Illinois State Grants

Funding Opportunities

Illinois Reproductive Health Facilities Capital Grant Program
What: This opportunity will support reproductive health care providers in Illinois that are experiencing increased demand for their services. Projects could include improvements and repairs, new construction, security upgrades, and equipment to increase capacity and enhance safety. This includes the purchase of vehicles for mobile care units. Facilities must provide or plan to provide abortion care as defined in the Illinois Reproductive Health Act.
Potential Applicants: Nonprofit and for-profit clinics providing or planning to provide pregnancy-related services in a clinical setting. Extra points will be awarded for projects in rural or underserved areas.
How Much: $5 million total, grants will range between $50,000 and $500,000. A 15% total project cash match is required.
Deadline: Rolling until funds are depleted
Apply: Apply HERE.

Digital Equity Capacity Kickstarter Grant Program
What: The Digital Equity Capacity Kickstarter continues our commitment to broadband access, adoption, and use – all through the lens of digital equity and inclusion. DCEO is seeking organizations that will promote low-cost broadband programs (like the Affordable Connectivity Program), provide training on digital literacy, provide access to computers, or advance a community’s broadband access vision and goals.
Potential Applicants: Nonprofit organizations, local governments, public libraries, and school districts. 
How Much: $1 million total. Awards may range from $30k to $300k. Matching funds are encouraged but not required.
Deadline: Rolling
Apply: Apply HERE.

Federal Support Grant Program
What: Competitive federal grants typically require matching funds. Illinois-based businesses and organizations seeking federal grants that align with the State’s economic development objectives can apply for this grant to have the State cover a part of the match. Applicants can apply for this program while they are preparing an application for a federal grant. If they are successful, they will then receive a letter of commitment that they will be awarded a DCEO grant contingent on receiving a federal award.
Potential Applicants: Nonprofits, educational institutions, local governments, and businesses.
How Much: $15 million total funding available. Awards are capped at $2 million, and must match the applicant’s cash contribution at least 1:1.
Deadline:  Rolling
Apply: Information can be found HERE.

Connect Illinois Round 3 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.

Illinois Grocery Initiative – Equipment Upgrades Program 
Program Details: The Illinois Grocery Initiative Equipment Upgrades Grant Program (NOFO 3295-2671) will provide grants for energy-efficient equipment upgrades for existing independently owned grocery stores. Grant awards may vary from $25,000 to $250,000 per applicant. See the press release here - Gov. Pritzker Announces $3.5 Million Available in Grants for Local Grocers to Preserve Access to Fresh Food (illinois.gov)
Eligible Applicants: Independently owned for-profit grocery stores, coop grocery stores and not-for-profit grocery stores with fewer than 500 employees and no more than four existing grocery stores. 
Application Deadline: March 25, 2024 
Apply Here 

Tourism Incentive Grant Program 
Program Details: The Tourism Incentive Grant Program will provide grant funding for establishment of an incentive grant program used by eligible entities to attract new out-of-state events to Illinois when competing with other states’ destinations. It may also be used to retain existing business when documentation is provided that the entity is competing against other states’ destinations to retain the business in Illinois. Grant funds for the incentive program cannot be offered to an event if multiple Illinois destinations are in competition for this same event. $15 million total, grants will range between $50,000 and $5,000,000. 
Eligible Applicants: Units of local government, local promotion groups, not-for-profit organizations and convention center authorities 
Application Deadline: May 1, 2024
Apply Here 

Equitable Energy Future Grant Program 
Program Details: This program provides front-loaded funding to support development of energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, businesses, community organizations, and job creation benefitting historically disadvantaged populations. Approximately $25,500,000 total will be available with grants ranging between $250,000 and $1,000,000. 
Eligible Applicants: Equity Eligible Contractors; businesses, nonprofits that met equity building criteria; and equity eligible persons. 
Application Deadline: June 24, 2024 
Apply Here 

State Job Training and Workforce Programs – Workforce Services for Low and Moderate Income Individuals Including Immigrants, Migrants, and Refugees 
Program Details: This program will provide workforce and training services to underserved communities, particularly immigrants, migrants, and refugees. who need the training to access employment or skill upgrades to advance in their employment. The workers must currently reside in Illinois and are eligible to work in Illinois at the completion of the program - definitions for these participants are listed online.  
Eligible Applicants: All applicants must demonstrate partnerships with employers and educational entities to create local and regional strategies. Additionally, applicants should consider incorporating Barrier Reduction funding into the training strategy to support participant completion of training and retention in employment. 
Application Deadline: June 30, 2024 
Apply Here

Community Development Block Grant-Coronavirus Urban Shelter Program  
Program Details: DCEO is proud to announce the Urban Shelter grant program (NOFO 3351-2722) is funded by the Community Development Block Grant – Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Designed to increase shelter capacity to pre-COVID levels, activities must relate to the prevention of, preparation for, or response to Coronavirus. Grants are available for no less than $500,000 and no more than $2 million. Eligible activities must relate to one of the following HUD-defined codes:  

• 01 Acquisition: CDBG-CV funds will be used only for the acquisition of property for a public purpose.  

• 03C Homeless Facilities (not operating costs): Funds for construction, conversion, renovation or rehabilitation of shelters for the homeless, including shelters for domestic violence victims. 

• 03Q Abused and Neglected Children’s Facilities (not operating costs): Funds for construction, conversion, renovation or rehabilitation of shelters providing temporary housing for abused and neglected children. 

Eligible Applicants: Although CDBG funds coming to the State are normally used in rural areas, due to the CARES Act funding, this specific grant is available only in areas that receive their own direct allocation of CDBG funds. Eligible communities include: Arlington Heights, Aurora, Berwyn, Bloomington, Champaign, Chicago, Cicero, Danville, Decatur, DeKalb, Des Plaines, Elgin, Evanston, Hoffman Estates, Joliet, Kankakee, Moline, Mount Prospect, Naperville, Normal, Oak Lawn, Oak Park, Palatine, Pekin, Peoria, Rantoul, Rockford, Rock Island, Schaumburg, Skokie, Springfield, Urbana, Waukegan, and communities within the counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, Madison, McHenry, St. Clair, and Will. Review additional eligibility requirements. 
Application Deadline: July 31, 2024 
Apply Here 

Cannabis Social Equity Direct Forgivable Loan Program  
Program Details: DCEO’s Direct Forgivable Loan (DFL) Program responds to feedback from license holders continuing to face systemic barriers to accessing capital and becoming operational. Direct Forgivable Loans are fully financed by the State of Illinois, offering a significant grace period, low interest rates, and full principal forgiveness upon receiving proof of eligible expenses. Interest Rates are 4% after an 18-month grace period of no required payments and 0% interest; applicants can also pursue forgiveness prior to any interest accruing. The loan principal is 100% forgivable upon providing documentation for eligible business expenses. 
Eligible Applicants: The current round of the Cannabis Social Equity Direct Forgivable Loan Program is only open for social equity Adult-Use Dispensing organizations who were issued a Conditional Adult-Use Dispensary License or Adult-Use Dispensary License prior to calendar year 2023 from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).   
Application Deadline: The application deadline is Wednesday, April 17, 2024. Applicants must fill out documents and complete the Smartsheet Application Form. Late submissions will not be reviewed or accepted.  
Apply Here 

Additional information on state grant opportunities can be found in the CSFA | GATA | Illinois.gov.

Any questions regarding listings should be addressed to the specific agency posting the opportunity - a list of agencies with grant programs can also be found in the CSFA linked above.

General questions about the CSFA may be addressed to omb.gata@illinois.gov.