Grants for Small businesses - Science and Technology

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is offering the Manufacturing Retention Grant Program. This program is designed to help manufacturing companies maintain their operational presence within Illinois. Its core mission is to encourage businesses to invest in their workforce, facilities, equipment, technologies, and infrastructure, thereby securing existing jobs and fostering economic stability in the state. The program is supported through the Enterprise Fund, administered by DCEO, which typically funds a broad range of economic development projects. The primary beneficiaries of this grant are private for-profit business entities that operate a major manufacturing complex in Bushnell, Illinois, specifically within McDonough County. These companies must have less than 1,000 employees and extensive experience in tool manufacturing. A key eligibility criterion is the requirement to have acquired a tool manufacturing firm in McDonough County with a minimum of 100 full-time equivalent employees. The grant's impact goal is to retain these companies' manufacturing campuses at operating production levels that support at least 100 employees at the Bushnell site. The program prioritizes job retention in Illinois through various investments. Eligible expenses encompass employee payroll for existing employees (including backpay incurred from May 14, 2024), invoices for services, training expenses for existing employees, and significant capital improvements. These improvements include refurbishment or replacement of machinery, equipment, and tooling (e.g., forging hammers, Swiss lathes), facility repairs (e.g., roof repair, electrical upgrades), productivity and innovation initiatives (e.g., robotics reprogramming, induction heat furnaces), and the replenishment of inventory to maintain standard stocking levels for daily production. The expected outcome of the Manufacturing Retention Grant Program is the successful retention of manufacturing operations and a minimum employment level of 100 employees at the Bushnell site. Measurable results will be directly tied to the utilization of the $5,000,000 total funding, with a performance period spanning from September 1, 2024, through August 31, 2026. The DCEO's strategic priority, as evidenced by this program, is to safeguard manufacturing jobs and foster a robust economic environment within Illinois, aligning with a theory of change that posits direct investment in established manufacturing entities will lead to sustained employment and economic growth.

This program provides financial assistance to local businesses and property owners in North Sacramento to improve storefronts, purchase equipment, and restore vacant buildings, particularly those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

This grant provides financial support to organizations in New Mexico that empower socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs, particularly in underserved and rural areas, through capacity-building services and resources.

This grant provides funding for research projects that aim to improve animal welfare across various areas, such as veterinary care, behavior, and trauma, targeting organizations and research teams in the U.S. and Canada.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations, public sector entities, and scalable for-profit companies in the U.S. to develop and promote innovative wood products and value chains that enhance sustainable forestry and rural economic development.

This funding program provides financial support to public and private water providers, municipalities, and nonprofit organizations for projects that develop alternative water supplies and implement water conservation technologies in South Florida.

This program provides financial assistance to small business and commercial property owners in Decatur, Georgia, to improve the exteriors of their buildings and enhance the community's aesthetic appeal.

This initiative provides funding and resources to early-stage, technology-focused startups from the U.S. and abroad that are willing to relocate to Kansas City, Missouri, to foster innovation and entrepreneurship in the region.

This program provides funding to healthcare providers in Mississippi to enhance telehealth services, improve connectivity, and educate communities, ultimately increasing access to care for rural populations.

This grant provides financial support and mentorship to early-stage cleantech entrepreneurs in the Midwest who are developing innovative solutions to promote economic growth and environmental sustainability.

This funding opportunity supports independent researchers in the U.S. who are investigating innovative ways to reduce health care costs and improve quality through better management, delivery, and financing of care.

This program provides $50,000 grants to early-stage North Carolina startups with innovative concepts and a strong market potential, along with mentorship and resources to accelerate their growth.

This program provides funding to U.S.-based organizations using AI-enabled glasses to create social and economic benefits, focusing on areas like health, employment, and community development.

This program provides financial support to eligible Pennsylvania companies for workforce training in key industries to enhance employee skills and improve business competitiveness.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations that help underrepresented communities in Massachusetts access training and career pathways in the clean energy sector, addressing systemic barriers and workforce gaps.

This funding opportunity supports conservation projects in Teton County, Wyoming, aimed at improving land, water, wildlife, and community sustainability through various initiatives.

This initiative provides funding to create or expand community spaces worldwide that foster collaboration and innovation among local Ethereum enthusiasts, developers, and educators.

This funding opportunity supports researchers in sociology to conduct innovative studies that deepen our understanding of social behavior, institutions, and structures across various topics.

This funding opportunity is designed to enhance pharmacy services in rural Ohio by supporting organizations that will expand pharmacists' roles in healthcare delivery, improve patient care, and foster collaboration within healthcare networks.

This funding opportunity supports organizations in North Dakota to improve healthcare coordination and information sharing in rural communities, ultimately enhancing access to high-quality healthcare for residents, including Medicaid members.