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DCEO Grant Opportunities

Grant ​Description
International Tourism Grant Program Application Deadline: October 6, 2023: A grant program for certified local tourism and convention bureaus to develop, coordinate and promote international tourism marketing efforts.
Route 66 Grant Program Application Deadline: October 30, 2023: Providing grants to certified convention and visitors bureaus for development of tourism, education, preservation and promotion of the 100th anniversary of Route 66.
Innovation Vouchers Program Application Deadline: November 1, 2023: This opportunity is intended to procure the services of a qualified administrator to run the state’s Innovation Vouchers program. Innovation Vouchers will provide grants for companies to engage in research projects in partnership with an Illinois university. This will facilitate the sharing of technologies, knowledge, facilities, and equipment, and ultimately lead to the production of more Illinois-based goods and services and spur economic growth in the state. Program beneficiaries will apply for project support through the selected administrator.
Illinois Soundstage Capital Grant Program Application Deadline: November 10, 2023: Capital grants to match investment in new construction for new large sound stages or upgrades to existing sound stages that meet the needs of modern-day major film and television productions. Through outreach and prioritization, would aim to get at least one project outside the Chicago metro area out of an expected 3 to 4 total awards.
Community Development Block Grant - Coronavirus Business Resiliency Program Application Deadline: December 31, 2023: The objective of the Business Resiliency program is to reimburse businesses for the durable permanent or semi-permanent equipment purchased or rented to prevent, prepare for, or respond to COVID-19.
Illinois Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program (CEJA) Application Deadline: March 31, 2024: The Illinois Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program will identify a network of at least 13 Illinois Clean Jobs Program delivery hub sites (“Workforce Hubs”) throughout the State to recruit and provide clean energy and related workforce training to jobseekers. Workforce Hubs will engage with potential employers, community-based organizations, educational institutions, and community-based and labor-based training providers to ensure program-eligible individuals across the State have dedicated and sustained support to enter and build clean energy careers.
SBIR/STTR Match Program Application Deadline: June 30, 2024: The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) are competitive federal grant programs that provide funding opportunities for small businesses to perform research and development (R&D) on technology of interest to federal agencies. Both projects provide funding to explore the potential of high-tech products and encourage commercialization of those products. This program would provide a state match to companies that have received awards through the SBIR and STTR grant programs.
Illinois Energy Transition Navigators Program (CEJA) Application Deadline: Rolling:  The Energy Transition Navigators Program will provide outreach and recruitment for the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) workforce and contractor programs. The Department seeks to contract with the community-based provider(s) (“Navigator Teams”) to connect people to the CEJA workforce and contractor programs. Navigator Teams will provide outreach and recruitment services to eligible populations to ensure they are aware of and engaged in the statewide and local workforce and contractor development programs.
Digital Equity Capacity Kickstarter Program Application Deadline: Rolling:  The program will serve as a bridge to forthcoming federal Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program funding per the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Illinois Reproductive Grant Expansion Program Application Deadline: Rolling:  Illinois Reproductive Grant Extension Program will provide grants for pregnancy centers which include organizations or facilities that has health care employees, volunteers, or agents who are licensed health care professionals. Pregnancy-related services include any medical service, or health counseling service, related to the prevention, preservation, or termination of pregnancy. Organizations are not to engage in unfair methods or deceptive acts or practices, including the use or employment of any deception, fraud, false pretense, false promise, or misrepresentation to interfere with or prevent an individual from seeking to gain entry or access. 
Federal Grant Support Program General announcement open for a period of time with no specific due dates for applications: The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s (DCEO)’s Federal Grant Match Program will make $15 million available to Illinois-based businesses and organizations seeking competitive federal grants. This match program will encourage more applicants to apply for federal grant opportunities, provide critical assistance to meet the minimum match eligibility requirements, increase the competitiveness of applications, and provide the State of Illinois with an opportunity to make a firm commitment and demonstration of support for projects that are well aligned with the State’s economic development goals and priorities.
Illinois Meat & Poultry Supply Chain Capital Grant Program Application Deadline: Rolling: This program will provide capital grants to eligible meat processing companies to expand production capacity in Illinois. This may include establishing new facilities or expanding the scale and/or scope of production of existing facilities.
CDBG Economic Development Program Application Deadline: Rolling: The Economic Development component funds are available on an as-needed basis throughout the year to all eligible applicants meeting program component requirements until all funds allocated to this component have been distributed. All awards in this category are predicated upon project feasibility and a demonstrated need for funds. Only projects that create and/or retain permanent jobs will be funded. Projects should attract sizable private investment, have solid commitments to create or retain permanent jobs and demonstrate financial feasibility and benefit to low-to-moderate income persons.
CDBG Disaster Response Program Application Deadline: Rolling: This program is designed for communities experiencing an imminent and urgent threat to public health and safety as indicated by a disaster declaration by the Governor of the State of Illinois.
Connect Illinois Broadband Grant Program Application Deadline: Rolling: Support broadband deployment to expand and strengthen existing broadband network infrastructure, health information technology, telemedicine, distance learning, and public safety. 
Business Attraction Prime Sites
Application Deadline: Rolling: Large-scale capital investment projects that commit significant job creation for Illinois residents as they relocate or expand operations within Illinois. Grants may include infrastructure and capital equipment purchases.

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