Portrait of an engineer wearing a protective helmet holding a floor plan. Low angle view.
CHICAGO — Several organizations came together Tuesday to announce they are now accepting applications for Chicago residents to apply for grants of up to $5,000 to help start a business or launch a business.
Heartland Forward, Builders + Backers, and Ford Motor Company Fund announce Pebble Grants and corresponding applications, 10 of which will be awarded to the Builders + Backers Idea Accelerator Program will be selected as part of the.
The application deadline is May 12, and priority will be given to residents on the city's south side, according to grant sponsors. Residents with the most promising and innovative ideas will be selected to participate in his 90-day virtual program starting June 3.
Grant backers also said applicants do not need to submit a business plan or prepare a pitch deck for their ideas.
A link to the application website can be found at the bottom of this article.
“Bringing practical grassroots programs like the Idea Accelerator to the heart of Chicago is an example of Heartland Forward in action. In just four years, we have helped build 864 businesses across Heartland communities. We’ve been supporting our merchants,” said Ross DeVol, president and CEO of Heartland Forward.
“We love seeing the ripple effect of supporting entrepreneurs as they launch their ventures, and we know Chicago residents will be eager to participate in this program.”
Support for the Builders + Backers Idea Accelerator is part of Heartland Forward's talent development strategy. Central to the program are his four pillars designed to mobilize and equip builders through:
• Idea accelerator: This cohort-based program combines a 45-day builder bootcamp to teach participants how to turn ideas into action, followed by 45 days of actively executing ideas through a single experiment.
• Pebble Fund: All builders are supported by a $5,000 Pebble Grant to test their ideas. Participants will be mentored by a builder-in-residence throughout the program.
• Storytelling: A comprehensive media program that curates, collects and distributes stories of buildership both within the program and from communities everywhere. The program inspires people to become builders through video, writing, social media, and media partnerships.
• Buildership Workshop: Workshops and other events introduce people to the idea of buildership and demonstrate that anyone can generate creative solutions through entrepreneurial experimentation that contribute to community sustainability.
Those interested in applying for the $5,000 Pebble Grant can apply by clicking on the following link: https://tally.so/r/nGzjBQ
Click here to learn more about the Builders + Backers Idea Accelerator program.
