Hundreds of thousands of dollars in Illinois post-COVID-19 Back to Business grants are on their way to restaurants in Rock Island, Henry and Mercer counties via the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO).
Illinois State Sen. Mike Halpin, D-Rock Island, and Illinois State Rep. Gregg Johnson, D-East Moline, celebrated the latest round of grants that DCEO awarded to businesses in the restaurant industry in the Illinois Quad Cities.
The grant program provides recovery grants for small businesses throughout the state, with an emphasis on businesses in the hardest hit industries. Through the Back to Business and Business Interruption Grant programs, DCEO has provided more than $535 million to more than 15,000 businesses since the start of the pandemic.
In January 2022, for example, more than $1.4 million in individual grants ranging from $5,000 to $250,000 were awarded to Quad Cities bars and restaurants, hotels and motels, event and fitness centers, and arts organizations.
“The Quad Cities is home to many amazing small businesses that provide the community with places to go and jobs for our local economy,” Mr. Halpin said. “It’s great to see the state making investments back into these small businesses so they can plan for the future.”
Mr. Johnson added: “This funding recognizes the impact small businesses and family-owned restaurants have on our area. The COVID-19 pandemic hit us all hard, and it’s good to see funding coming back home to help small businesses for the long run.”
The Quad Cities regional restaurants which will receive funding in this round of Back to Business grants (listed by counties) include:
Henry County:
- The Combine Bar and Grill, Combine Inc., Cambridge, $50,000.
- Maria’s Pizza LLC, Colona, $5,000.
- Special Kneads Bakery, Galva, $10,000.
- Geneseo Brewing Co., Geneseo, 30,000.
- The Station, Speck Corp., Kewanee, $35,000.
Mercer County:
- The New Windsor Depot, Dale Marshall, Inc., $30,000.
- Wheeler’s Cafe, Seaton, $15,000.
Rock Island County:
- Hacienda Mexican Grill, Moreno Inc., Coal Valley, $50,000.
- Hey Bryan’s, Corninvestabulls, Inc., East Moline, $40,000.
- Pagalo’s Pizzeria & Gelato Cafe, Pagalos Inc., Milan, $50,000.
- Aircraft Grill, Aircraft Grill LLC, Moline, $5,000.
- Tony’s Pizza, DA Chicago Style Pizza Co., Moline, $50,000.
- Riverfront Grill, Jakebs Inc., Rock Island, $45,000.
- Quarter Til, Quarter Till Tap, Rock Island, $25,000.
- The Rock Island Brewing Co., RIBCO, Inc., $50,000.
- Avenue Tap Inc., Silvis, $45,000.
- Egg Parlor, Egg Parlor LLC, Silvis, $50,000.
To find the complete list of statewide Back to Business grants, or more information about the program, visit DCEO’s website.
