Here is the weekly update on funding opportunities per the request of the Latinx Business Colectivo – Funding Opportunities working group.

**To help differentiate between resources I have sent previously and ‘new ones’ (resources I haven’t emailed about) I will highlight the new ones in yellow. Hope that helps.**

THANK YOU- To

• Cindy Patino from Hispanic American Construction Industry Association (HACIA) who continues to share with me some resources she is aware of that can be shared with the entire group.
• Jordan Landeck, Marketing & Events Director, Champaign County Economic Development Corporation

Thank you Cindy Patino and Jordan Landeck for sharing resources! If anyone else knows of resources that can be shared with the group, feel free to share those with me.

Funding Opportunities: 

• DCEO (few highlighted below)
  • Equitable Energy Future Grant Program (Notice of Funding Opportunity 3054-2878)
    • Description: “…to provide pre-development funding opportunities to eligible contractors to support the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency projects benefitting businesses, community organizations, and the workforce in Illinois with a specific focus on historically disadvantaged communities. The grant program is designed to help remove barriers to project, community, and business development caused by lack of capital.”
    • Eligibility includes: “Equity Eligible Contractors (EEC) that can provide an Illinois Power Agency EEC certification” or “An Illinois business or nonprofit or cooperative organization that meets the equity building criteria in paragraph (9.5) of subsection (g) of Section 8-103B of the Public Utilities Act.”
    • Award Range: $250,000 - $1,000,000
    • Deadline: December 31, 2024 at 5:00PM
•  
  • For a complete list of DCEO grants, please visit our website.
• Additional State
•  
  • HOME-ARP Non-Congregate Shelter (NCS) Development Program – Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA)
    • Description: “IHDA has released this Request for Applications for the development of Non-Congregate Shelter (“NCS”) through the federal HOME-ARP Program. HOME-ARP defines NCS as one or more buildings that provide private units or rooms as temporary shelter to individuals and families and does not require occupants to sign a lease or occupancy agreement. With this funding, IHDA seeks to expand the availability of quality emergency shelter space statewide in order to better serve Illinois’ residents with the greatest need for emergency housing resources.” “Eligible applicants must be current shelter providers that participate in the Emergency Solutions Grant Program or the Emergency & Transitional Housing Program administered by the Illinois Department of Human Services or have another verifiable operating funding source.”
    • Deadline: “All interested applicants must submit a complete Preliminary Project Assessment by Monday, October 7, 2024…Applications are due to IHDA by 5:00 p.m. CST on Thursday, February 20, 2025.”

• Federal Government

• U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), 2024 Build to Scale Program (EDA-B2S-2024)
  • Description: “The Build to Scale (B2S) program aims to increase the capacity of entrepreneurs in regions throughout the United States to demonstrate, deploy, and deliver new technologies by starting and growing new companies and creating and sustaining new, good jobs.” “Eligible applicants include a state, an Indian Tribe, a city or other political subdivision of a state, and an entity whose application is supported by a state or political subdivision of a state and that is: a nonprofit organization; an institution of higher education; a public-private partnership; a science or research park; a Federal laboratory; a venture development organization; an economic development organization or similar entity that is focused primarily on improving science, technology, innovation, or entrepreneurship; or a consortium of any of the aforementioned entities”
  • Award Range: up to $5 million
  • Deadline: October 28, 2024 at 3:59pm
•  
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program (Community Chamber Grants)
    • Description: “The Community Change Grants will fund community-driven projects that address climate challenges and reduce pollution while strengthening communities through thoughtful implementation. This historic level of support will enable communities and their partners to overcome longstanding environmental challenges and implement meaningful solutions to meet community needs now and for generations to come. There will be two tracks of funding under this opportunity. Track I will fund approximately 150 large, transformational community-driven investment grants of $10 million - $20 million. Track II will fund approximately 20 meaningful engagement grants of $1 million - $3 million.”. Here is a link to more info, click HERE. 
    • Award Range: up to $20,000,000
    • Deadline: November 21, 2024 at 10:59 PM
•  
  • Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program in Illinois from USDA
    • Description: “To help microenterprises startup and growth through a Rural Microloan Revolving Fund.” Those eligible for the loan are “Businesses located in an eligible area with 10 or fewer full-time employees.”
    • Range: Up to $50,000
    • Deadline: December 31, 2024 at 10:59pm 
•  
• Local Governments
•  
  • 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.)
• Private/Community Resources 

