| Grant |
Description |
| Strategic EV Component Part Manufacturing |
Application Deadline: September 26, 2025: The goal of this program is to support the expansion of electric vehicle component manufacturing. Eligible applicants must have an existing Reimagining Energy and Vehicles in Illinois (REV) Tier 1 program executed agreement with DCEO. |
| Clean Energy Career Pathway Program |
Application Deadline: September 30, 2025: The Clean Energy Career Pathway Program will provide funding directly to eligible recipients to support the planning and implementation of a Clean Energy Career Pathway. Programs will include coursework, field experiences, and work-based learning designed to prepare students for entrance into careers focusing on electric vehicles. This funding opportunity seeks qualified, eligible public or private educational institutions at the secondary and post-secondary level that will work with the Local Workforce Innovation Areas and employers to recruit students into clean energy fields and create pathways encompassing technical and employability skills with dual credit options. |
| Career Planner Training Academy |
Application Deadline: October 6, 2025: The DCEO Office of Employment & Training (OET), in collaboration with the Illinois WorkNet (IwN) team, is upgrading the Illinois Workforce Development System (IWDS) platform to create "IWDS 2.0." This new application will serve as the reporting and case management system for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title I programs, beginning in July 2026. It will feature a modern, user-friendly interface designed with accessibility and responsive design standards in mind, focusing on a streamlined customer workflow to meet federal and state reporting and case management requirements. |
| Route 66 Grant Program |
Application Deadline: October 15, 2025: Providing grants to certified convention and visitors’ bureaus for development of tourism, education, preservation and promotion of the 100th anniversary of Route 66. |
| International Tourism Grant Program |
Application Deadline: October 15, 2025: A grant program for certified local tourism and convention bureaus to develop, coordinate and promote international tourism marketing efforts. |
| Federal Grant Support Program - Round 2 |
Application Deadline: October 16, 2025: The State of Illinois benefits economically when federal funds are invested in Illinois, and receiving an adequate amount of federal funding ensures that Illinois residents and businesses are getting a sufficient return on their federal taxes paid. However, Illinois receives less federal grants per person (or per capita) than the average state as well as states similar in population size . Most federal grant funding is distributed by formula, and major factors that affect federal grant funding include Medicaid status, geography, income and poverty levels, demographics, and population. While the state has limited ability to influence the key factors that affect federal formula-based grants, Illinois can take more proactive measures to increase the competitiveness of Illinois-based stakeholders applying for competitive federal grants. Federal grants typically require a match, which is the non-federal share of the project costs that a grantee must contribute to achieve the purposes of the award. The requirements for the match, such as the match percentage and sources, differ by federal agency and program. For example, some grants may require as little as a 20 percent match from the grantee, although it is not uncommon for grants to require a 50 percent match. In some instances, there is no formal matching requirement, although the percentage of the match provided by the grantee is usually used as a metric for evaluating the competitiveness of an application. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s (DCEO)’s Federal Grant Support Program will make $22 million available to Illinois-based proposals 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 Grocery Initiative - Equipment Upgrade Program (Round 2) |
Application Deadline: December 15, 2025: The Illinois Grocery Initiative Equipment Upgrades Program, authorized by Public Act 103-0561, will provide grants for new energy-efficient equipment upgrades for existing independently-owned for-profit grocery stores, cooperative grocery stores, or not-for-profit grocery stores. |
| Equitable Energy Future Grant Program |
Application Deadline: December 31, 2025: The funding is intended to address barriers to project, community, and business development in justice-impacted communities caused by a lack of available capital. |
| Community Solar Energy Sovereignty Program |
Application Deadline: December 31, 2025: The Community Solar Energy Sovereignty Grant Program will support pre-development and development of community solar projects that promote community ownership and energy sovereignty. |
| SBIR/STTR Match Program |
Application Deadline: June 30, 2026: 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. |
| Business Attraction Prime Sites |
Application Deadline: June 30, 2026: The intent of this program is to assist companies with large-scale capital investment projects that commit to significant job creation for Illinois residents as they relocate or expand operations within Illinois. Business Attraction Prime Sites grants can encompass a wide range of economic development projects and may include infrastructure and capital equipment purchases that will result in job creation in the state of Illinois. |
| Community Development Block Grant Economic Development Program |
Application Deadline: Rolling: The program provides federal funding for community-based projects. Communities in non-metropolitan areas can apply for Economic Development funding to assist private business in retaining or creating full-time, permanent jobs. Grant funds may also be used for improvements to public infrastructure that directly supports companies in local communities. |
| Illinois Returning Residents Clean Jobs Program (CEJA) |
Application Deadline: Rolling: The Returning Residents Program will deliver clean jobs training in Illinois Department of Corrections facilities to individuals within 36 months of their release to prepare them to work in clean energy and related sector jobs upon release. The Program will provide classroom instruction and hands-on learning opportunities, utilizing a standard Clean Jobs Curriculum Framework, connect Program graduates with potential employers in the clean energy industry, and address participant needs. |
| 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 |
This NOFO is closed to new applications. Until new funding is released, please complete this interest form. Once the program has been re-opened, we will notify interested organizations that have submitted to the form. |
| 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. |
Agencies
Services