Running a Small Business Can be Hard... We Are Here to Help!
Looking for financial assistance to start or expand your business? The BDC can assist you!
Keep scrolling to learn about the financial resources currently available, from grants to loans for small businesses.
The BDC helps connect businesses with local, state, and federal grants as well as grants offered by trusted partners. Grants are financial programs tailored to specific needs such as payroll, equipment, overhead expenses, etc. If your business is awarded a grant, you receive a predetermined sum of money that does not require repayment.
Each grant has a unique application process, eligibility criteria, document requirements, and review procedure. Please review the details below carefully, and feel free to visit the program websites directly if you have any questions or need assistance with the application process.
For inquiries, please contact the Economic Development team at economicdevelopment@berwyn.net or call 708-788-8100.
Available Grants
Grants are financial programs tailored to specific needs such as payroll, equipment, overhead expenses, and more. If your business is awarded a grant, you receive a predetermined sum of money that does not require repayment. Each grant has a unique application process, eligibility criteria, document requirements, and review procedure.
Finish Line Grant
The Finish Line Grant (FLG) is one of the City of Berwyn’s Tax Increment Financing (TIF) incentive programs.
The FLG helps businesses and commercial property owners located in one of Berwyn’s three TIF by supporting 50% of interior and exterior renovation costs up to $50,000. To learn more about the Finish Line Grant, Click Here!
Upcoming Grant Deadlines
Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Grant
Description: Complete two courses or in-person events on their Digital Ready platform between January 1, 2026 - December 7, 2026 to unlock the grant application. Once unlocked, you can apply once at any time to be considered for $10,000 grant. Finalists are selected monthly throughout the year.
Award Range: $10,000
Deadline: Grant applications are reviewed monthly from June through December 2026. If you are not selected in a particular month, your application will remain eligible for remaining selections throughout the year.
More Information: https://digitalready.verizonwireless.com/funding/details
EmpowHer Grant
Description: EmpowHer grant supports female entrepreneurs 22 years of age and older with businesses registered and operating solely in the United States. An applicant’s business must make a social impact through its product or business model, be earning revenue, and not be more than five years old.
Award Range: Up to $50,000
Deadline: Grant cycles run from May 1st to November 1st
More Information: https://boundlessfutures.org/our-impact/#grants
Cultivate Small Business Cohort 14 (Santander US)
Description: This free 12-week business education and mentorship program is for early-stage food industry entrepreneurs. Participants who complete the cohort become eligible to receive grant funding to further grow their businesses.
Award Range: $2,500–$20,000 (upon successful completion of the program)
Deadline: July 21, 2026 (11:59 p.m. GMT)
More Information: https://www.santanderus.com/cultivate-small-business/
Galaxy Grants
Description: Galaxy Grants are available to women and minority entrepreneurs, including those launching or expanding a business. Funds may be used for startup costs, equipment, marketing, or other business needs.
Award Range: $4,250
Deadline: July 31, 2026
More Information: https://galaxyofstars.org/galaxy-grants/
Changing the Game Grant
Description: The Changing the Game Grant supports organizations creating or improving sports facilities and opportunities for women and girls. Funding is intended for projects that increase access to safe and inclusive athletic spaces.
Award Range: $20,000
Deadline: July 31, 2026
More Information: https://everygirlsdream.org/changing-the-game-grant/
AT&T Small Business Contest
Description: The AT&T Small Business Contestwill award one small business with $50,000 to invest in their business, a year of AT&T service with a new device, tools and resources, access to a community of small business owners, and a feature in an episode of She’s Connected by AT&T. Additionally, four runners-up will each receive a $5,000 small business grant. Open to any certified small business located in the United States or Puerto Rico is eligible to apply. AT&T defines a small business as an organization with one (1) to five (5) locations and up to 99 or fewer full- or part-time employees.
Award Range: 1 business will receive $50,000 and 4 businesses will receive $5,000
Deadline: July 31, 2026
More Information: https://more.att.com/shesconnected/
Press Forward Chicago
Description: This round of Press Forward Chicago grants is focused on collaborations, shared resources and/or infrastructure benefiting local media. This opportunity is open to Chicago-area media entities and organizations who can bring viable solutions to increasing sustainability of this vital landscape. Media organizations are invited to apply for between $10,000 to $200,000 in one- or two-year grants toward these goals.
Award Range: $10,000-$200,000
Deadline: July 31, 2026 11:59pm CST
More Information: https://www.cct.org/pressforward/
Shophand Small Business Boost Grant
Description: The Shophand Small Business Boost Grant helps small businesses grow by providing both unrestricted funding and technical support. The grant is ideal for business owners looking to improve operations while receiving expert assistance.
Award Range: $5,000 ($2,500 cash and $2,500 in Shophand technical support and services)
Deadline: August 1, 2026
More Information: https://shophand.com/grant
Fempreneur Poder Hub 2027 Grant
Description: This microgrant initiative is designed to assist entrepreneurs with business-related expenses that contribute to sustainability, growth, and operational stability. Priority consideration may be given to women entrepreneurs, entrepreneurs of color, LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs, and individuals who have historically faced barriers to business development, visibility, and access to resources.
Award Range: $500
Deadline: August 3rd at 12pm CT
More Information: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdY6_V1iYBuqIUY_1eMX80bN4_ljyJDVvbykzcCxAG3UxUvdA/viewform
ABPA emPOWER26 Small Business Grant
Description: The Arab-American Business and Professional Association is back with the emPOWER grant program for ambitious, aspiring female entrepreneurs looking for start-up funding for an Illinois-based business.
Award Range: Up to $10k
Deadline: August 30th
More Information: https://www.jotform.com/261305179662156
Ongoing Grants
America's Seed Fund powered by the National Science Foundation (NSF)
Description: America’s Seed Fund powered by the National Science Foundation (NSF) supports early-stage U.S. startups developing innovative, science- or engineering-based technologies with strong potential for commercial and societal impact. Eligible small businesses, typically with fewer than five employees and focused on research and development, can receive up to $2 million in non-dilutive funding, along with expert guidance, while retaining full ownership of their company and intellectual property.
Award Range: Up to $2 million
More Information: https://seedfund.nsf.gov/our-program/
The Awesome Foundation
Description: The Awesome Foundation provides $1,000 no-strings-attached grants to individuals and groups with creative, impactful, or “awesome” project ideas. Open to applicants worldwide, the program welcomes a wide range of initiatives, from community projects to artistic, social, and innovative concepts, without taking equity or ownership. Through its global network of local chapters, grants are awarded monthly to help bring unique ideas to life.
Award Range: $1,000
More Information: https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en
SomerCor Down Payment Assistance Program
Description: SomerCor's Down Payment Assistance Program (DPAP) helps small businesses in Cook County finance their first building purchase with a grant up to $25,000 to reduce upfront costs.
Award Range: Up to $25,000
More Information: https://somercor.com/dpap/
Small Certified Supplier Innovative Finance Program
Description: Unrestricted grant opportunity for certified minority, women, veteran, and LGBTQ+ owned businesses (certified by national or state organizations) in the following states California, Georgia, Kansas, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Pennsylvania, or New Jersey. The annual revenue of the business should be between $250,000 to $10 million.
Award Range: $5,000
More Information: https://foundersfirstcapitalpartners.com/innovative-finance-program
LeadCare Cook County Lead Service Line Replacement Program
Description: Supports a safe and healthy learning environment for children by offering free lead service line replacement to child care providers in suburban Cook County.
Award: Full coverage of the lead service line replacement cost
More Information: leadcareillinois.org/cookcounty/
Businesses Reducing Impact on the Environment (BRITE) Program
Description: Helps businesses reduce their environmental impact while creating a healthier environment for their employees, customers and community by offering on-site assessments to reduce pollution. Once an assessment has been completed, eligible businesses will have the opportunity to apply for grant funding. This funding will go towards solutions that save money, reduce impact on the environment and modernize operations. Available to dry-cleaning facilities, auto body or auto repair shops, metal finishers, metal fabricators, or food and beverage manufacturers in suburban Cook County.
