer relief to some,” said Xochitl
Flores Bureau Chief of Economic Development. “Our efforts to identify more resources and
ways to grow our support are ongoing, and we are hopeful that this is coming at a time when
recovery is so critical.”
The loan applications will be processed through a network of lending partners that include:
the Chicago Community Loan Fund, SomerCor, Accion, Women’s Business Development
Center, and Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives Micro Finance Group.
“As Cook County is entering phase three of the Restore Illinois Plan, many small businesses
and self-employed entrepreneurs outside of Chicago have struggled to access capital to
keep their operations moving forward and the Cook County Community Recovery Fund, at
zero percent interest, will provide relief to many south and west suburbs,” stated Bob
Tucker, COO and EVP of Programs for Chicago Community Loan Fund.
The joint effort is the latest in a variety of resources offered through Cook County’s
Community Recovery Initiative program, which features a technical assistance network that
has helped more than 170 small businesses get access to educational resources and $3M in
funding through the Paycheck Protection Program.
Once launched, applications will be open for ten days. We will consider the following in our
review of all the applications submitted:
• Eligibility – Applicants must meet all the criteria identified in the form, submit all
the requested materials, and submit them via the portal by June 8, 2020. Incomplete
applications will not be considered.
• Geography: Loans will be awarded across all suburban Cook municipalities.
• Priority will be given to applicants located in Economically Disconnected Areas or
Disinvested Areas and businesses owned by women, minorities, persons with
disabilities, or veterans.
Online applications for the loans are now being accepted until June 17, 2020 and are
available in English and Spanish. To apply and to find additional information, please visit
www.cookcountyil.gov/recovery.
For more information visit our website.
Have a question? Read our FAQs
Contact us at: ccrf@cclfchicago.org