Skip to content

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 
  • CDBG Public Infrastructure Program
    • Description: “The purpose of grants relative to the Public Infrastructure (PI) Notice of Funding Opportunity is to fund water and sanitary systems and storm sewer construction projects that alleviate public health, safety, and public welfare and help communities with substantial low to moderate-income populations. Project areas must be primarily residential in character.”
    • Eligibility includes: “Only units of general local government (i.e., cities, villages, townships and counties) may apply for funding.”… “Municipalities must not be a HUD direct Entitlement community or be located in an urban county that receives "entitlement" funds.”
    • Award Range: $300,000 - $1,500,000
    • Deadline: August 27, 2026 at 5:00 PM
  • CDBG Housing Rehabilitation Program
    • Description: “The purpose of grants relative to the Housing Rehabilitation (HR) Notice of Funding Opportunity is to provide units of general local government with funds to address housing needs of eligible low-to-moderate income (LMI) households. The program targets projects which preserve singlefamily, owner-occupied housing needing rehabilitation and encourage neighborhood revitalization.”
    • Eligibility includes: “Only units of general local government (i.e., cities, villages, townships and counties) may apply for funding.”… “Municipalities must not be a HUD direct Entitlement community or be located in an urban county that receives "entitlement" funds.”
    • Award Range: $300,000 - $800,000
    • Deadline: August 27, 2026 at 5:00 PM
    • 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

    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).”
    • For a complete list of DCEO grants, please visit our website.

 

  • Additional State Government
  • Illinois Arts Council – Creative Projects Grant
    • Description: The goal of this grant is “to support art projects for Illinois artists, eligible not-for-profit organizations, municipal entities, or colleges and universities.”
    • Award Range: “up to $12,000”
    • Deadline: "until funds are expended”

 

  • Federal Government
  • USDA Rural Business Development Grants in Illinois
    • Description: “Rural Business Development Grants (RBDGs) support targeted technical assistance, training, and other activities that promote the development and expansion of small and emerging private businesses in rural areas. Eligible businesses must have fewer than 50 employees and less than $1 million in gross annual revenues. RBDG funding is separated into either enterprise or opportunity-type grant activities.”
    • Eligibility includes:
      • Applicants must be from an eligible area:
        • “The RBDG supports projects benefiting rural areas outside of urbanized areas that have populations of 50,000 or more. You can use the USDA Income and Property Eligibility site (available at this link: tinyurl.com/8ysytefa) to determine your area’s eligibility.”
      • “Eligible applicants include:
        • Rural cooperatives
        • State government agencies, towns, and communities
        • Nonprofit corporations and institutions of higher learning
        • Federally recognized Tribes
        • Important: Neither individuals nor for-profit businesses or organizations are eligible to apply for RBDGs.”
    • Award Range: “Generally, grants range from $10,000 to $500,000, and there is no cost-sharing requirement. Opportunity-type grants are limited to no more than 10 percent of the total available RBDG funds.”
    • Deadline: “two different closing dates: 1) June 15, 2026, only applies to Strategic Economic and Community Development (SECD) applications and 2) June 30, 2026, applies to the remainder of the applicants”
  • Local Governments
  • 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
  • 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 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
  • Cook County Community Violence Intervention Grants
    • Description: "provide eligible Community Violence Intervention (CVI) services in Chicago and Suburban Cook County ... CVI is an evidence-backed, community-led violence prevention model that leverages services and programing to reach and support individuals at the highest risk of being involved in gun violence."
    • Eligibility: community-based non-profit organizations
    • Deadline: August 3, 2026
  • City of Chicago Community Development Grant
    • 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: Small: up to $250,000; Medium: $300,001 to $5 million and Large: $5 million and up
    • Deadline: Small and Medium due August 14, 2026 and Large accepted on rolling basis
  • City of Chicago Neighborhood Opportunity Fund
    • Description: “The Neighborhood Opportunity Fund (NOF) provides capital development grants…for small business and cultural projects located along West, Southwest, and South Side commercial corridors. NOF grants are provided as reimbursement for up to 75% of eligible project expenses…”
    • Award Range: up to $250,000
    • Deadline: August 14, 2026
  • Village of Gurnee – Impact Grant
    • Description: “This is a 1:1 matching grant open to a business of any size located within the Village of Gurnee corporate limits, generate sales tax, in good standing with the Village and compliant with all obligations, & a building owner of a qualifying business. No minimum project size with a rolling application period.”
    • Award Range: $10,000 - $20,000
  • Private/Community Resources
  • Fempreneur Poder Hub 2026 Grant Opportunity
    • Description: “Fempreneur Poder Hub is committed to supporting microbusiness owners across Illinois by providing equitable access to entrepreneurship opportunities and business support resources.” Open statewide to eligible businesses.
  • 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."
  • Wells Fargo Neighborhood Growth Grants: Bronzeville
    • Description: “The Wells Fargo Neighborhood Growth Grants program is coming to Bronzeville and beyond, in collaboration with A4CB. Eligible small businesses can apply for $25,000 grants to take their next steps, whether that’s expanding operations, upgrading equipment, or strengthening their foundation.”
    • Eligibility: “All selected grantees must:
      • Demonstrate at least one year of operation by providing a 2024 or 2025 business tax return
      • Be organized as a for-profit business
      • Maintain a physical storefront located in one of the following Chicago community areas: Washington Park, Fuller Park, Grand Boulevard, Woodlawn, Douglas, Oakland, or Kenwood
      • Report recent annual revenue between $100,000 and $2,000,000
      • Be in good standing with the Illinois Secretary of State
      • Maintain a valid business bank account
      • Hold a valid state ID”
    • Award Range: “eligible small businesses can apply for $25,000 grants”

