SUBMIT NOMINATIONS FOR OPPORTUNITY ZONES

• Opportunity Zones 
  • Description: “The State of Illinois is undertaking a comprehensive approach to reviewing and selecting the next census tracts for recommendations for federal "Opportunity Zone" designation. An important part of this decision-making process will be the insights and recommendations provided by those most familiar with their communities. We welcome you to provide feedback through the form linked below with as much detail and information as possible to help inform Illinois' next Opportunity Zones.”
  • Deadline: April 30, 2026
  • Submit a nomination HERE

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

DCEO (few highlighted below)

• Regional Site Readiness Program - Capital Ready - Round 2
  • Description: “…to support infrastructure and other capital improvements on sites across the state to advance the readiness of properties with industrial and manufacturing economic development potential.”
  • Eligibility includes: 
    • “Local governments
    • Economic development organizations… 
    • Nonprofit organizations
    • For-profit organizations
    • Private landowner”
  • Award Range: $100,000 - $5,000,000
  • Deadline: April 30, 2026 at 5:00 PM (extended) or until funds are exhausted (applications accepted on rolling basis) 

• Regional Site Readiness Program – Planning – Round 2
  • Description: “…to support planning and due diligence activities for sites across the state to advance early-stage site readiness on properties with industrial and manufacturing economic development potential.”
  • Eligibility includes: 
    • “Local governments
    • Economic development organizations… 
    • Nonprofit organizations
    • For-profit organizations
    • Private landowner”
  • Award Range: $150,000 - $150,000
  • Deadline: April 30, 2026 at 5:00 PM (extended) or until funds are exhausted (applications accepted on rolling basis)

• Manufacturing Training Academies
  • Description: “…to provide capital grants to establish advanced workforce training facilities at downstate community colleges.”
  • Eligibility includes: specific community colleges in central and southern regions, see NOFO for complete list. 
  • Award Range: $3,000,000 - $6,000,000
  • Deadline: April 30, 2026 at 5:00pm 

• 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 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

• Capital Development Board: Art-in-Architecture Program of the Capital Development Board (request for qualifications) 
  • Description: “…professional artists to create permanent original public art for the Illinois Department of Transportation Coalfield Rest Areas in Waggoner, Illinois.” 
  • Deadline: Wednesday, April 29, 2026 at 3:00pm 

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

• 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

• 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: May 15, 2026 

• City of Chicago Commercial Corridor Storefront Activation (CCSA) Program
  • Description: “The Commercial Corridor Storefront Activation (CCSA) program is helping to revitalize 12 South and West Side business corridors through targeted improvements to underutilized and vacant commercial spaces.” 
  • Award Range: “…grants that fund up to 75% of eligible project costs for qualifying small businesses and property owners”
  • Deadline: May 15, 2026 at 5:00pm 

• Cook County Department of Environment and Sustainability’s (DES) free Businesses Reducing Impact on the Environment (BRITE) program
  • Description: Open to businesses in suburban Cook County who have 500 or less employees, were negatively impacted by COVID-19 pandemic, were in operation prior to January 1, 2020 and are in the following industries: 
    • Dry cleaning facility
    • Auto body or auto repair shop
    • Metal finisher
    • Metal fabricator
    • Food and beverage manufacturer 
  • Award Range: up to $300,000 (please note, “To receive a BRITE grant, small businesses must complete the interest survey by DES or must have had a similar environmental assessment conducted by a DES partner or third party.)

• 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

• 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

• Menlo Anthology Fund
  • Description: “The Anthology Fund is a $100M initiative between Menlo Ventures and Anthropic to fund the next generation of AI startups. We invest in Seed and Series A startups with check sizes starting at $100K”. 
  • Award Range: several but includes “$30,000 in free Anthropic credits”
  • Deadline: rolling 

• 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”

• The BOTOX® Cosmetic Confidence Collective: Empowering Women Entrepreneurs Boost Camp & Grant Program
  • Description: Open nationwide to businesses that meet the eligibility including making at least $25,000 in 2025 and not operate in excluded industries. 
  • Award Range: $20,000 and boot camp program 
  • Deadline: April 29, 2026, at 5 p.m.

• 2026 Vilcek Foundation Grants
  • Description: “The Vilcek Foundation invites applications from eligible nonprofit organizations whose mission or programs focus on supporting immigrant contributions in the arts, sciences, culture, and society.” Open nationwide to 501(c)3 nonprofits. 
  • Award Range: $5,000 to $20,000
  • Deadline: April 30, 2026 at 10:59pm 

• Target Community Engagement Funds
  • Description: “Community Engagement Funds (CEF) is a community grant program that empowers Target stores and distribution center leaders to make meaningful, localized giving decisions that meet the needs of the communities where our team members and guests live, work, and thrive.” Open to 501(c)3 nonprofits, K-12 schools, colleges and universities that meet the criteria. 
  • Award Range: $1,000 - $15,000
  • Deadline: May 6, 2026

• Intuit Quickbooks & Mailchimp: Small Business Hero Program 
  • Description: “Celebrate a small business in your community. Nominate a small business who has shown courage, perseverance and integrity…”. Open nationwide to entities (for profit business or nonprofit – 501(c)3) who have been established for at least one year. 
  • Award Range: $20,000
  • Deadline: May 15, 2026 at 10:59pm 

• 2026 Boost Awards
  • Description: The 36Squared Business Incubator is accepting applications for the 2026 "Boost Awards" which includes funding to help boost the success of disabled Illinois entrepreneurs. “All applicants must be Illinois residents with some type of disability that poses a challenge to their success in launching or growing a business.
  • Award Range: Up to $1,000
  • Deadline: May 29, 2026 at 5:00pm 

• 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

• 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