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.