Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Launches Resilient Communities Initiative to Support Small Businesses Impacted by Immigration Enforcement

CHICAGO – The Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce today announced the launch of its Resilient Communities Initiative (RCI) to help small businesses and neighborhoods recover from the devastating effects of immigration enforcement activities.

The initiative includes a microgrants program to help businesses meet their immediate needs, Shop Local Campaigns to boost sales in affected neighborhoods, and resources such as webinars and tools to help entrepreneurs protect their businesses.

The initiative offers multiple ways for individuals, groups, and the business community to directly help Latino restaurants, shops, entrepreneurs, and families who are the lifeblood of their communities, in Chicago and beyond.

“The terrible disruption to the personal lives and small businesses in our communities began in 2025 and continues into 2026,” said Jaime di Paulo, President and CEO of the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. “We have joined the many voices across our city and region calling for an end to unfair enforcement actions and disruption of our immigrant communities.

“Beyond protests, though, many have asked the question – what can we do to help? Our answer is the RCI – an initiative that triples down on our focus of helping entrepreneurs and small businesses survive and thrive,” di Paulo said.

The RCI offers three key paths of assistance for affected businesses, and the IHCC is encouraging the public, community groups, and businesses to amplify the effort with their donations, patronage, and time:

Microgrants

• The microgrants program through the IHCC Foundation offers grants of $1,500-$5,000 to affected businesses to cover their most immediate expenses and keep the lights on. Applications are available here, and the first donations will be awarded the week of March 2. Anyone who wants to donate to the microgrants fund can go here.

Shop Local Campaigns

• The Shop Local campaign aims to bring traffic and increase visibility to businesses in affected communities through both in-person events and online campaigns. The first Shop Local event will be Feb. 11 in Brighton Park on S. Archer Avenue between Kedzie and California. Anyone interested can sign up for a guided neighborhood tour and lunch reservations at the Eventbrite link.

Resources

• Our RCI resource page provides access to informational webinars, such as our upcoming Know Your Rights Webinar, and to the Tools to Protect Your Business page. The Tools to Protect Your Business page was developed in collaboration with the Consulate General of Mexico in Chicago and other community organizations, and features legal, business, and financial tools to support small business owners and their employees facing immigration enforcement challenges.

“On top of the RCI, our team of small business advisers is working harder than ever to support businesses through this struggle,” di Paulo said. 

“We hope the Resilient Communities Initiative helps focus assistance, resources, and the goodwill of Illinoisans across the state where it’s needed most—supporting everyday people who are working to make a living, build a good life for their families, and strengthen their communities.”

To participate in or support the RCI, visit ihccbusiness.net/resilientcommunitiesinitiative.

The initial microgrants are possible through the support of NBC-5/Telemundo Chicago, Aetna, and individual donors. For those who want to donate and support, contact our Special Projects Director, Hilda Alvarez, at hilda@ihccbusiness.net.