ETIP Strategic Sectors Single Company Grant

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity administers the Employer Training Investment Program Single Company Grant as part of the state’s broader workforce and economic development strategy. The program is designed to strengthen Illinois businesses by investing in employee training and skill development, ultimately improving competitiveness, productivity, and economic growth across key industries. Established in 1992, the broader ETIP initiative has historically supported workforce advancement by helping employers adapt to changing technologies and business practices. This specific funding opportunity targets individual companies operating within Illinois, with a focus on strategic sectors such as advanced manufacturing, clean energy, quantum computing, and transportation and logistics. The primary purpose of the grant is to provide financial assistance to companies for structured job training programs that enhance the skills of their full-time workforce. The program allows grantees to receive reimbursement for up to 50 percent of approved training-related expenses, requiring the company to contribute an equal or greater matching amount. Eligible training activities must be directly related to employees’ job responsibilities and may include instructor-led training, virtual instruction, or structured e-learning platforms. The training must demonstrate measurable skill progression and be tied to business needs such as new technologies, regulatory compliance, or expansion into new markets. Funding under this opportunity ranges from one hundred fifty thousand dollars to ten million dollars, with a total program allocation of approximately twenty-four point eight million dollars and an anticipated seven awards. Allowable costs include instructor wages, training materials, facility rentals, trainee wages during training, and related travel expenses. However, certain costs are explicitly excluded, including training program development, consulting fees, depreciable equipment, and training for part-time or temporary employees. The program enforces strict compliance with documentation and verification requirements to ensure all expenditures align with program goals. Eligibility is limited to for-profit companies with operations in Illinois that are not primarily engaged in training or education services. Applicants must have an active agreement under specific Illinois incentive programs such as REV, EDGE, or MICRO. Additionally, applicants must meet several administrative requirements, including registration in the GATA Grantee Portal, maintaining a valid SAM registration, and demonstrating good standing with state and federal compliance systems. Government entities, nonprofits, and certain service-based businesses are explicitly excluded from eligibility. The application process requires submission of a comprehensive package including a uniform grant application, detailed budget, conflict of interest disclosure, training outlines, and supporting documentation describing workforce training plans. Applications are submitted electronically and reviewed on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted. The review process includes an initial completeness screening followed by a merit-based evaluation assessing need, organizational capacity, and program quality. Applications scoring above a defined threshold are recommended for funding. The anticipated award start date is mid-December with a performance period extending through late August of the following year, allowing approximately twenty months for project implementation. During this period, grantees must submit regular financial and performance reports, including documentation of employee training outcomes and expenditures. Monitoring and compliance oversight are conducted by the department to ensure alignment with program objectives and regulatory requirements. Contact for the program includes designated staff within the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, with both email and phone support available for applicants. While the funding opportunity remains open continuously without a fixed deadline, applications are accepted until available funding is fully allocated, making early submission advantageous. The program is not explicitly recurring but operates as an ongoing initiative subject to state appropriations and program announcements.

Align training with targeted sectors or Illinois Economic Plan priorities to improve scoring; include specific, measurable objectives; ensure budget detail matches narrative.