Section 691.50 Prioritization

Section 691.50  Prioritization

a)         The

Department will provide targeted funding opportunities for industries and

businesses most impacted by the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. In

determining which industries and businesses to prioritize, the Department will

consider the impact of compliance with the COVID-19 Prevention Directives on

business operations or the impact of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency on

the impacted industry. The Department will also prioritize funding to small and

smallest businesses. Assistance will be targeted to businesses facing financial

insecurity, with substantial declines in gross receipts, or facing other

economic harm due to the pandemic, as well as businesses with less capacity to

weather financial hardship, such as the smallest businesses, those with less

access to credit, or those serving disadvantaged communities. The Department

will make this determination on whether to provide targeted funding

opportunities based on an ongoing assessment regarding the needs of the

business community and announce the targeted funding opportunities on its

website as permitted by statute [20 ILCS 605/605-1050(h)(6)].

b)         To

prioritize funding for industries and business districts that were not

enumerated within ARPA, the Department shall maintain an assessment for a

period of 5 years, from the date a prioritized industry is selected, that

outlines how these industries or business districts experienced a negative

economic impact due to the pandemic comparable to enumerated industries.

Additionally, the Department shall outline how program funding will address

this negative economic impact.