Kane County businesses can now get up to $10,000 in grant monies to support efforts to expand exports.

Metro Chicago Exports is accepting applications for the 2018 Client Assessment for Export Assistance, which is the first step in applying for the Export Grant Program presented by JP Morgan Chase & Co.

The 2018 Export Grant Program will award up to $5,000 to small and medium-sized companies in the seven-county Chicago metro region to implement an export plan. The grant will reimburse 50 percent of eligible expenses related to the plan. 

Businesses located within Kane County are also eligible for up to an additional $5,000 per the Kane County Export Grant Matching Funds. Just as in 2017, Kane County companies who participate in the Exportech© program are also eligible for $5,000 reimbursement after their successful completion of the program.

• Find more about the Export Grant and apply here.

Businesses located in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will counties that are existing exporters with fewer than 500 employees are encouraged to apply.

The application process involves any interested company completing the 2018 Client Assessment for Export Assistance form. Applicants may save the form and complete it in more than one sitting.

Past grant program award recipients are eligible to re-apply and their evaluation will include their prior performance in the grant program.

If potential barriers to maximizing export potential are identified during the application, companies may be referred to export service providers or other MCE programs to assist them in formulating international export plans.

Program Requirements

In order to be considered for grant funding, an authorized representative of the company must certify that the company meets all of the following requirements:

• Registered to do business in one of the following seven counties: Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, or Will with a valid W-9 form listing company address.
• Meets the Small Business Administration’s definition of a small business – under 500 employees.
• Been in business for at least one year from the date the application is submitted.
• Operating profitably, based on domestic operations.
• Provides a product/service manufactured in metro Chicago or made outside the region from which metro Chicago will derive a significant benefit from increased international sales or investment.
• Has no legal liabilities which inhibit performance of grant/exporting.
• Must be willing to share results from use of grant funds in the form of survey feedback or success stories.

Small and medium-sized companies that provide either goods or services are eligible to apply to the Metro Chicago Exports 2018 Grant Program. No preference will be given based on target export market, specific industry sector or to company location within the seven-county region.

See the attached PDF for an FAQ about the Export Grant Program, as well as more information about the Kane County Matching Funds Program.

For more information, contact Lisa Reijula, program director at Metro Chicago Exports, at lreijula@chicagoregionalgrowth.com or by phone at 312-589-5773.

Businesses located within Kane County are eligible for up to an additional $5,000 per the Kane County Export Grant Matching Funds.

Once you’ve won an MCE grant, MCE will advise Kane County regarding applications which include requests for additional funding from Kane County.

Requests for funding from Kane County will be additionally reviewed by staff with final approval by the Jobs Committee of the Kane County Board.

For more information on the Kane County matching grant, contact Kane County Planner Chris Toth at 630-232-3491 or tothchris@co.kane.il.us.