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Funding Opportunities

Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity

We participate in a Funding Opportunities Working Group. This page is a collection of current funding opportunities across Illinois.

 

  • DCEO 
  • SSBCI Venture Capital TA Grant
    • Description: “DCEO is seeking grantees to provide technical assistance to eligible VSB and SEDI-owned businesses that are applying for, preparing to apply for, or have previously applied for a SSBCI capital program or other federal or other jurisdiction small business program.” The grantees must be able to offer the following three technical assistance services: legal, accounting, and financial advisory.
    • Eligibility includes:
      • “Legal, Accounting, or Financial advisory Non-Profit or For-Profit entities. Applicants must administer the following three (3) TA services – legal, accounting, and financial advisory services – either directly or through a coalition of contractual partners.” Please review the NOFO for a list of additional eligibility requirements.
    • Funding: $2,250,000
    • Deadline: October 30, 2026
  • Illinois Economic Empowerment Centers
    • Description: "The EEC Grant Program was developed to help create an inclusive business ecosystem within communities that have historically faced systemic barriers to entry and growth through dynamic partnerships, targeted outreach, and tailored programs and initiatives. DCEO has previously awarded $2.5 million in grant funding to 10 recipients through the EEC Grant Program."
    • Eligibility includes:
      • "Career education agencies; and
      • Non-profit organizations, including but not limited to: local development corporations, chambers of commerce, community based outreach centers, and community based organizations that provide services to underserved businesses and entrepreneurs."
    • Award Range: $250,000-$500,000 ("A minimum overall matching contribution of 100% of the grant amount is required." Please see NOFO for more details.)
    • Deadline: November 6, 2026 at 5:00pm
  • Innovation Vouchers Program
    • Description: “Innovation Vouchers will provide grants for companies to engage in research projects in partnership with an Illinois institute of higher education. 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.”
    • Eligibility includes: “Illinois-based companies with 500 or fewer total employees; Commit to maintain operations in Illinois for duration of project; Businesses that operate in key industries, including agribusiness and agtech; energy; information technology; life sciences and healthcare; manufacturing; and transportation and logistics”
    • Award Range: “…cover up to 75% of the cost of the research engagement (not to exceed $75,000).”
    • Deadline: November 6, 2026 at 5:00pm
  • Tourism Attraction Grant Program
    • Description: “…provide grants to assist in the development or improvement of tourism attractions that increase the economic impact of tourism throughout the State.”
    • Eligibility includes:
      • Counties
      • Municipalities
      • Other units of local government
      • Local promotion groups
      • Not-for-profit organizations
      • For-profit businesses
    • Award Range: $15,000 - $200,000
    • Deadline: November 13, 2026 at 5:00pm
  • Tourism Private Sector Grant Program
    • Description: “…provide grants for the purpose of attracting, hosting and developing new events and festivals in Illinois or enhancing existing festivals and events.”
    • Eligibility includes:
      • Illinois for-profit entity
      • County
      • Municipality
      • Not-for-profit entity
      • Local promotion groups – means any non-profit corporation, organization, association, agency or committee thereof formed for the primary purpose of publicizing, promoting, advertising or otherwise encouraging the development of tourism in any municipality, county, or region of Illinois
    • Award Range: $10,000 - $50,000
    • Deadline: November 13, 2026 at 5:00pm
  • Tourism Private Sector Grant Program
    • Description: “…provide grants for the purpose of attracting, hosting and developing new events and festivals in Illinois or enhancing existing festivals and events.”
    • Eligibility includes:
      • Illinois for-profit entity
      • County
      • Municipality
      • Not-for-profit entity
      • Local promotion groups – means any non-profit corporation, organization, association, agency or committee thereof formed for the primary purpose of publicizing, promoting, advertising or otherwise encouraging the development of tourism in any municipality, county, or region of Illinois
    • Award Range: $10,000 - $50,000
    • Deadline: November 13, 2026 at 5:00pm
  • Illinois Grocery Initiative - New Stores in Food Deserts Round 3
    • Description: “This program aims to combat food insecurity by offering competitive grants to support the establishment of new grocery stores in these areas by reimbursing successful applicants for eligible capital and non-capital expenditures.”
    • Eligibility includes:
      • "This grant opportunity will be limited to the following types of entities:
        • Units of local government
        • Independent grocers or cooperatives with fewer than 500 employees and no more than four grocery locations. This includes for-profit and nonprofit entities.”
      • “Applicants not incorporating a pharmacy into the grocery store location are required to provide at least 25% of total grant project costs, representing a 1:3 match.”
      • “Applicants incorporating a pharmacy into the grocery store location are required to provide 15% of total project costs.”
      • “Eligibility for this program will be constrained by geographic location, characteristics of prospective store and its ownership, and the intended offerings of the store.” Please review the NOFO for a list of additional eligibility requirements.
    • Award Range: $500,000 - $5,200,000
    • Deadline: December 9, 2026 at 5:00pm
  • International Tourism Program (Round 2)
    • Description: “The International Tourism Grant Program is important to the State of Illinois' tourism industry to match/leverage local funds with State funds to promote destinations that are of interest to international travelers.”
    • Eligibility includes:
      • “Corporation – Not For Profit
      • Government Entity

