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Southern Illinois Legislators Raising Money To Help Small Businesses

Southern Illinois Strong
Southern Illinois Strong
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Southern Illinois Strong
Southern Illinois Strong

Southern Illinois Strong is an online fundraiser selling t-shirts to support local small businesses through grants.

“The $30 t-shirts are kind of a way that someone can chip in, they can show their support.”

Representative Terri Bryant says there’s not many qualifications to apply.

“25 or less employees and that’s basically it.”

State Representatives Dave Severin, Nathan Reitz, Patrick Windhorst, Terri Bryant along with State Senators Dale Fowler and Paul Schimp organized the fundraiser with the Southern Illinois Community Foundation.

Business owners apply on the Southern Illinois Strong website and once the applications are sent through the foundation, a blind lottery draft will pick the businesses to receive a grant of $1,500.

Bryant says the number of grants depends on the participation of sponsors and t-shirt sales.

“Hopefully we’ll get a lot of participation and as I said, the with the exception of the cost of the t-shirts, this money is going directly to the clients.”

All the legislators are promoting Southern Illinois Strong on their Facebook pages.

Click here to learn more about Southern Illinois Strong.

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