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Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle has announced an extension to the application deadline for the Catalyst Grant, a program designed to support established businesses in specific industries. The new deadline is November 14, 2025, at 5 p.m. CT, moving from the original date of October 31.
The Catalyst Grant is managed by the Cook County Bureau of Economic Development and targets businesses with annual sales exceeding $500,000. Up to 88 businesses can receive $100,000 each to help them grow further.
"We want to ensure as many eligible businesses as possible are aware of the Catalyst Grant, which provides a unique opportunity to scale up operations, accelerating the journey to sustainable success,” said President Preckwinkle. "My administration remains committed to providing local businesses with a strong support network and access to vital resources."
To qualify for the grant, businesses must be located in Cook County and operate within construction; finance and insurance; information technology; manufacturing; professional services; or real estate sectors. These industries were selected based on factors such as profitability and growth trends within Cook County.
Applicants must show documented revenue between $500,000 and $10 million for both 2023 and 2024 and demonstrate business growth. Funds awarded through the grant must be used for hiring or training employees, upgrading facilities, or expanding operations. More details about eligibility requirements are available on the program’s website.
The program is administered by Allies for Community Business and the Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC), both part of the Cook County Small Business Source initiative that offers free business advising and resources.
Support is available through a network of 13 Business Support Organizations affiliated with The Source. Additional assistance includes a help desk and online tools such as an instructional video about applying for the grant and an applicant checklist.
Applicants will be notified about their status in early 2026, with funds distributed later that spring.
For more information on how to apply for the Catalyst Grant, visit cookcountysmallbiz.org/catalystgrant.
