Illinois Transportation Grants

This funding opportunity provides financial resources to local governments in Illinois for transportation planning initiatives that enhance mobility and support economic growth.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to certified convention and visitors bureaus in Illinois for projects that enhance tourism infrastructure and visitor experiences along Route 66, particularly in anticipation of its 100th anniversary.

This funding program provides financial support to local public agencies in Illinois for safety improvements at highway-rail crossings on local roads, helping to reduce accidents and enhance safety.

This program provides funding to businesses and government entities in designated areas of Illinois to replace older diesel trucks with all-electric models, promoting cleaner air and reduced emissions.

This program provides financial support to businesses relocating to or expanding within Illinois, incentivizing job creation and infrastructure improvements in key growth industries.

This funding initiative provides financial support to local governments in Illinois for transportation infrastructure improvements that facilitate business growth and job creation.

This program provides funding to public airports in Illinois for projects that improve aviation infrastructure and operations, ensuring safe and efficient air travel.

This program provides financial support to Illinois companies for employee training in strategic sectors to enhance workforce skills, productivity, and economic competitiveness.

This program provides funding to nonprofit organizations and government entities within 30 miles of Norfolk Southern's rail lines to improve community safety through targeted projects and initiatives.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to local governments and eligible agencies in Illinois for developing non-motorized transportation infrastructure that enhances regional connectivity and promotes sustainable transportation options.

This program provides funding to businesses and government entities in Illinois to replace older diesel freight trucks with new all-electric models, aiming to reduce air pollution in designated priority areas.

This funding opportunity provides additional financial support to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to enhance its research capabilities in railroad safety, efficiency, and innovation.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity issues a Notice of Funding Opportunity to establish an incentive grant program to attract new out of state events to Illinois when competing with other destinations. The program supports local development of competitive packages to secure events that generate hotel room nights and economic impact. Allowable costs may include venue rental and staging, event rentals, food and non alcoholic beverages and service labor, audio visual support and service labor, entertainment as part of an otherwise planned event, registration and event management software and services, transportation shuttles tied to master accounts, bid fees, and room night credits that exceed stated thresholds. Disallowed costs include venue owned items when the applicant controls the facility and assets. Performance goals include hotel room nights booked, economic impact, and attraction or retention of events that would not otherwise occur in Illinois. Eligible applicants include units of local government, local promotion groups, not for profit organizations, for profit organizations, and convention center authorities. Entities must be registered in the state’s GATA grantee portal with valid identifiers, good standing, and absence from exclusion lists. Awards will range from 50,000 to 5,000,000 dollars from a total expected pool of 15,000,000 dollars. The period of performance is expected to run from January 25, 2024 through January 31, 2029. Applications are due May 1, 2024 through the department’s process. Proposals should document public benefit and compliance with eligibility and performance measures. Additional information is available from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

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.

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.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations associated with Illinois' seven nationally designated scenic byways for research and marketing initiatives that promote tourism and economic development along these scenic routes.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to local governments affected by the closure or reduced operation of the Zion Nuclear Plant, aimed at fostering economic development and addressing community impacts through various initiatives.

This funding is designated for the City of Belvidere, Illinois, to improve rail safety and traffic flow by constructing a grade separation at Appleton Road, eliminating dangerous at-grade crossings.

This program provides low-interest loans to communities, railroads, and shippers in Illinois to improve rail freight services and support economic development through strategic infrastructure investments.