• My Brother’s Keeper Alliance Grant Maker Request for Proposal from Obama Foundation
  • Description: “seeking a vendor to manage and distribute community grants for approximately 10 MBK Community organizations doing specific work to advance the six MBK Milestones for boys and young men of color in order to reach population level impact.”

• Small Certified Supplier Innovative Finance Program
  • Description: Open to certified minority-, women-, veteran-, and LGBTQ+ owned businesses (certified by national or state organizations) in the following states California, Georgia, Kansas, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Pennsylvania, or New Jersey. The annual revenue of the business should be between $250,000 to $10 million.
  • Award Range: $5,000

• Kane County Manufacturing Grant Program from IMEC 
  • Description: Open to manufacturing businesses located in Kane County 

• Advance McHenry County grant from IMEC
  • Description: Open to manufacturing businesses located in McHenry County 

• Mission Sustainability Initiative (MSI) Grants via Forefont
  • Description: “…the Mission Sustainability Initiative (MSI) at Forefront provides grants to nonprofit organizations to support the exploration of long-term or permanent strategic partnerships.” This round is open to nonprofits/501(c)3 based in Cook, Lake, DuPage, Kane, and Kendall Counties. 
  • Award Range: $5,000, a one-year complementary Forefront membership, and more
  • Deadline: October 2, 2024 at 5:00 pm

• Chicago Bears: Community All-Pro Grant
  • Description: “A Community All-Pro is a non-profit organization that continues to make a positive impact on the Chicagoland area and the state of Illinois in a variety of ways from issues like social justice, health and wellness, environment, hunger, and beyond.” One award will be given. 
  • Award Range: $105,000
  • Deadline: October 7, 2024

• Trees in Your Community Grant from Green Latinos
  • Description: “Urban forestry funding available to community-based organizations to work in low-income, disadvantaged communities. Projects would implement urban forestry efforts focused on tree planting and maintenance, community engagement, and/or workforce development in the field of urban forestry.” There are different eligible areas. In Illinois these are the eligible counties/areas: 
    • Boone
    • Bureau
    • Cook
    • Grundy
    • La Salle
    • McHenry
    • Menard
    • Peoria
    • Putnam
    • Winnebago 
  • Award Range: “…range from a minimum of $200,000 to a maximum of $1,500,000…”
  • Deadline: October 11, 2024

• Spark Good Local Grant- Walmart 
  • Description: “Each year, Walmart U.S. stores, Sam’s Clubs and Distribution Centers award local cash grants... These local grants are designed to address the unique needs of the communities where [they] operate”. Must have a Spark Good Account from Walmart.com. Open to nonprofits – 501(c)3, government entity, or “K-12 public or nonprofit private school, charter school, community/junior college, state/private college or university; or a church or other faith-based organization with a proposed project that benefits the community at large, such as food pantries, soup kitchens and clothing closets”, Read more about the eligibility at: https://walmart.org/how-we-give/program-guidelines/spark-good-local-grants-guidelines
  • Award Range: “range from a minimum of $250 to a maximum of $5,000”
  • Deadline: October 15, 2024

• Stephen L. Tadlock Veteran Business Grant from Founders First CDC
  • Description: “National Grant for Veteran-Owned Small Businesses.”. Open nationwide to veteran owned business that have 2-100 employees, been in business for at least 1 year, with an annual revenue of less than $5 million, must be US based. 
  • Award Range: $1,000
  • Deadline: October 15, 2024

• Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) Request for Proposal: Regional Vision: Scenario planning
  • Description: “The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) is requesting proposals from interested contractors to provide services related to scenario planning for CMAP’s upcoming Regional Vision plan.”
  • Deadline: October 16, 2024 at 3:00pm 

• GitLab Foundation: AI for Economic Opportunity
  • Description: “…interested in creative applications including (but not limited to) tools and services that improve economic opportunity across many applications: skill development, job matching, hiring systems, internal mobility, coaching, benefits access, debiasing systems, data analysis and use, job quality, etc. Applicants should be US based nonprofit organizations, but we encourage partnerships between multiple organizations including partnerships between nonprofits and for-profit startups, consultants and other technology experts.”
  • Award Range: $250,000 grants
  • Deadline: October 16, 2024

• Foreground Rural Initiative Professional Development Grants
  • Description: Grant for individuals and organizations. “This Foreground Rural Initiative opportunity invests in the capacity-building, leadership, and professional development of our partners in rural areas and small towns across Illinois to support their success and sustainability.”
  • Award Range: Up to $750
  • Deadline: October 31, 2024 at 5:00pm

• Tory Burch Foundation – Fellows Program
  • Description: Open nationwide to women owned businesses, the applicant must be at least 21 years of age by the deadline and a legal resident. 
  • Award Range: $5,000 business education grant, cohort, etc. 
  • Deadline: November 1, 2024

• Not-for-Profit Capacity Building Grant
  • Description: “DuPage Foundation is excited to launch a new grant opportunity to help local not-for-profit organizations strengthen their ability to effectively deliver on their mission now and into the future.” Open to nonprofits (501(c)3) that serve DuPage County residents and haven’t received a grant from the DuPage Foundation’s Community Impact Grant Program in the last 3 years. 
  • Award Range: up to $25,000
  • Deadline: November 15, 2024 at 5:00pm 

• Illinois Arts Council’s (IAC) Creative Accelerator Fund (CAF)
  • Description: “CAF recognizes and supports the vital role that artists play as builders and innovators in their communities. By investing in their practice and professional growth, the fund not only enriches the lives of artists but also encourages broader community engagement and investment, leading to a vibrant cultural landscape and fostering connections among residents.” Open to Illinois artists (“An individual working in arts, crafts, design, dance, digital media, film/video, literature, music, performance, photography, theater, visual arts, folk and traditional arts, or community-based arts”) with active and sustained practice, who are age 21 or older, Illinois resident prior to November 20, 2023, can include a work sample created by them during 2022-2024, can include a work sample created by them during 2021 or prior, and not currently enrolled full-time at a college/university. 
  • Award Range: “This is a $10,000 taxable award”
  • Deadline: November 20, 2024

• Berwyn Development Corporation (BDC) Finish Line Grant
  • Description: “This grant program assists businesses and property owners with interior and exterior renovation costs, such as awnings, façade improvements, rodent abatement, and buildouts. If your business or commercial property is located within one of Berwyn’s active TIF Districts, you may be eligible to receive up to 50% reimbursement on your renovation expenses.”
  • Award Range: maximum grant amount $50,000 
  • Deadline: December 13, 2024 

Thank you and have a great week!

Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative is currently conducting a nationwide survey on Latino owned businesses. Your participation is key in understanding how businesses in the country are doing but also how Illinois Latino businesses are doing in today’s economic environment. Please consider taking the 10-minute survey. It can be completed in English or Spanish: https://stanfordgsb.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2rX7aw6KQRyv5Ai Deadline to complete the survey is September 30, 2024.

Sign up to receive updates from OMEE - Please click here to sign up. 

Sincerely,

Diana

Diana Alfaro (she/her)

Latinx Business Development Manager

Office of Minority Economic Empowerment

Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity

Cell: 312-919-3620 Email: diana.alfaro@illinois.gov

Website: www.illinois.gov/dceo