The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has awarded Bloom Wine Bar & Florals an infrastructure grant of $245,000, which the owners plan to use to expand the business. The downtown Springfield wine bar was the only Sangamon County business to receive a grant.
Bloom Wine Bar opened in November 2023 at 2 S. Old State Capitol Plaza, offering wine, craft cocktails and beer along with floral services and a space for private events. However, the owners said they would like to renovate the second and third floors of the building, which are currently vacant, to be able to utilize the additional space.
“It’s going to allow us to expand, particularly (to have) event spaces upstairs so that we can be opened up for normal business and not have to close for our events that we do a lot, but also be able to host larger events,” Brittany Robinson, one of the founders of Bloom, told Springfield Business Journal.
The business hosts a variety of public events including floral arranging classes, paint nights and bourbon flights, along with renting the space out for private events.
“Unreal… it just felt like a dream, honestly,” Robinson said, explaining how it felt finding out about the award. “Neither of us (owners) have a background in business per se, so we put a lot of work into this and did a lot of research.”
The Small Business Capital and Infrastructure Grant Program run by DCEO seeks to boost development for “very small businesses” with fewer than 10 employees and minority business owners with 25 or fewer employees. Bloom is one of 47 small businesses across the state receiving part of $10 million in state grant money for infrastructure-related expenses “including planning, land and building acquisition, buildings, additions or structures, site improvements, rolling stock and durable equipment.”
Caitlin Becker, one of Bloom’s founders, said the investment into downtown Springfield is a welcome sight.
“It was nice that other people were equally excited for downtown Springfield,” Becker said.
The pair said they first saw the notice advertised through Downtown Springfield, Inc. and worked on the grant application earlier this year.
What a disgraceful waste of money.
So many other logical options for these funds.
100% chance this biz is gone in 5 years.
Sorry to be blunt but not a single business has lasted more than 5 years along there in eons.
Local and national businesses have failed.
More taxpayer funding bfs wasted…
I think this a wonderful thing and that both of these gals are doing a great service to the community, their positivity, courage to be downtown and make it a go is so important to not give up!!! People don’t realize a dream is important, through the clarity of their example, others will follow as downtown business. Having space for events service is so needed. You go girls!!!
We need more people like these young women to be excited and invest in our downtown. Their dedication the last several years is a testament to their commitment to being a solution for our downtown. I am proud to know them and frequent their business. Keep reaching for the stars