Award: Up to $400,000
More Information: https://www.cookcountyil.gov/BRITE
IL Innovation Vouchers Program
Description: The IL Innovation Vouchers Program will provide grants for companies to engage in research projects in partnership with an Illinois institute of higher education. This will facilitate the sharing of technologies, knowledge, facilities, and equipment, and ultimately lead to the production of more Illinois-based goods and services and spur economic growth in the state.
Award: 75% of the cost of the research engagement (not to exceed $75,000)
More Information: https://dceo.illinois.gov/whyillinois/innovation-vouchers.html
Wish Local Empowerment Program
Description: The Wish Local Empowerment Program provides grants to Black-owned small businesses to support growth, operations, and community impact. Businesses can apply throughout the year as applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Award: $500–$2,000
More Information: https://wishlocalempowerment.org/
Binc Foundation Emergency Financial Assistance
Description: The Binc Foundation provides emergency financial assistance to bookstore owners, booksellers, comic store owners, and comic store employees experiencing unexpected financial hardship. Assistance is available for qualifying emergencies such as medical expenses, housing instability, natural disasters, and other unforeseen crises.
Award: Varies based on demonstrated financial need
More Information: https://www.bincfoundation.org/apply/
Comed Small-Medium Business Customer Relief Fund
Description: This grant is intentionally designed to support small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) customers by offering one-time matching grants up to $500 to help offset a past-due bill balances and improve financial stability.
Award: Up to $500
More Information: https://www.comed.com/my-account/customer-support/payment-assistance/SMBcustomer-relief-fund
Chicago-based Grants
Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF)
Description: The City of Chicago’s Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF) promotes economic development by providing small businesses and property owners with reimbursement grants for permanent building improvement costs. Residential projects are not eligible. The SBIF grant is funded by local Tax Increment Financing (TIF) revenue and is made available to business and property owners located in the SBIF-eligible TIF districts citywide. SomerCor is the proud administrator of the SBIF Grant on behalf of the Chicago Department of Planning and Development.
Award Range: Grant funds may be used to reimburse up to 90% of pre-approved construction costs, with a maximum reimbursement of $75,000 for multi-tenant properties, $150,000 for commercial properties, and $250,000 for industrial properties.
Deadline: April 30-December 30, 2026 depending on which TIF district your business is in
More Information: https://somercor.com/sbif/
Community Development Grant
Description: The City of Chicago helps support business and neighborhood vitality through Small, Medium, and Large Community Development Grant (CDG) awards. CDGs use proceeds from the 2024 Housing and Development Bond and other funding sources to support a variety of eligible, business-related investments that create and sustain jobs and improve the quality of life for local residents. Applications are open to business owners, property owners, non-profit organizations, community developers, and entrepreneurs.
Award Range: From small grants capped at $250,000 to large grants exceeding $5 million, support is available for projects of all sizes.
Deadline: For small and medium grants, apply by 11:59 pm on Aug. 14, 2026. Large grant applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
More Information: https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/community-development-grant/home.html
Available Loans
Loans are financial programs designed for specific needs like payroll, equipment, overhead expenses, purchase of property, and more. If approved for a loan, your business receives a set amount of money that must be repaid with interest. Each loan has a unique application process, eligibility criteria, documentation requirements, and review procedure.
Republic Bank Express Loans
- Our Express Business Loan makes borrowing easy so you can focus on what matters most – your business.
- No hassles. No headaches. No kidding.
- This is business banking done right. Right now.
- Up to $250,000 in 24 Hours
- Lines of credit are also available.
BYLINE EXPRESS LOANS
- Qualified small businesses can receive rapid approval for working capital and equipment purchases, with loan approval not contingent on collateral.
- No financials are needed for loans under $150,000.
- As experienced SBA lenders, Byline Bank also offers SBA Express loans for applications that don’t qualify conventionally, with automatic decisioning through a single application.
For inquiries, please contact the Economic Development team at economicdevelopment@berwyn.net or call 708-788-8100.