Chicago’s biggest coronavirus relief program has paid out only a fraction of its goal. The program was intended to provide short-term relief to businesses in need of immediate cash infusions. At the time, according to city officials, the average small business in Chicago had just 28 days’ worth of cash on hand, and some in areas such as Englewood had as few as five.

But five months and more than 10,000 applications later, only about $17 million has made its way to 625 small-business owners, program records show. Recipients include restaurants, bars and breweries, day care centers and auto

World Business Chicago, the public-private agency that promotes regional job growth, is facing the same funding pressures as other organizations and businesses and has laid off some staff, its president and CEO said Friday. The group has laid off five people and eliminated four open positions, leaving it with a staff of 30.

Revenue plunges yet operating expenses increase.

Ed Yohnka of the ACLU of Illinois said the tactic is “concerning” and appears to violate the First Amendment. “As it’s been interpreted by the Supreme Court as of now, the limitation is on protests at a particular home, not a particular block.”

Protect Our Parks and Maria Valencia filed the federal lawsuit in May 2018. Among its objections was that the city and park district violated the park district code by transferring public park land to the foundation for private use.