That are specifically designated a Local Tourism and Convention Bureau certified by the Department to receive funds under 20 ILCS 605/705 and located outside the City of Chicago.” Please review the NOFO for a list of additional eligibility requirements.

  • Award Range: $10,000 - $200,000
  • Deadline: January 31, 2027 at 5:00pm
  • Illinois Grocery Initiative - Grocery Rescue Program
    • Description: “The Grocery Rescue Program is intended to facilitate the re-opening of grocery stores in low-access census tracts, preventing closures from leading to a long-term reduction in availability of fresh food in the community and the potential formation of new food deserts.”
    • Eligibility includes:
      • “Corporation – For Profit
      • Corporation – Not For Profit
      • Limited Liability Company
      • All Limited Partnerships
      • Agricultural Cooperative
      • Local Government Entity
      • Sole Proprietor
      • Special Act Corporation”
      • “Applicants are required to provide 25% of total project costs, representing a 1:3 match.”
      • “Eligibility for this program will be constrained by geographic location, characteristics of the prospective store and its ownership, and the intended offerings of the store.” Please review the NOFO for a list of additional eligibility requirements.
    • Award Range: $100,000 - $1,500,000
    • Deadline: June 30, 2027
  • Illinois Grocery Initiative - Equipment Upgrade Round 3
    • Description: “The Illinois Grocery Initiative Equipment Upgrades Program 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. Funds will reimburse grantees for costs to purchase and install new energy-efficient equipment.”
    • Eligibility includes:
      • "Corporation – For Profit,
      • Corporation – Not For Profit,
      • Limited Liability Company,
      • All Limited Partnerships,
      • Agricultural Cooperative,
      • Government Entity,
      • Sole Proprietor,
      • Special Act Corporation”
      • “Applicants are required to provide 25% of total project costs, representing a 1:3 match.”
      • Eligibility for this program will be constrained by characteristics of store ownership and the offerings of the store." Please review the NOFO for a list of additional eligibility requirements.
    • Award Range: $25,000 - $250,000
    • Deadline: Rolling
    • Small Business Development Centers
      • Description: “…“DCEO” is issuing this Notice of Funding Opportunity (“NOFO”) to seek qualified host organizations to operate Illinois Small Business Development Centers and provide program services.” “…Illinois SBDCs deliver professional, high-quality, individualized, confidential one-on-one advising and technical assistance to existing small businesses and pre-venture entrepreneurs.”
      • Eligibility includes:
        • “Fully accredited institutions of higher education such as public and private universities, state, and community colleges.
        • Private nonprofit organizations engaged in economic development activities.
        • Local counties or municipalities with established community/economic development departments and/or programs.
        • Public economic development institutions such as workforce investment boards and economic development corporations.“…specifically in the geographical areas noted below. Any areas outside of those listed below will not be considered.
  • This area includes:
    • This area includes: (this was updated in the NOFO in March 2, 2026)
              • City of Chicago Neighborhoods
                • Far Southeast Side (Chatham, Avalon Park, South Deering, Hegewisch, Riverdale, West Pullman, Roseland, Burnside, Calumet Heights, South Chicago)
              • Cook County Municipalities
                • Elgin
              • Counties
                • Grundy and Kankakee
        • Award Range: $80,000 - $525,000
        • Deadline: rolling
  • For a complete list of DCEO grants, please visit our website.
  • Local Governments
  • Carroll and Jo Daviess counties - Genz Small Business Development Fund
    • Description: “the Genz Small Business Development Fund was formalized in 2020 to assist individuals in the Galena Trade Area who have been turned down for a traditional bank loan. The fund, which totals over $500,000, is intended to serve as gap financing, to aid with pilot projects, or fill in gaps not filled by equity and traditional capital.”
    • Eligibility: includes “retailers, small manufacturers, wholesalers, those in the hospitality industry, along with farmers and food processors.”
    • Award Range: varies, past awards range from $4,000 - $19,000
    • Deadline: varies
  • Will County On-The-Job Training Grant (OJT)
    • Description: "This program will subsidize up to 50% of an eligible new hire wages while learning their new skill."
    • Award Range: up to 50% of the wage rate of the participant
