Grants for Small businesses - State

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 marinas and boat docking facilities in North Carolina's coastal counties for installing or upgrading sewage pumpout stations to improve water quality by reducing sewage discharge from recreational vessels.

This grant provides funding to public and private entities to develop a network of fast-charging electric vehicle stations along major highways in Minnesota, promoting accessible and reliable EV infrastructure.

This program provides financial support to food retailers in underserved communities to improve access to healthy food options for low- and moderate-income populations.

This program provides funding for farmers and ranchers in the North Central region to develop and share sustainable agricultural practices through research and educational projects.

This program provides funding to community development financial institutions to help them offer essential services and capital access to economically disadvantaged communities across California.

This program provides financial assistance to Montana livestock producers for implementing measures to prevent economic losses from predation by large carnivores like wolves and bears.

This grant provides funding to organizations in Texas that promote financial literacy and consumer credit education, helping communities improve their financial stability at little or no cost.

This funding opportunity supports Minnesota produce farmers in enhancing their food safety practices through reimbursement for eligible expenses related to on-farm food safety systems.

This funding initiative provides financial support to New Jersey employers for hiring college students and recent graduates as paid interns, fostering valuable work experience and skill development in preparation for the modern job market.

This program provides funding to local governments, nonprofits, and for-profit organizations for projects that enhance public wildlife viewing opportunities and promote conservation of Georgia's nongame wildlife and habitats.

This grant provides funding to farmers in Wisconsin to develop and implement innovative methods for optimizing commercial nitrogen use in their agricultural practices, in collaboration with a University of Wisconsin institution.

This program provides funding to local and state governments, transportation organizations, and similar entities to promote the use of transit, carpools, and vanpools, ultimately reducing traffic congestion and air pollution in Virginia.

This program provides funding for research aimed at improving peach and nectarine production for Pennsylvania growers who cultivate 500 or more trees for sale.

This program provides funding to Maryland local governments, nonprofits, and businesses for planning and implementing energy resilience projects, particularly in low- and moderate-income communities, to enhance energy reliability and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

This funding initiative provides technical assistance and support to organizations that help high-barrier populations, such as youth, veterans, and justice-involved individuals, improve their workforce readiness and economic mobility in California.

This grant provides matching funds to rural communities in Montana for strategic planning projects that foster economic growth and resilience.

This initiative provides funding to Pennsylvania's industrial sector to support projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions through decarbonization efforts, targeting small to large manufacturers and facility operators.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for the expanded implementation of an evidence-based program that delivers integrated services to young children and their families in pediatric healthcare settings across New York State.

This program provides funding to organizations that assist socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs and very small businesses in New York in becoming ready for venture capital investment.