Deadline: July 10 at 5:00 PM

  • The Summer 2026 Makers Mindset Grant
    • Description: “The Makers Mindset Grant exists to fuel early-stage women founders building ambitious, thoughtfully crafted consumer brands.” Open nationwide to businesses that are women owned (at least 51%), annual revenue of over $50,000 and no greater than $1 million, been generating revenue for at least one year and businesses sell a CPG product in beauty, food, beverage, pet, tech goods, or home goods.
    • Award Range: $10,000
    • Deadline: July 10, 2026
  • The Indigenous Tomorrows Fund: 2026 Grant
    • Description: “ITF will cultivate grant partnerships with Native-led and Native-serving organizations across the U.S. and its territories…”
    • Award Range: depending on tier: Seed - $25,000; Sustain - $65,000; and Synergize - $100,000
    • Deadline: July 14, 2026
  • Route 66 Centennial – Preservation & Economic Development Grant Program
    • Description: “The Route 66 Preservation and Economic Development Grant Program [Route 66 PED Grant Program] seeks to support businesses and attractions located along Route 66.”
    • Award Range: “… up to $35,000 will be awarded. This will consist of as many as fourteen awards of up to $2,500 each”
    • Eligibility: “Businesses and attractions that ARE ELIGIBLE to apply include those that:
      • Are physically located on a Route 66 alignment (i.e., a “brick-and-mortar” location) and/or operate in a Route 66 neighborhood or community
      • Employ fewer than 20 full-time employees (including the company owners)
      • Are a registered business entity in good standing in the state where they were formed and the state in which they do business. Note: Four grant awards will specifically target automotive entities, including independent auto repair or mechanic shops, along Route 66, per funding support from Bosch Wiper Blades.
      • Independently travel the road, serving other businesses/attractions along Route 66, including, for example: small tour operators, suppliers with Route 66 as their sales region, etc
      • Are small, locally-owned franchises with five or fewer locations”
    • Deadline: July 27, 2026
  • Small Business All-Pros
    • Description: “The Chicago Bears …announced the return of Small Business All-Pros presented by PNC, a signature community initiative that recognizes local entrepreneurs whose businesses help drive economic growth, create opportunity and strengthen neighborhoods across Chicagoland.”
    • Award Range: “…four-week marketing partnership with the Chicago Bears during the 2026 season”
    • Deadline: July 29, 2026 at 11:59pm
  • AT&T Small Business Contest
    • Description: “Any certified small business located in the United States or Puerto Rico is eligible to apply. AT&T defines a small business as an organization with one (1) to five (5) locations and up to 99 or fewer full- or part-time employees.”
    • Award Range: $5,000 or $50,000, AT&T service, etc.
    • Deadline: July 31, 2026
  • Press Forward Chicago
    • Description: “....Press Forward Chicago grants is focused on collaborations, shared resources and/or infrastructure benefitting local media. This opportunity is open to Chicago-area media entities and organizations who can bring viable solutions to increasing sustainability of this vital landscape.”
