The Regional Site Readiness Program’s Planning Grant Program, initiated by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, aims to support the early-stage site readiness of properties with industrial and manufacturing economic development potential across Illinois. This program is designed to facilitate planning and due diligence activities for sites in all 10 Economic Development Regions of the state. The overarching goal is to prepare sites more effectively for future industrial development, addressing a critical need identified by community leaders and economic development experts for flexible funding in this area. This program aligns with a mission to foster economic growth and create opportunities by enhancing the state's capacity to attract and retain industrial and manufacturing businesses.
The program targets a broad range of beneficiaries, including local governments, economic development organizations, nonprofit organizations, for-profit organizations, and private landowners. The impact goals are multifaceted: to support communities and landowners in their site readiness planning and assessments, to overcome financial barriers to gathering crucial information for site readiness, and to significantly increase the number of sites with completed due diligence. By expanding the pipeline for future industrial site development, the program aims to better prepare sites across all economic development regions for future investment and job creation.
The priorities and focuses of the grant program are clearly defined. It emphasizes funding for a variety of planning and due diligence activities, including site concept plans, engineering studies (covering utility, water, and transportation infrastructure design and pricing), and comprehensive environmental studies. Environmental studies encompass Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments, wetland delineation, archeological surveys, historical properties studies/surveys, floodplain analysis, and preliminary geotechnical studies. Permitting activities are also a key focus, ensuring that sites are fully prepared and compliant for development.
Expected outcomes include a significant increase in the number of shovel-ready sites throughout Illinois, leading to an expanded pipeline for industrial and manufacturing development. Measurable results will include the total amount of funding awarded, which is expected to be $2,000,000, with individual awards ranging from $25,000 to $150,000. The grant period is anticipated to run from January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025, providing a clear timeframe for program execution and evaluation. The program’s strategic priority is to address existing gaps in site readiness, utilizing state funds appropriated by the Illinois General Assembly to catalyze economic development. The theory of change posits that by providing targeted financial support for essential planning and due diligence, the state can remove critical barriers to development, thereby accelerating industrial growth and improving economic competitiveness across all its regions.