    • Eligibility: employers "in a targeted industry, including Healthcare, Manufacturing, IT, Finance/Professional Services, and Transportation/Distribution/Logistics."
    • Deadline: varies
  • City of Carbondale - Downtown Facade Program (loan program)
    • Description: “The downtown façade improvement loan program was established in August 1990 and has been amended to meet the changing needs of downtown property owners. Structures eligible for the program must be located within the loan program area...”
    • Deadline: rolling
  • City of Champaign Storefront Improvement Program
    • Description: “The Storefront Improvement Program helps business and property owners improve the appearance of storefronts in the City’s Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts. The program provides financial assistance for exterior building improvements that make commercial areas more attractive and welcoming for customers.”
    • Eligibility: business owners in TIF districts
    • Award Range: up to $10,000 per building
    • Deadline: rolling
  • City of Chicago RFPs
    • Description: There are 3 RFPs open to nonprofits, etc.
      • Business Support
      • Capital Access
      • Peer Support
    • Deadline: November 6, 2026 at 12:00pm
  • City of Chicago Neighborhood Opportunity Fund
    • Description: “The Neighborhood Opportunity Fund (NOF) provides capital development grants up to $250,000 for small business and cultural projects located along West, Southwest, and South Side commercial corridors.”
    • Award Range: up to $250,000
    • Deadline: November 13, 2026 at 11:59 PM
  • City of Chicago: Community Development Grants
    • Description: “The City of Chicago helps support business and neighborhood vitality through Small, Medium and Large Community Development Grant (CDG) awards.” “Applications are open to business owners, property owners, non-profit organizations, community developers and entrepreneurs.”
    • Award Range: Depends on the level: Small – up to $250,000; Medium - $300,001 to $5 million; Large $5 million and up
    • Deadline: February 16, 2027 (for small and medium), rolling (large)
  • City of Chicago: Small Business Improvement Fund
    • Description: “promotes economic development by providing small businesses and property owners with reimbursement grants for permanent building improvement costs.”
    • Award Range: $75,000 multi-tenant properties, $150,000 commercial properties, and $250,000 industrial properties
    • Deadline: varies
  • Village of Romeoville Small Business Grant Program
    • Description: “Under this new program, a business may receive a grant of up to $5,000 towards eligible business startup costs, planning expenses, operating expenses, equipment and inventory costs, and other like expenses. The program also provides waivers for business license fees, inspection fees, and building permit fees for buildouts.”
    • Eligibility:
      • “Must be a for-profit business entity
      • Must have five or less employees and $1 million or less in annual receipts
      • This program applies solely to start-ups moving into a permanent commercial space”
      • “To be eligible for the grant, a business must have a physical location in a commercial building in Romeoville…”
    • Award Range: “Matching Funds – Up to 50% of eligible costs (Maximum Amount $5,000”
  • Private/Community Resources
  • NBA Foundation
    • Description: “NBA Foundation invests in making grants to local and national organizations serving under-resourced youth ages 14-24, that promote school-to-career employment opportunities, including job readiness, skill training, job placement, and career advancement.” NBA Foundation will be hosting a webinar on the grant on September 28, 2026 at 1:00pm, to register, click HERE. Open to eligible nonprofits.
    • Award Range: lowest grant is $25,000 and average grant size is $250,000
    • Deadline: October 31, 2026
  • The Sephora Beauty Grant
    • Description: “…grant designed to support and elevate beauty businesses led by underrepresented founders.” Open nationwide.
    • Award Range: $100,000
    • Deadline: November 6, 2026
  • Verizon and U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation – Small Business Readiness for Resiliency (R4R) Mitigation Grant
    • Description: “Sponsored by Verizon and administered through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation the program rewards small businesses that complete a Disaster Resilience course on Verizon's Small Business Digital Ready platform by giving them an opportunity to compete for grants that fund disaster risk reduction.” “Once complete, businesses can sign up and apply for the R4R Mitigation Grant.”
    • Eligibility:
      • Interested applicants must complete one of the following “eligible free Disaster Resilience courses on Verizon’s Small Business Digital Ready platform”
      • “Any small business (500 employees or less), with an Employee Identification Number (EIN) that meets the additional program criteria outlined in our Terms and Conditions”