    • Award Range: $10,000 - $20,000 in one- or two- year grants
    • Deadline: July 31, 2026 by 11:59 p.m. CST
  • The Changing the Game Grant
    • Description: Open nationwide, “…grants for the founders creating community-centered, food and beverage-focused spaces where women’s sports are the main event”
    • Award Range: $20,000
    • Deadline: July 31, 2026 at 10:59pm
  • Shophand $5k Small Business Boost Grant
    • Description: Open nationwide to “Any U.S.-based small business owner facing challenges in: Creative & Media, Development & IT, Finance, Management, Marketing & Sales, Operations & Customer Experience” and who meet the eligibility criteria.
    • Award Range: “$2,500 in no-strings-attached cash” and “$2,500 in Shophand technical support + services”
    • Deadline: August 1, 2026
  • Safety First Grant
    • Description: Open to 501(c)3 nonprofits or government entities that operate in Norfolk Southern’s 22 state network (this includes Illinois), project must be 30 minutes from Norfolk Southern main line and be in alignment with one of Norfolk Southern’s focus areas.
    • Award Range: $1,000 to $15,000
    • Deadline: August 3, 2026
  • Thriving Communities Grant
    • Description: Open to 501(c)3 nonprofits that operate in Norfolk Southern’s 22 state network (this includes Illinois), project must be 30 minutes from Norfolk Southern main line and be in alignment with one of Norfolk Southern’s focus areas.
    • Award Range: $1,000 to $50,0000
    • Deadline: August 3, 2026
  • Metro East Start-Up Challenge
    • Description: “...business plan competition to identify, encourage, and reward excellence in entrepreneurship in the St. Louis Metro East region (now including Fayette, Macoupin, and Montgomery Counties).”
    • Award Range: $28,000 in total cash prizes (grants vary from: $1,500 - $10,000)
    • Deadline: June 14, 2026 - August 9, 2026
  • Game On-Community Places to Play Initiative
    • Description: Open nationwide. "Funding will be awarded to non-profit community-based organizations, including schools and local parks and recreation departments working in collaboration with local non-profit community-based organizations.” “...toward the cost of building or refurbishing a sport court facility or athletic field whose main usage will be for organized youth sports.”
    • Award Range: $50,000-$100,000
    • Deadline: August 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
  • Etsy Emergency Relief Fund at CERF+
    • Description: “The Etsy Fund at Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF+) provides disaster relief grants to eligible Etsy sellers on a monthly basis”
    • Eligibility: “All Etsy sellers are eligible for a grant if they have experienced a federally declared natural disaster within the past year, have been an active seller on Etsy for at least one year, and their accounts with Etsy are in good standing”
    • Award Range: “Grants of $2,000 are available to sellers when they apply. The amount and frequency of grants will depend on the amount of money available in the fund at any given time”
    • Deadline: Rolling; “Your application will be viable for one year following the date of the disaster you suffered”
Scroll To Top