The Cook County Small Business Source is proud to introduce the Catalyst Grant, an opportunity for up to 88 established businesses in select industries to receive $100,000 to fuel their next stage of growth.
To be eligible, businesses must be located in Cook County and operate in one of the following industries:
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Construction
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Finance and insurance
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Information technology
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Manufacturing
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Professional services
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Real estate
Eligible businesses also must have documented 2023 and 2024 revenue between $500,000 and $10 million, along with demonstrated growth.
Selected recipients must use their funds to address hiring or training employees; upgrading facilities; or expanding operations. The application and full list of eligibility requirements are available here.
Application assistance is available to interested businesses through The Source’s network of 13 Business Support Organizations. A help desk is also available, as well as several helpful online assets including a video explaining the application process, checklists for applicants and more.
PROGRAM UPDATE:
The application deadline for this program was extended to Nov. 14, 2025, after an original deadline of Oct. 31, 2025.
Applications will be notified of their status in May 2026.
For more information, visit Catalyst Grant.
