State Business and Commerce Grants

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

This program provides financial support to individuals, businesses, and organizations in Montana to develop new agricultural products and processes through grants and loans for various project activities.

This program provides financial assistance to Iowa cities for the redevelopment or rehabilitation of underutilized buildings to promote economic growth and community revitalization.

This funding opportunity supports tourism marketing initiatives in rural Nevada communities, helping local governments and non-profits promote their unique cultural and recreational offerings to boost economic growth.

This program provides financial assistance to private property owners in non-entitlement communities in Kansas for rehabilitating blighted commercial buildings to boost economic revitalization and improve downtown areas.

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

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.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to local governments and non-governmental entities in Kansas for transportation construction projects that improve safety, access, and economic development.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to unincorporated arts groups and programs within larger organizations in New York State that serve underrepresented communities and need a fiscal sponsor to apply.

This funding initiative provides financial support to organizations in New Mexico that promote creative entrepreneurship and industry development, particularly benefiting rural and underserved communities.

This funding supports regional planning and development councils in Maryland to enhance economic growth and infrastructure in rural areas, with each council eligible for up to $600,000 to address local challenges.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to New Mexico-based small businesses that have received federal SBIR or STTR awards, helping them commercialize innovative technologies and grow their operations in key industry sectors.

This program provides low-interest loans to small businesses in Arizona to promote economic development and job creation.

This funding opportunity provides $15 million over three years to non-profit organizations for programs that promote restorative justice and accountability in California correctional facilities, focusing on empathy, resilience, and reducing violence among participants.

This grant provides funding to state agricultural agencies and their partners to explore new market opportunities and improve marketing systems for U.S. food and agricultural products, benefiting multiple producers and agribusinesses.

This funding opportunity supports community organizations in Washington, D.C. that are focused on reducing gun violence through innovative interventions, mentorship, and crisis response for at-risk individuals aged 18-35.

This program provides funding to local governments and economic organizations in Colorado to boost the semiconductor industry by conducting market studies, implementing infrastructure improvements, and promoting regional assets.

This program provides funding to Small Business Development Center networks in California to enhance their ability to assist small businesses in accessing capital and improving their financial readiness.

This program provides financial support to community development financial institutions that serve low-income communities in California, focusing on affordable housing, healthcare, small business growth, and economic revitalization.