BLOOMINGTON - Small business owner Barb Mincy is intrigued by a state Web site that may help her determine if her business qualifies for federal economic stimulus money.

Co-owner of Bloomington's Sign-A-Rama, Mincy said she'll take the advice of state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias and research her options at www.recovery.Illinois.gov.

Mincy was among 120 people who heard Giannoulias Wednesday at a McLean County Chamber of Commerce luncheon. The state treasurer, speaking at Illinois Wesleyan University, said that under the $780 billion federal stimulus plan, entrepreneurs can benefit from fee waivers, 90 to 100 percent loan guarantees and deferred loan payments.

The stimulus plan, also called the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, was signed into law by President Barack Obama in February.

Even though the plan is still a work in progress, the treasurer said that to make stimulus money go farther, businesses can also work with his office to get a reduced interest rate from their lender.

Giannoulias cited Katie's Kids Learning Center in Bloomington. The business participated in his office's Employ Illinois program, in which the state deposits money at a financial institution so a borrower can get a lower interest rate.

Maureen Kelly, co-owner of the day care center, was among those in the audience who said she'd look at the state Web site.

"What I learned here today is that there is a lot of hope and you just need to know where to look," said Kelly, who plans to open a second location in Normal.

A federal Web site that also might help is www.recovery.gov, said Joshua Weger of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Weger said the state does not know how much stimulus money it will receive.

Giannoulias said he expects stimulus dollars to reach every part of the state, not just Chicago. "There are resources out there that I believe will help us get through this," he said.