    • Award Range: Only 25 applicants will be awarded $5,000 grants
    • Deadline: Sunday, November 15, 2026
  • Verizon Small Business Digital Ready $10,000 national grant
    • Description: Verizon, in partnership with LISC, will award $10,000 national grants to small businesses throughout the year. Each month, 10 small businesses will be selected for grants.
    • Award Range: $10,000
    • Deadline: Rolling from June – December 2026
  • Ameren Illinois Non-Residential Hardship Grant Application
    • Description: Ameren is offering this energy assistance program to customers experiencing hardship.
    • Eligibility: "To qualify for assistance through the Non-Residential Hardship Program, you must be a small business or 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization experiencing hardship, and an active Ameren Illinois customer.”
    • Award Range: $1,000
    • Deadline: Rolling until funding has been depleted
  • Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council Commercial Lease Grant
    • Description: "to lease vacant commercial space in McLean County (must be new lease space, not a relocation)."
    • Eligibility: "The grant is targeted for Small Businesses registered to do business in the State of Illinois and with a business plan approved by the Illinois Small Business Development Center of McLean County at Illinois Wesleyan University."
    • Award Range: $10,000
    • Deadline: varies
  • Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC) – Food & Beverage Apprenticeship Grant
    • Description: “IMEC (Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center) works directly with manufacturers, including food and beverage companies, to design apprenticeship programs that fit real production environments leading to improved employee engagement and retention.” “IMEC manages everything for you: program design, registration, compliance, reporting, and funding guidance. You get a proven apprenticeship program without the hassle.”
    • Award Range: “Funding is limited and available on a first-come basis and slots are limited”
    • Deadline: Rolling
  • Down Payment Assistance Program (DPAP)
    • Description: “SomerCor helps small businesses purchase owner-occupied commercial real estate through the Small Business Administration (SBA) 504 financing. With SomerCor’s new Down Payment Assistance Program (DPAP), eligible businesses in Cook County can receive a grant to reduce upfront costs when purchasing their first building.”
    • Award Range: up to $25,000
  • American Heart Association Ventures – Social Impact Funds
    • Description: “The Social Impact Funds support community-led transformation by strategically deploying capital to social entrepreneurs who are using their lived experience to tackle three vital social drivers of health [health care access & quality, food security and economic empowerment]”. “…currently accepting applications for projects in Chicago, Florida, Los Angeles, Minnesota, New York City, Philadelphia, Toledo and West Virginia. Both for-profit and nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply for funding from the Social Impact Funds.”
    • Award Range: $150,000 – $500,000
  • The Community Foundation for McHenry County – Emergency Grants
    • Description: “The Community Foundation for McHenry County is committed to enhancing county services and expanding financial support to local non-profits.” “The Emergency Grant program supports nonprofits facing unexpected expenses that significantly impact their ability to fulfill their mission or deliver services. This grant is intended to help organizations address unbudgeted, unforeseen, and time-sensitive emergencies.”
    • Award Range: unknown
    • Deadline: “This grant operates on a rolling application cycle”
  • ComED Small-Medium Business Customer Relief Fund
    • Description: “The fund is intentionally designed to support small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) customers by offering one-time matching grants up to $500 to help offset a past-due bill balances and improve financial stability.”
    • Eligibility: “The fund is available to eligible small- and medium-sized business (under 500 kW) customers who are behind on electric bill payments.”

“Business must meet these eligibility criteria to apply including:

  • Active service at the time of application
  • Past-due bill balance
  • No unpaid tampering fees and no bankruptcy
  • Commercial Meter Account
  • Home-based businesses and Non-Profit organizations are ineligible not eligible; these groups qualified to receive assistance from last year’s customer relief fund.”
    • Award Range: “one-time matching grants up to $500”
    • Deadline: “Funding will be available on a first-come, first-served basis while funds last."
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