Illinois Business and Commerce Grants

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is offering the Manufacturing Retention Grant Program. This program is designed to help manufacturing companies maintain their operational presence within Illinois. Its core mission is to encourage businesses to invest in their workforce, facilities, equipment, technologies, and infrastructure, thereby securing existing jobs and fostering economic stability in the state. The program is supported through the Enterprise Fund, administered by DCEO, which typically funds a broad range of economic development projects. The primary beneficiaries of this grant are private for-profit business entities that operate a major manufacturing complex in Bushnell, Illinois, specifically within McDonough County. These companies must have less than 1,000 employees and extensive experience in tool manufacturing. A key eligibility criterion is the requirement to have acquired a tool manufacturing firm in McDonough County with a minimum of 100 full-time equivalent employees. The grant's impact goal is to retain these companies' manufacturing campuses at operating production levels that support at least 100 employees at the Bushnell site. The program prioritizes job retention in Illinois through various investments. Eligible expenses encompass employee payroll for existing employees (including backpay incurred from May 14, 2024), invoices for services, training expenses for existing employees, and significant capital improvements. These improvements include refurbishment or replacement of machinery, equipment, and tooling (e.g., forging hammers, Swiss lathes), facility repairs (e.g., roof repair, electrical upgrades), productivity and innovation initiatives (e.g., robotics reprogramming, induction heat furnaces), and the replenishment of inventory to maintain standard stocking levels for daily production. The expected outcome of the Manufacturing Retention Grant Program is the successful retention of manufacturing operations and a minimum employment level of 100 employees at the Bushnell site. Measurable results will be directly tied to the utilization of the $5,000,000 total funding, with a performance period spanning from September 1, 2024, through August 31, 2026. The DCEO's strategic priority, as evidenced by this program, is to safeguard manufacturing jobs and foster a robust economic environment within Illinois, aligning with a theory of change that posits direct investment in established manufacturing entities will lead to sustained employment and economic growth.

This grant provides funding to arts organizations in Chicago and Cook County to help them adapt and innovate their operations and practices, with a focus on supporting BIPOC-led initiatives and fostering long-term sustainability.

This grant provides financial support and mentorship to early-stage cleantech entrepreneurs in the Midwest who are developing innovative solutions to promote economic growth and environmental sustainability.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations that host tourism-related events in Woodstock, helping to attract overnight visitors and boost the local economy.

This grant provides financial support to independently owned legacy businesses along the historic Route 66 corridor, focusing on preservation projects that enhance visibility and sustainability, particularly for underrepresented communities.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to private and non-profit developers, property owners, and businesses for commercial, mixed-use, and light manufacturing projects that enhance community vitality in Chicago.

This grant provides funding to under-resourced communities in the Mississippi River Delta and Alabama Black Belt regions to develop strategic plans that address local economic development challenges.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations and individuals in Rockford to develop programs that address economic development, violence prevention, and community reinvestment in areas disproportionately affected by past cannabis laws.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for commercial, cultural, industrial, and mixed-use development projects in Chicago, aimed at enhancing community development and economic growth.

This program provides financial support for small businesses, cultural institutions, and select non-profits in underserved neighborhoods of Chicago to make significant capital improvements to their properties.

This program provides financial support to established and new tech incubators in Illinois to modernize facilities and enhance resources for startups, particularly in underserved areas.

This program provides funding to nonprofit organizations in Suburban Cook County to promote digital equity by improving access to technology, enhancing digital skills, and fostering community collaboration.

This scholarship provides financial assistance to high-achieving graduating high school seniors from specific counties in Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky who plan to pursue higher education.

This program provides financial support to licensed family childcare providers in specific Indiana and Illinois counties to help them overcome barriers to achieving high-quality childcare designations.

This grant provides financial support for projects that improve economic development and quality of life in rural Illinois communities, encouraging collaboration among local organizations to address challenges like funding shortages and infrastructure needs.

The Consolidated Communications Fund for Economic Development and Community Leadership Grants, provided by the Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation, offers financial support to nonprofit organizations in Coles County, Illinois, that aim to enhance workforce skills, entrepreneurship, and business development environment, with a focus on projects that build organizational strength and leadership capacity in areas like fundraising, governance, finance, marketing, and technology.

This program provides financial support to Illinois-based businesses and organizations for new or improved tourism events that attract visitors from outside the state, promoting regional economic development.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations that assist socially and economically disadvantaged individuals and very small businesses in Northern Illinois, helping them access capital and improve their financial readiness through legal, accounting, and advisory services.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations that promote affordable housing, workforce development through education and training, or small business growth to enhance community well-being.

This grant provides financial support to Black entrepreneurs who are positively impacting their communities, helping them grow and sustain their businesses.