Montgomery Buffet Restaurant Receives Coronavirus Relief Grant

MONTGOMERY, IL — A buffet restaurant was the only business in Montgomery to receive funds through Illinois' Business Interruption Grant program, which was designed to support small businesses and communities impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

The Golden China Buffet on Douglas Road received a $20,000 grant from the state, after being forced to convert its business model to takeout due to safety restrictions.

The program awarded $46 million to 2,655 Illinois businesses that were impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. According to Gov. J.B. Pritzker, more than 50 percent of the recipients are minority-owned businesses.

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"The federal PPP program seems to have overlooked too many entrepreneurs and small shops and it was important to me and to the General Assembly to ensure that small businesses, which employ the largest number of people in Illinois, get the help that they need," Pritzker said Wednesday during a news conference.

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Grants were awarded in amounts of either $10,000 or $20,000, to be used to help with working capital expenses, including payroll costs, rent and utilities. The funds may also be used to cover pandemic-related expenses, such as personal protective equipment, training and new technology.

The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity will release additional BIG grants for small businesses in multiple waves. Future rounds will give consideration to additional business sectors facing COVID-19 related closures or diminished operating capacity. An additional $270 million of the program is set aside for childcare providers.

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At the conference, Pritzker said his administration recognized the need for helping businesses understand the various kinds of assistance available to them. The DCEO partnered with "community navigators" such as the Chicago Urban League and the Illinois Business Immigration Coalition to get information out to businesses across the state, he said.

Small businesses interested in applying for the next round of BIG funding can find information on the DCEO website.

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