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SCAM ALERT: DCEO has been made aware of organizations receiving fraudulent “notice of award” letters claiming to be from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. These are not legitimate notices from DCEO. If your organization receives a notice, please report it to the Federal Trade Commission and/or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Underserved Areas

Projects receiving REV credits, MICRO credits, EDGE credits, Data Center credits, and Apprenticeship credits (effective January 1, 2020) are eligible to receive enhanced credits if they locate in an underserved area.

An “underserved area” is a census tract which meets one of the following four tests:

  • Poverty rate of at least 20%; or
  • 35% or more of the families with children in the area are living below 130% of the poverty line, according to the latest American Community Survey; or
  • At least 20% of the households in the area receive assistance under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); or
  • Average unemployment rate that is more than 120% of the national unemployment average, for a period of at least two (2) consecutive calendar years preceding the date of the application.