Installation and/or Replacement of Utilities

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is issuing this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) as part of the State Fiscal Year 2026 Grants Management Initiative. Administered under the Grants Management Program and authorized by Public Act 104-0003, this opportunity focuses on the installation and/or replacement of utilities and related capital improvements. The initiative is part of Illinois' broader commitment to enhance the quality of life for its residents through infrastructure development, especially in municipalities with significant needs related to water infrastructure. This grant specifically aims to fund costs associated with water infrastructure improvements. Projects may include improvements to property or assets owned or maintained by eligible municipalities, particularly the Village of Dolton. To be eligible, projects must meet the requirements of bondable expenditures under the Build Illinois Bond Act (30 ILCS 425). Grantees are required to submit comprehensive reporting, including Periodic Financial Reports (PFRs), Periodic Performance Reports (PPRs), and detailed ledgers to ensure accountability and performance alignment with the state’s objectives. The total program funding for this opportunity is $1,000,000, to be awarded as a single grant. The program does not permit the use of funds for indirect costs, general operation overhead, or administrative expenses, as it is funded by bond funds designated strictly for direct capital expenditures. Applications must include a detailed project narrative, full budget documentation, disclosures, and registration documents. A key requirement is the demonstration of need, capacity, economic impact, and quality of the proposed project. Only municipalities located in Cook County with a population between 20,000 and 25,000 based on the 2010 U.S. Census and jurisdiction to perform the described infrastructure work are eligible. Eligibility verification through the Illinois Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) Grantee Portal is required prior to applying. This includes checks on federal debarment status, tax ID validity, SAM registration, and state payment eligibility. Applications are open as of March 27, 2026, and must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. Central Time on May 11, 2026. All applications must be submitted electronically to CEO.OGMgrants@illinois.gov. Paper submissions or cloud-storage-based links are not accepted. No technical assistance sessions will be held. The Department anticipates announcing the grant award approximately three months after the application deadline, depending on necessary reviews including environmental evaluations and bond fund release timing. Evaluation of proposals will be conducted on a 100-point scale across four categories: capacity (40 points), economic impact (30 points), need (15 points), and quality (15 points). The review will be conducted by an Evaluation Committee through a merit-based process. Successful grantees will enter into formal agreements with DCEO and will be subject to ongoing monitoring and performance reporting, including compliance with prevailing wage requirements and, where applicable, apprenticeship goals under the Illinois Works Jobs Program Act.

Emphasize clear demonstration of need, economic impact, and applicant capacity as these represent 85% of the evaluation score.