Route 66 Grant Program

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is offering the Route 66 Grant Program under the State of Illinois Uniform Notice of Funding Opportunity. This program is funded through state appropriations in Public Act 103-0589 and Public Act 104-0003 and is designed to support certified convention and visitors bureaus in Illinois. The initiative is intended to develop tourism, education, preservation, and promotion activities connected to the upcoming 100th anniversary of Route 66 in 2026. Route 66 has been a cultural and historical landmark since its establishment in 1926, symbolizing both freedom of travel and the growth of American highway culture. Illinois maintains over 300 miles of this iconic route, from its starting point in Chicago to the Chain of Rocks Bridge, and this program seeks to enhance the visitor experience along this corridor. The purpose of the program is to create or enhance tourism attractions, improve wayfinding, promote statewide marketing, and strengthen emerging tourism trends, including the integration of electric vehicle infrastructure. Funding will prioritize projects with statewide impact, especially those that benefit the full Illinois stretch of Route 66, introduce new attractions, improve traveler navigation, or support future-oriented tourism trends such as electrified transportation. A single statewide promotional application, not to exceed $700,000, may also be submitted to cover advertising and marketing activities on behalf of all participating bureaus. Funding is available in amounts ranging from $20,000 to $1,000,000, with a total of $4,000,000 expected to be distributed through up to eight awards. The period of performance runs from the date of execution through June 30, 2026, and costs incurred on or after July 1, 2025 are allowable. Eligible costs include travel for grantee staff, equipment purchase or lease, professional services, construction and preservation, research and development, miscellaneous project needs, familiarization tours for media and trade, and a single statewide advertising effort. Ineligible costs include local advertising beyond the statewide application, refinancing, payroll or operating expenses, alcohol purchases, contingency funding, administrative costs, and event-related expenditures. Applicants must be convention and visitors bureaus certified by the Department. In addition, all applicants must be registered in the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) Grantee Portal and maintain compliance with federal and state requirements. This includes having a valid FEIN, SAM.gov registration, UEI number, good standing with the Illinois Secretary of State, and not appearing on any exclusion or stop payment lists. Matching funds are not required, and indirect costs are not allowed. Applicants may submit only one application, with the exception that an entity submitting the statewide marketing application may also submit one additional project-specific application. Applications must be submitted electronically through the provided Smartsheet link between September 15, 2025, and October 15, 2025, by 5:00 PM. Technical assistance is offered through a non-mandatory session scheduled for September 23, 2025. Required application materials include the Uniform Grant Application, Uniform Budget, Conflict of Interest Disclosure, Mandatory Disclosure, and a program-specific application. All forms must be signed by an authorized signatory. Up to ten documents may be uploaded to the submission portal. Applications will undergo a competitive merit-based review process scored on a 100-point scale. Criteria include demonstrated need, capacity to deliver, quality of the proposal, potential tourism impact, sustainability, connection to the 100th anniversary, and integration of electric vehicle tourism. Awards will be granted from highest to lowest score until funds are exhausted, with consideration for geographic distribution. Successful applicants will receive a Notice of State Award and proceed to the grant agreement phase, which may take several months. Grantees must comply with reporting, monitoring, and audit requirements, including quarterly financial and performance reporting and a closeout report within 45 days after the period of performance ends. Program contacts include Greg Mihalich at the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, reachable at greg.mihalich@illinois.gov or 217-299-1323. A general grant help desk is also available via email at CEO.GrantHelp@illinois.gov. Full details and the application link are available in the official funding notice.

Combine files before upload; attend optional technical assistance session on 2025-09-23