Joliet Hotels, Restaurants Among Relief Grant Recipients

JOLIET, IL ­— Several Joliet hotels, restaurants, and arts-related small businesses were among the recipients of 4,000 grants that were awarded $156 million in relief funds by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, state officials recently announced.

B2B Arts and B2B Restaurants grant award amounts were determined based on a percentage of revenue declines, and funding for the B2B Hotels awards was allocated based on the number of rooms, the state agency announced last week.

Grants had an average award amount of $39,484, with different ranges of funding available depending on the business type. The grant program utilized American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding and was designed to offset losses and support job retention in the industries hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Illinois’ small businesses are the backbone of our economy and a cornerstone of our pandemic recovery,” Gov. J.B. Pritzker said in a news release. “Since day one, my administration has been committed to supporting every business in our state—ensuring that every business owner and entrepreneur has the opportunity to succeed. Across the state, the Back to Business program kept thousands of restaurants, hotels, and arts organizations open, protected thousands of jobs, and kept our communities thriving.”

In total, 3,951 businesses received grants from the agency including 720 hotels, 996 restaurants, and 2,235 arts-related businesses. The agency said that 85 percent of recipients did not receive any prior B2B or Business Interruption Grant relief.

Here are the Joliet-area businesses that received grant money:

Hotels:

• Manor Motel, Channahon, $67,069
• Motel 6 on I-55, $104,524
• Home2Suites, Joliet, $100,168
• Holiday Inn & Suites, $104,524
• Best Western Joliet, $52,262
• Joliet Plaza Inn & Suites, $90,587
• Hampton Inn Joliet I-80, $51,651
• Hampton Inn Joliet, I-55, $90,587
• Bel-Air Motel, $13,065
• Fenton Motel, $27,002
• Economy Inn, $26,131
• Clarion Hotel, $83, 619
• Baymont Inn, $52,262

RESTAURANTS

• Donut Den, Joliet $10,000
• Joe’s Hot Dogs, $50,000
• China Cheng Restaurant, Channahon, $20,000

ARTS

• The Forge, Joliet, $65,000
• Edd Music, $5,000
• Elder Brewing, $10,000
• Joliet Area Historical Museum $5,000
• Regis Glass Works, $5,000
• Rialto Square Theater Foundation, $35,000
• Third City Sound, $5,000
• Seeko Studio, $5,000