PPP Loan Data: Illinois
Paycheck Protection Program statistics for Illinois. 372,156 loans disbursed, 24,190 unforgiven and potentially subject to enforcement.
High Enforcement Risk3.2% of national total
Avg: $106,946 per loan
$2.6B outstanding
93.5% forgiveness rate
PPP Program Overview: Illinois
Between April 2020 and May 2021, the U.S. Small Business Administration disbursed 372,156 Paycheck Protection Program loans in Illinois, totaling $39.8B. These loans supported approximately 3.2M jobs across the state during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Of these loans, 347,966 (93.5%) were fully forgiven. However, 24,190 loans totaling $2.6B remain unforgiven and are potentially subject to SBA collection, Treasury offset, or DOJ enforcement action.
This state has above-average DOJ PPP enforcement activity and SBA OIG investigations.
Enforcement Risk in Illinois
Illinois is one of the highest-priority states for DOJ PPP enforcement. The combination of high loan volume, large average loan sizes, and active SBA OIG field offices makes borrowers in this state particularly vulnerable to audits, investigations, and False Claims Act actions. Multiple qui tam (whistleblower) cases have been filed in Illinois federal courts.
The False Claims Act statute of limitations extends through 2030-2031 for PPP loans. This means new enforcement actions can still be initiated against Illinois borrowers for several more years. The 24,190 unforgiven loans in Illinois represent the most immediate enforcement targets.
Illinois vs. National Average
Frequently Asked Questions: PPP in Illinois
How many PPP loans were issued in Illinois?
Illinois received 372,156 PPP loans totaling $39.8B between April 2020 and May 2021. The average loan size was $106,946, supporting approximately 3.2M jobs.
How many PPP loans in Illinois were not forgiven?
Approximately 24,190 PPP loans in Illinois (6.5% of total) were not forgiven, representing $2.6B in outstanding obligations. These borrowers may face Treasury collection actions or SBA enforcement.
What is the PPP audit risk level in Illinois?
Illinois is classified as "High" enforcement risk. This state has above-average DOJ PPP enforcement activity and SBA OIG investigations. Borrowers in Illinois with unforgiven loans or discrepancies in their applications should be aware of ongoing DOJ and SBA OIG enforcement activity.
Can I still face a PPP audit in Illinois in 2026?
Yes. The False Claims Act has a 6-10 year statute of limitations. Since PPP loans were issued in 2020-2021, enforcement actions can continue through 2030-2031. Illinois borrowers remain at risk regardless of whether their loan was forgiven.
Are You at Risk?
24,190 Illinois borrowers have unforgiven PPP loans. Find out your specific risk level in under 3 minutes.
Defense Resources
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Cities in Illinois
Data Sources: U.S. Small Business Administration PPP Data Reports, PandemicOversight.gov, U.S. Treasury Department. Data reflects the full PPP program period (April 2020 – May 2021). Last updated May 2026.