Illinois grants for County governments

This funding opportunity provides financial support to small local governments in Illinois for essential public infrastructure projects that improve health and safety for low to moderate income residents.

The Regional Site Readiness Program’s Planning Grant, funded by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, offers $100,000 to $500,000 to local governments, economic development organizations, nonprofits, for-profit organizations, and private landowners for planning and due diligence activities aimed at preparing industrial and manufacturing sites for future development across all counties in Illinois.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to local public agencies in Illinois for improving safety at rail-highway crossings through various infrastructure enhancements and safety measures.

Grants are available through the Metro East Park and Recreation District for events that promote the use of public parks, trails, and outdoor recreation facilities in Madison and St. Clair Counties in Illinois. The Event Sponsorship Grant Program offers funding of up to $2,500 for public organizations and up to $1,000 for 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations. Eligible events include walking, running, hiking, biking, biathlons, and triathlons that take place within MEPRD's jurisdiction and contribute at least ten percent of event proceeds towards funding improvements or developments to public parks or trails in the designated counties. Eligible applicants must be public organizations or 501(c)3 organizations headquartered within MEPRD's jurisdiction or within 15 miles of it. Only one event sponsorship grant award is allowed per MEPRD fiscal year. For more information, visit MEPRD's website.

This program provides no-interest or low-interest loans to municipalities in Illinois for the cleanup of contaminated sites that have already been assessed and have an approved remediation plan.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to counties, municipalities, nonprofit organizations, and local tourism promotion groups outside of Cook County to enhance tourism marketing initiatives that attract visitors and boost regional economic activity.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for organizations to establish and operate peer-led crisis respite programs that offer safe, non-clinical environments for adults experiencing mental health crises, helping to prevent hospitalizations and law enforcement interventions.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations working to reduce lead hazards in low-income homes across Illinois by replacing windows and addressing other lead-related issues.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations that will train and deploy former mental health patients as peer ambassadors to assist individuals transitioning from institutional care to community living.

The CDBG-CV Healthy Houses program is a grant aimed at supporting housing projects that maintain health and safety in low to moderate income multi-family rentals, by funding the installation or replacement of entire HVAC systems.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations and local governments in Illinois to help homeless youth aged 14 to 23 access essential services, safe housing, and skills training for independent living.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to local workforce areas in Illinois to train staff on a new workforce development system, enhancing services for job seekers and aligning with federal workforce initiatives.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations in Illinois to develop and expand apprenticeship programs that connect individuals, especially those from underrepresented groups, with career pathways in various industries.

This program provides funding to local organizations in Iroquois County to enhance their existing food, shelter, and emergency assistance services for individuals and families in need.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to publicly owned wastewater treatment plants in Illinois for implementing solar energy and battery storage systems to enhance energy resilience and operational efficiency.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is issuing this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to encourage infrastructure investments and site readiness planning activities in Winnebago County. The goal is to support large industrial economic development projects, creating new job opportunities. Eligible applicants are government entities in Winnebago County with a documented agreement with a private entity. The total program funding is $3,000,000, with the application period from July 22, 2024, to August 21, 2024.

This program provides funding to organizations in Illinois to deliver comprehensive nursing support and services to pregnant and parenting individuals and their infants, focusing on reducing maternal and infant health disparities.

This program provides financial support to adult education providers in Illinois to deliver integrated English language and civics education, helping English Language Learners gain skills for workforce participation and civic engagement.

The Lumpkin Family Foundation’s **Land, Health, Community (LHC) Grant Program** serves as its core philanthropic initiative, advancing the family’s long-standing commitment to holistic community well-being in East Central Illinois. At least half of the foundation’s annual grantmaking is directed to this region, with a focus on fostering prosperity, health, leadership, and environmental stewardship. Through the LHC program, the foundation seeks to nurture communities that are economically strong, physically and mentally healthy, socially engaged, and environmentally conscious—each element reinforcing the others to create long-term resilience and vitality. A central vision of the program is to strengthen local food systems and agricultural economies while supporting residents’ physical and mental health. The foundation encourages projects that promote access to healthy, affordable food, strengthen local farm businesses, and integrate sustainable land use practices. Equally important is the cultivation of social cohesion and civic capacity—empowering communities to collaborate on shared goals, retain talent, and attract new opportunities. The emphasis on leadership development and collaborative problem-solving underscores the foundation’s belief in community-driven progress. In response to growing awareness of mental health challenges, the Lumpkin Family Foundation has expanded the LHC program to include **nature-based mental wellness initiatives**. These efforts support programs that demonstrate the connection between engagement with nature and improved mental well-being. Priority is given to projects that help youth and young adults reduce screen time through outdoor experiences, provide self-care opportunities for mental health practitioners, and create healing environments for trauma-impacted individuals such as foster youth. The foundation recognizes the strong research-based link between time spent in nature and improvements in happiness, social connectedness, and emotional balance. Successful proposals often integrate multiple LHC focus areas, combining personal health, environmental stewardship, agricultural innovation, and mental wellness. The foundation particularly values programs that promote sustainable farming, develop green practices that add productivity while protecting the land, and build community capacity through education and collaboration. Preference is given to rural organizations and those located in **Coles County** and surrounding areas, reflecting the foundation’s deep roots in East Central Illinois. Through the Land, Health, Community Grant Program, the Lumpkin Family Foundation continues to invest in the long-term vitality of its home region. By uniting efforts in agriculture, health, the environment, and mental wellness, the program fosters communities that are not only economically stable but also socially vibrant and emotionally healthy—a living model of the foundation’s belief in the interdependence of land, people, and place.

This program provides funding to organizations that help underserved communities in Illinois improve digital skills, access the internet, and obtain necessary devices to enhance their participation in society and the economy.