CHAMPAIGN – State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) congratulated local businesses struggling from the pandemic that were awarded grants from the latest round of the Back to Business program awards.

“This is a much-needed award for businesses in Champaign and Vermilion Counties,” Bennett said. “These grants are important because they will help equip our businesses with valuable resources during this time of uncertainty.”

The B2B program allocated $250 million in American Rescue Plan dollars for small businesses negatively affected by the pandemic. Each business received between $5,000 to $150,000 to be used to cover a wide range of operations such as staff and overhead costs.

34 businesses in the district Bennett represents received a combined $2.5 million through the program. Businesses include restaurants, bars, hotels, retailers, arts, barbershops and salons, museums and theaters, and fitness centers, demonstrating the diversity of the local small business community and how many different kinds of businesses are eligible for grants.

“I’m pleased to see so many local businesses receiving aid from the B2B program to help them get through this tough time,” Bennett said. “Now more than ever, we must continue to do everything we can to support our small business community.”

For a complete list of grant recipients, click here.