The Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (IDCEO) has made some funds available for WorkNet DuPage and counterpart offices throughout Illinois to prevent essential, small businesses from laying off or furloughing employees, with the amount that can be awarded per company from $5,000 up to $50,000.
Following are sample scenarios that qualifying businesses (“essential” per the Governor’s order and “small” by the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) definition) can apply to cover:
- A small business needs their employees to be at work, on‐site, but cannot afford frequent deep cleaning to help prevent potential exposure to COVID‐19. Layoff aversion funds could be used to pay for a cleaning/sanitization service.
- A small business whose employees use specific software or computer applications asks their employees to work from home/remotely in order to support social distancing and limit potential exposure to COVID‐19. Layoff aversion funding could be used to purchase the software programs and/or hardware (computers) that the employee would need to use from home to support their work.
- A call center environment needs to have their employees work from home/remotely in order to support social distancing and limit potential exposure to COVID‐19. Layoff aversion funding could be used to purchase remote access supplies, including laptop computers and/or smart phones, that the employee would need to use from home to support their work.
- In order to support social distancing and limit potential exposure to COVID‐19, a company that usually runs two shifts of workers adds a third shift, so that fewer employees are on onsite at any given time. Layoff aversion funding could be used to offset related costs to the employer or workers, excluding wages and benefits.
- Incumbent worker training to redirect and reassign existing employees on critical business needs. Layoff aversion funding can help pay for projects to support the production of goods and services that are needed to address COVID‐19 National Health Emergency and/or preserve critical business operations to stay in business.
Please note that this list is not all inclusive. Employee payroll and benefits cannot, however, be covered through this funding opportunity. Upcoming costs as well as expenses incurred already since the start of the Governor’s stay-at-home order (March 20) can be reimbursed through this grant.
There is a very brief application document that companies in need should complete and submit via e-mail to by close of business Wednesday, May 6.
Questions can be submitted directly to Liza Schvach, Executive Director at WorkNet DuPage, by phone at 630-450-0417 or e-mail.