Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA), under the authority of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) and Governor Pritzker’s Rebuild Illinois capital plan, has announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for expanding electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure across the state. This initiative, aimed at supporting the state’s commitment to clean transportation, offers a total of $20 million to fund new Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) and Level 2 alternating current charging stations at publicly accessible locations. The funding round operates on a first-come, first-served basis and will begin accepting applications through the Amplifund portal starting November 17, 2025, at 9:00 A.M. Central Time. The Illinois EPA was established in 1970 and is the nation's longest-standing state environmental protection agency. Its mission includes safeguarding environmental quality while balancing social and economic needs to protect public health and welfare. The agency prioritizes advancing EV infrastructure to reduce emissions, improve air quality, and promote equitable access to clean transportation. This funding opportunity aligns with the state’s broader climate goals and the objectives of CEJA. Under this NOFO, applicants must propose a minimum of two locations for Level 3 chargers. The funding will support up to eight DCFC ports per location, and there is no cap on the number of Level 2 ports that may be funded. Eligible applicants must be the owner of the proposed station site and/or the charging station itself. Projects are evaluated based on readiness, geographic distribution (favoring locations in counties without prior funding), proximity to existing EV infrastructure, and placement near public transportation Park-and-Ride facilities. Projects located in areas identified as Equity Investment Eligible Communities (either EJ or R3 communities) through the EIEC mapping tool are eligible for additional scoring consideration. Applications must meet a minimum threshold score to qualify for funding. All applicants must pre-qualify through the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act Grantee Portal prior to submission. Application materials and full program details are available through the Driving a Cleaner Illinois webpage maintained by the Illinois EPA. Awards will be made on a rolling basis until funding is exhausted, and updates will be posted accordingly. This grant program does not follow a fixed annual cycle but is part of a broader, ongoing commitment to statewide EV infrastructure deployment. The current round opens in November 2025, and future availability will depend on program outcomes and remaining funds.

Projects in EJ/R3 communities score higher; Park-and-Ride proximity improves competitiveness.