Illinois Small Business Development Center at Lincoln Land Community College offers grant opportunities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    Date:  May 11, 2007

Grants available for low-income small business owners

SPRINGFIELD—The Illinois Small Business Development Center at Lincoln Land Community College, through a special grant program, is providing grants to clients who are low-income small business owners within the LLCC district.

A total of $10,000 is available in grants.  Grants will be awarded in amounts between $1,000 and $2,500.  To be eligible, grant recipients must be located in the Lincoln Land Community College district and register as clients of the Small Business Development Center. Small business owners are those that the U.S. Small Business Administration defines as operating with 500 employees or less.

Applicants will be selected based on the difference the small grant amount will make in the success of their business or for whom regular financing options are not readily available.  Grant recipients should use the funds for expenses related to starting or operating a small business with first priority being given to businesses seeking a grant for long-term investments, rather than operating expenses.  Long-term investments may include the purchase of equipment, property, technology, leasehold improvements, expenses associated with establishment of the business, or consulting or legal services for the business.

The grant application deadline is June 1, 2007.  For more information about the grant program, contact the Illinois SBDC at LLCC by calling 544.7232.

Contact:  Diane Buzick, 217.786.4508, diane.buzick@llcc.ed