Financial resources for local governments, businesses and non-profits

Businesses and Non-Profits

Rebuild Distressed Communities

What: Rebuild Distressed Communities is a $25 million economic recovery program to support economically distressed Illinois businesses and communities that have sustained property damage due to civil unrest on or after May 25th, 2020. DCEO has partnered with two community organizations, Local Initiative Services Corporation (LISC) and Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives, Inc. (CNI), to operate the program on behalf of DCEO. The Rebuild Distressed Communities grant program will reimburse the cost of repairs for structural damages, including repairs to storefronts and entrances, improving electrical systems, and restoring exterior work. For work yet to be completed, LISC and CNI will partner with local contractors and pay for them to perform the work.

Potential applicants: Businesses and non-profits that have sustained property damage as a result of civil unrest during protests and demonstrations on or after May 25, 2020. Businesses located in the zip codes listed here are eligible to apply.  Businesses not listed in those zip codes may still be eligible if they operate in an economically distressed area, listed here, and may apply to have their zip code included.

How Much: $25 million total. Grants will be made in amounts ranging from $1,000 to $200,000.

Due: Round 1 has closed, but Round 2 will be open in the coming weeks. In the meantime, applicants can prepare their application and receive technical assistance.

Apply: To prepare an application, click here. 

Wet Lab Capital Program

What: Wet labs are laboratories with specialized ventilation and utility connections to allow for research of chemicals and materials. They are critical for life sciences innovation to thrive but require large amounts of physical space and are costly to build. Available wet lab space is scarce throughout Illinois, which limits the competitiveness of the state’s life sciences sector, despite our other advantages. This grant will encourage the development of wet lab space that will be multi-tenant shared space available to incubators, corporations, university researchers, and start-ups.

Potential applicants: Likely non-profits or businesses that have experience in development of wet lab facilities, but all are eligible.

How Much: $9 million. We anticipate awarding 1 to 4 grants.

Due: January 27^th, 2021 at 5pm

Apply: Applicants can apply online here. They can submit questions on this NOFO by clicking here.

 

Downstate Local Governments

Downstate Manufacturing Training Academies

What: Illinois will establish two new innovative Manufacturing Trainings Academies that will expand opportunities for skills training, boost retention of manufacturers in downstate communities, and attract more investment by manufacturing companies throughout Illinois. These academies will offer specialized training that’s not widely available at downstate community colleges for high-demand manufacturing jobs such as machinery mechanics and computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine operators and programmers.

Potential applicants: Community college districts or coalitions of community college districts in downstate Illinois.

How Much: $15 million for two grants.

Due: January 31^st, 2021 at 5pm

More Info: Original press release here.

Local CURE’s Economic Support Payments Grant Program

What: This program will reimburse local governments for providing grants to businesses that have experienced interruption of business attributable to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Potential applicants: Local governments outside of Cook, DuPage, Lake, Will, and Kane Counties.

How Much: $15 million, but there will likely be more money added to the program next month.

Due: Applications will be evaluated every two weeks until the funding is exhausted

More Info: FAQs can be found here.

 

Broadband

Connect Illinois Broadband Grant Program (Round 2)

What: Connect Illinois will support expanded broadband connections in new communities across the state. The application for the second round of funding largely mirrors requirements of the first application – including a 50 percent match in most cases. To ensure an equal playing field, the administration has instituted an exemption allowing a lower nonstate match for project proposals concerning economically distressed communities. This program change acknowledges the difficulty of connecting the hardest-to-serve areas of Illinois, and the compounding challenges created by the COVID-19 crisis, allowing underserved communities to be competitive when applying for critical infrastructure dollars.

Potential applicants: Eligible applicants include internet service providers, rural cooperatives, nonprofits and local governments.

How Much: $50 million. Up to $5 million per project.  

Due: March 1^st, 2021 at 11:59 PM  

More Info: Original press release here.

Illinois Connected Communities Grant Program

What: The Illinois Connected Communities (ICC) program underwrites the cost of expert consultative services, and access to best practice curriculum, will be made available to assist with planning and progress around broadband access, adoption, and utilization.  A first round of state grant funding, combined with a philanthropic match, was directed to 12 community-based organizations in July to assist with planning to ensure access, adoption and utilization of high-speed broadband. This latest round will allow communities to apply for up to funding that will support community based broadband planning and capacity building.

