Small business owners work tirelessly to sustain and grow their businesses. They often must engage in all aspects of the business, serving in numerous roles and juggling both expected and unanticipated issues.
Small businesses are also dealing with numerous external challenges, which include hiring and retaining employees, inflation and the escalating costs of health insurance. This leaves most small businesses little time to investigate, identify and procure government incentives and funding.
Programs designed to support small businesses include grants, tax credits and other financing vehicles. They exist at the federal, state and local levels of government. For example, the federal government offers small business lending programs and grants for smaller companies that participate in the international marketplace.
In Illinois, the Department of Commerce and…
