Oak Forest Outdoor Dining Grant: Applications Now Open

The City of Oak Forest is committed to supporting restaurants and bars that are particularly impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic and State of Illinois Mitigation Requirements. Below are two funding opportunities currently available:
 
Outdoor Dining Grant Fund Established
Last week, The Mayor and City Council created an Outdoor Dining Grant Fund intended to help small businesses meet the necessary public health requirements and expand their outdoor seating occupancy in the coming months. Funds will be distributed as 50% reimbursements up to $5,000 per business and the city has allocated a total of $65,000 to fund this grant program.  Grant applications of $5,000 or less will be accepted on a rolling basis until this funding is fully committed. The program currently runs through December 31, 2021 and will reimburse eligible expenses back through August 1, 2020.
 
Please visit our website at https://www.oak-forest.org/DocumentCenter/View/3480/Oak-Forest-Outdoor-Dining-Grant-Packeti if you are interested in learning more about this grant opportunity.  For additional questions or to apply, please contact Travis Bandstra in the Economic Development Department at 708.444.4807 or tbandstra@oak-forest.org
 
Business Interruption Grant (BIG) program still available
The State of Illinois is still accepting applications for the second round of Business Interruption Grant (BIG) funding and is encouraging restaurants and bars to apply.  At least three Oak Forest businesses have already received assistance from this program. For more information and to apply for assistance, please click here: https://www2.illinois.gov/dceo/SmallBizAssistance/Pages/C19DisadvantagedBusGrants.aspx.  The Southland Development Authority is available to assist business owners with this program and can be contacted here: https://southlandsbdc.com/contact-us.