Potential applicants: Local governments, libraries, schools, and various local organizations.

How Much: $150k, grant awards up to $15k.

Due: January 25^th, 2021

Broadband Regional Engagement for Adoption and Digital Equity (READY)

What: Broadband READY grants will direct funding to identify current digital inequities as well as next steps in creating a digital inclusion ecosystem through regional collaboration among community and economic development organizations, education, local leaders and other related stakeholders.

Potential applicants: Public hospitals, libraries, park districts, and schools, senior citizen homes, and other public and private nonprofit or for-profit agencies and organizations.

How Much: $250k, grant awards up to $50k.

Due: December 23^rd, 2020 at 5pm

 

Digital Navigator Collaboration

What: Navigators will work to address the digital inclusion process – including home connectivity, devices, and digital skills. Digital navigators will assess residents’ needs and connect with them to resources that match their households’ lifestyles. These navigators can be volunteers or cross-trained staff who already work in social service agencies, libraries, healthcare, and more and who will offer remote and socially distant in-person guidance.

Potential applicants: Local governments; libraries; schools; churches; or similarly oriented nonprofit organizations already serving communities with low broadband adoption, including institutions of higher education.

How Much: None. Membership in the Illinois Connected Community Digital Navigator Program is a non-monetary award to eligible applicants.

Due: January 11^th, 2021

Koehler encourages local fire departments to apply for equipment grant

PEORIA – State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) wants to make sure all fire departments and ambulance services know that the Office of the State Fire Marshal is accepting applications for its Small Equipment Grant Program.

“During a time when local governments will rely on every last dollar, this grant program helps our firefighters and EMS providers buy vital equipment like masks and gloves,” Koehler said. “I encourage local fire departments and ambulance services to apply for this grant program.”

The program was created to help Illinois fire departments and not-for-profit ambulance services that struggle to afford the necessary equipment to do their jobs.

In June, the Small Equipment Grant Program awarded $3.5 million to 154 fire departments and EMS providers. Applicants can also apply for personal infection control items such as masks, gowns and gloves.

“We rely on our first responders, who have continued to work even during this pandemic,” Koehler said. “I’m thankful that the Office of the State Fire Marshal has this program to help them stay safe.”

Most Illinois fire departments, fire protection districts and township fire departments are eligible to apply. Stand-alone, not-for-profit ambulance service providers are eligible to apply as well.

For more information, visit the state fire marshal’s website.

Koehler announces $16.7 million in public transportation improvements in Peoria

PEORIA – The Greater Peoria Mass Transit District was named a recipient of a $16.7 million grant to improve Peoria’s mass transit system, State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) announced Friday.

“It’s an unfortunate truth that public transportation systems can easily fall into disrepair, which creates issues for people without reliable access to a vehicle,” Koehler said. “Whether it’s for commuting to work, making a trip to the grocery store, or picking up your child from school, people have to have reliable public transportation systems. This is an important investment to make in Peoria.”

Grant funds will be used for new or renovated buses, transit stations and maintenance facilities. This is the first of three grant cycles for mass transit projects through the Rebuild Illinois plan, with the next two set to occur in 2021 and 2023.

A complete list of local providers and awards can be viewed at https://idot.click/rbi-capital-plan-transit-grants.

Koehler announces $1,425,000 in Business Interruption Grant funding for 28 local businesses

PEORIA – State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) announced several local businesses will receive financial assistance from the Business Interruption Grant program to help offset financial losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The BIG program has demonstrated what can be done when we lawmakers in Springfield put our heads together and proactively seek ways to help those we serve,” Koehler said. “Because of this, businesses that have served our communities for generations are able to continue operations.”

28 businesses in the tri-county area received a combined $1,425,000 in $5,000-$150,000 grants to help cover the costs of payroll, rent, utilities and other working capital during the time they have experienced interruptions due to the pandemic.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity awarded the grants this week, as part of the second round of BIG Grants. However, applications will remain open until all of the funding is spent.

“In order for our local business community to prosper through the winter we need them to take advantage of every opportunity available,” Koehler said. “There is still plenty of money available, but it won’t be there for long. I encourage all business owners to check their eligibility and apply as soon as possible.”

The BIG program is the largest state-run economic support program formed in response to the financial losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Applications are available on the DCEO’s website.