The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity have announced several grant opportunities available throughout the state. Grant opportunities are a great way to enhance business and local government.
Please see each grant opportunity below as each application has a separate deadline.
Illinois Travel and Tourism Grant Program
What: This grant provides funding for promotional efforts to attract visitors to destinations, attractions, and events throughout Illinois. The grant will support costs like media production (digital, TV, print, radio etc), billboards, brochures, visitor guides, website development, and trade show registration. The ultimate goal of the program is to support promotional projects that increase visitation and overnight stays, thereby fueling local economies across the state.
Potential Applicants: CVBs, non-profits, counties, and municipalities.
How Much: $2.93m total, with grants ranging from $10k to $100k. 100% match required.
Deadline: December 12th, 2022 at 5pm.
Apply: Information can be found HERE.
Small Business Development Centers
What: We are seeking host organizations to operate our Small Business Development Centers across Illinois. These centers provide training and guidance for entrepreneurs to establish and grow their businesses. Through one-on-one advising, SBDCs provide assistance in planning, market expansion, financial analysis, regulatory assistance, e-commerce strategies, access to capital and more. We are also seeking SBDC International Trade Centers to help businesses export and break into overseas markets.
Potential Applicants: Non-profits, local governments, economic development institutions, and institutions of higher education.
How Much: $5.58m total, with grants ranging from $40k to $525k. Grant covers CY2023, with options to receive a two year extension. 100% match required, with 50% upfront.
Deadline: December 15th, 2022 at 5pm.
Apply: Information can be found HERE. Register for the 11/22 webinar here.
Accelerate Illinois Broadband Infrastructure Planning Program, Round 3
What: A collaborative effort by the Illinois Office of Broadband, Illinois-based Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, and the University of Illinois Extension, this program will help local governments receive expert support as they prepare to leverage new state and federal dollars. Communities will go through an intensive 14-week community engagement program designed to turn available public broadband funding into sustainable broadband access. Communities will learn how to identify broadband goals, understand available funding options, and target capital dollars to support implementation.
Potential Applications: Municipalities, counties, and multi-county regions
How Much: This is not a cash grant. Approximately 6 communities will be chosen to receive no-cost expert counsel provided by the Benton Institute over a 14-week intensive. The goal of the program is to prepare communities to be competitive for grant opportunities.
Deadline: December 16th, 2022
Apply: Information can be found here.
Human Services Capital Investment Grant Subaward Program
What: DCEO is partnering with IDHS and TEC Services Consulting Inc. to administer a capital grant program for Illinois human services not-for-profits. Projects must expand or improve a facility owned or leased by a human services provider. Priority will be given to projects that are addressing Life Safety code deficiencies, expanding services for clients, or serving DIAs or qualified census tracts. Land acquisition, building purchases, and operational costs are not eligible.
Potential Applicants: Not-for-profits that have provided services to low-income or marginalized populations for two years in either mental health, rehabilitation services, substance use prevention and recovery, family and community services, developmental disabilities, and early childhood.
How Much: $15m total, with grants ranging from $50k to $250k.
Deadline: December 30th, 2022 at 5pm.
Apply: Information can be found HERE on DCEO’s website, as well as HERE through our technical assistance partners.
Illinois Meat & Poultry Supply Chain Capital Grant Program
What: The Meat & Poultry Supply Chain Capital Grant Program aims to support communities by helping independently owned companies build capacity, create jobs and ultimately, strengthen our meat processing supply chain in Illinois, thereby making food products more affordable and accessible. Grant funds must be used to construct new facilities or expand processing capacity at existing facilities.
Potential Applicants: Businesses engaging in meat and poultry processing. Must be independently owned and operated and the facility must be physically located in Illinois.
How Much: $6m total, with grants ranging from $250k to $1.5m. A 4:1 match is required: grant funds may only cover up to 20% of total capital expenses.
Deadline: Rolling until December 31st, 2023 at 5pm, or until funds are depleted.
Apply: Information can be found HERE.
Community Development Block Grant, Public Infrastructure
What: This grant is using federal dollars to fund water and sewer infrastructure projects to alleviate health and safety concerns in low-to-moderate-income communities. Projects must be primarily residential, as projects for commercial areas are not eligible.
Potential Applicants: Municipalities, townships, and counties in non-metro areas. Local governments in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Will, St. Clair, and Madison are NOT eligible. Larger cities (like Rockford, Champaign, Peoria, and others) that receive their entitlement funds directly from HUD are also NOT eligible.
How Much: $17.5m total, with grants ranging from $300k to $1.5m.
Deadline: January 19th, 2023 at 5pm.
Apply: Information can be found HERE.
Community Development Block Grant, Housing Rehabilitation
What: This grant is using federal dollars to fund housing rehabilitation projects to alleviate health and safety concerns in low-to-moderate-income communities. This program targets projects for single-family, owner-occupied housing needing rehabilitation. Eligible activities include water and sewer connections, lead-based paint remediation, accessibility, and more.
Potential Applicants: Municipalities, townships, and counties in non-metro areas. Local governments in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Will, St. Clair, and Madison are NOT eligible. Larger cities (like Rockford, Champaign, Peoria, and others) that receive their entitlement funds directly from HUD are also NOT eligible.
How Much: $7m total, with grants ranging from $300k to $650k. Projects must rehabilitate at least 8 homes. Maximum of $60k per household.
Deadline: January 19th, 2023 at 5pm.
Apply: Information can be found HERE.
Connect Illinois Broadband Grant Program
What: Connect Illinois seeks to achieve ubiquitous broadband access for homes, businesses, and community anchor institutions. Applications should be classified under one of three categories: (a) Broadband Access for in unserved or underserved areas; (b) Broadband Innovation for economic development; or (c) Urban Broadband for expanded access and/or innovation in qualified Illinois cities. All Connect Illinois projects must include infrastructure expansion scalable to speeds of at least 100 Mbps download and 100 Mbps upload upon deployment. Allowable costs include network design, project planning, equipment, construction, and deployment of middle mile and/or last mile infrastructure.
Potential Applicants: Businesses, nonprofits, cooperatives, school districts, and local governments. Proposals covering unserved and/or underserved areas are eligible for Connect Illinois grant funding.
How Much: $350 million total, maximum grant size of $10 million. Preference given for a 50% match, but it is not required for an application to be competitive.
Deadline: Rolling through 2024, or until funds are depleted
Apply: Information can be found HERE.
Federal grant opportunities are also available and can be found at: https://dceo.illinois.gov/aboutdceo/grantopportunities/grants.html.