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Pat Nabong/Sun-Times file City officials pulled a fast one last weekend, dyeing the Chicago River green after days of denying the St. Patrick’s Day tradition would take place with COVID-19 still lurking. But for revelers hoping the city flip-flops again and loosens restrictions at bars on the actual day of the normally green beer- and whiskey-soaked holiday — they’ll have no such luck. City liquor license holders have been reminded to enforce coronavirus guidelines for St. Paddy’s on Wednesday, including limiting the capacity to the lesser of 50% or 50 people per room. The vast maj...

SPRINGFIELD — The grant program for small-business owners in Illinois who suffered losses during the pandemic has run out of money. Illinois’ Business Interruption Grant program was the largest state program of its kind, but only about 20%, or 8,974 applicants, received a grant. Just over $9 million in those funds came to the Peoria area. There were 243 grants provided to businesses in the Tri-County Area — almost $6.2 million split between 161 Peoria County businesses; just over $2.7 million shared among 74 Tazewell County businesses; and $130,000 divided between eight Woodford Co...

Credit Blueroomstream.com The grant program for small businesses owners in Illinois who suffered losses during the pandemic has run out of money. Illinois’ Business Interruption Grant program was the largest state program of its kind, but only about 20 percent, or 8,974 applicants, received a grant. The Illinois General Assembly created the program using federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, money. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity helped administer the program, and awarded more than $275 million since the first round of grants w...

The state has run out of money for its Business Interruption Grant program, which aimed to help small businesses walloped by COVID-19, and some restaurant operators are not happy. The program launched over the summer, and supplies federal funds from the CARES Act. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity administered the first round of grants in August, and started distributing a second round in the fall. […] Restaurant operators that were not chosen said they are frustrated with the state. They were encouraged to apply, and some operators said that led them to believe t...