Ignite Illinois: Turning Support into Strength for Southern Illinois Small Businesses

There’s a myth that small businesses fail because the idea wasn’t good enough. That they couldn’t keep up with the competition. That maybe the founder wasn’t “cut out” for entrepreneurship. In reality, it’s almost never about the idea. It’s about the infrastructure behind it.

Financial clarity. Strategic planning. Sound bookkeeping. These aren’t glamorous topics, but they’re what help bold visions become sustainable ventures.

Introducing the Ignite Illinois Grant

That’s why justine PETERSEN, in partnership with SoluGrowth USA, is stepping in with something different: free, practical support for Illinois-based small businesses, backed by federal funding.

Through the Ignite Illinois Grant, qualifying businesses can access up to $6,000 in free accounting and legal services. SoluGrowth USA will be providing the accounting expertise, offering founders tailored, hands-on guidance to strengthen their financial foundations. This isn’t a handout. It’s a hand up: designed to equip you with the tools to lead your business with confidence.

What We’ve Seen. Why It Matters

At SoluGrowth, we’ve worked with hundreds of entrepreneurs. And we’ve seen this pattern again and again: 

You’ve got the grit. The vision. The customers. The product. But the numbers? They’re hazy. You’re not quite sure how profitable the business really is. The books are out of date, or worse, untouched. You don’t know what you can safely reinvest, what you can take home, or how much you’ll owe come tax season.

It’s not because you’re doing anything wrong. It’s because you’ve been doing everything. The marketing, the operations, the sales, the strategy, and somewhere along the line, the finances slip through the cracks.

That’s where this grant becomes powerful.

With expert advisors stepping in to manage your books and help you understand them, you get more than clean numbers: you get clarity. Confidence. Breathing room. 

You gain space to lead, not just juggle.

Building Long-Term Resilience Starts with Financial Literacy

This is about more than compliance. It’s about giving your business room to breathe and grow.
When you understand your numbers, you can:

– Plan for seasonality, growth, or expansion
– Make smarter decisions around pricing, hiring, and inventory
– Spot inefficiencies or overspending early
– Build stronger cases for future funding

It’s also about protection. Solid accounting and legal systems are the foundation that guards your business against risk.

Who Should Apply

If you’re an Illinois-based small business owner who’s:

– Feeling stretched thin
– Unsure about your cash flow or financial planning
– Needing help staying compliant
– Looking to professionalize your back office

Then this grant is for you.
Whether you’re a storefront, a solopreneur, or a scaling startup, this is your moment to claim expert support and set your business up for the long haul.

What to Do Next

Take the leap. Apply for the Ignite Illinois Grant through justine PETERSEN. SoluGrowth USA will be there in the wings, helping to build the accounting systems that sustain your business.

Because it’s time your big idea got the financial foundation it deserves.
To qualify, you’ll need to:

– Be located in a qualifying Southern Illinois county
– Participate in credit-building activities
– Attend business webinars
– Create or refine your business plan
– Use Experian credit monitoring through My Credit Compass

For more information or to get started: