Illinois Business and Commerce Grants

This program provides financial support to small-to-medium-sized dairy farms and processing businesses in the Midwest to promote innovative projects that enhance sustainability and profitability in the dairy industry.

This grant provides financial assistance to Illinois-based for-profit companies for employee training programs that enhance skills in key industries like advanced manufacturing and clean energy.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to qualified organizations that will establish Small Business Development Centers in underserved areas of Illinois, helping entrepreneurs and small businesses access essential resources and services for growth and success.

This program provides substantial funding to support the development of commercial, cultural, industrial, and mixed-use projects in Chicago, aimed at enhancing community infrastructure and services.

This program provides funding and support to small, community-based contractors in Illinois to help them overcome barriers and participate in the clean energy economy.

This program provides funding to local governments, economic development organizations, and private landowners in Illinois to improve industrial and manufacturing sites by enhancing infrastructure and site readiness for future development.

This program provides funding to organizations for projects that improve broadband access in underserved and unserved communities across Illinois, promoting digital equity and economic growth.

This grant provides funding to support the establishment of new grocery stores in underserved areas of Illinois, aiming to improve access to fresh and affordable food in food deserts.

This program provides financial support to social equity-licensed cannabis businesses in Cook County to help cover startup and operational costs, prioritizing those in historically marginalized communities.

This program provides funding to municipalities, nonprofit organizations, and local promotion groups in Cook County to boost tourism through marketing initiatives that attract visitors from outside the area.

This initiative provides financial support and mentorship to minority-owned small businesses in specific West Side neighborhoods of Chicago, helping them grow and contribute to their communities.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is offering two grant programs: the Rebuild Downtowns & Main Streets (RDMS) Capital Grant Program and the Research in Illinois to Spur Economic Recovery (RISE) Implementation Grant Program. Both programs aim to accelerate Illinois' economic recovery and promote long-term, sustainable, and inclusive growth, aligning with a mission to revitalize communities and foster economic development. The total funding expected is $20 million for RDMS and $10 million for RISE Implementation, with individual grants ranging from $250,000 to $2 million. The RDMS program specifically targets communities that have experienced disinvestment, particularly those hardest-hit by the COVID-19 crisis. The goal is to facilitate investment to revitalize commercial corridors and downtown areas in Illinois through capital grants. Eligible applicants for both programs include economic development organizations (EDOs), local units of government (e.g., municipalities, counties, townships), and private businesses. Special purpose local units of government are not eligible. The priorities for RDMS include supporting capital projects that improve and repair roads, sidewalks, and lighting; develop public spaces to attract events; improve water and sewer infrastructure; and facilitate mixed-use development to add vitality to commercial corridors and downtowns. These priorities are aimed at tangible infrastructure and development projects that directly contribute to the revitalization of downtown areas. Expected outcomes for these programs include accelerated economic recovery and the promotion of long-term, sustainable, and inclusive growth throughout Illinois. Measurable results will likely involve the number and scale of capital projects completed, the revitalization of commercial corridors, increased economic activity in targeted areas, and improvements in public infrastructure. The grant duration is 2 years, with the period of performance expected to be late calendar year 2024 through the end of calendar year 2026. The DCEO's strategic priority is clearly to stimulate economic recovery and growth through targeted investments in key community infrastructure and development.

This program provides matching grants to local businesses in Libertyville to support growth and sustainability through various improvements, excluding general operational costs.

This program provides $10,000 grants to small businesses in the U.S. that promote women's advancement and gender equity through their products, services, or initiatives.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to non-profit associations in Illinois to enhance workforce training programs for manufacturers, helping them improve employee skills and productivity.

CDBG COVID-19 Small Business Assistance Grant – Illinois: The City of Danville is offering up to $139,820 in funding through its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, funded by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), to support small businesses within the city in addressing the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The grant aims to supplement existing federal or state programs and provide targeted assistance to help Danville businesses effectively navigate the impact of the pandemic.

This program provides financial assistance to new small businesses in Evanston, helping them cover essential operating costs and equipment expenses to foster job creation and sustainability.

Grant program designed to train underrepresented population to successfully enter the construction industry and the trades. The program focuses removing barriers for entry and transitioning graduates to DOL-registered apprenticeship programs. The goal of the Illinois Works Act is to ensure that all Illinois residents have access to State capital projects and careers in the construction industry and building trades, as well as provide contracting and employment opportunities to historically underrepresented populations in the construction industry and the trades. The Illinois Works Pre-apprenticeship NOFO and program is a critical component in the success of the Act, by increasing the number of qualified construction and building trades apprentices who are women, people of color, veterans or from otherwise underrepresented populations (as defined by the Illinois Works Jobs Program Act) and preparing them to enter full apprenticeship programs on their way to careers in construction and the building trades.

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.

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.