Improvements to Dr. Young Building

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is offering a one-time grant opportunity to fund improvements to the Dr. Young Building in Golconda, Illinois. This grant is intended to stabilize a deteriorating building that has become a safety hazard and to enable its transformation into a functional property for community use. The initiative is designed to mitigate the negative economic and safety impacts of the building’s current condition on the city of Golconda. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to address the consequences of a partial collapse of the Dr. Young Building, which has led to the closure of Main Street, the city's primary thoroughfare. The structure’s instability poses risks to public safety and impedes economic activity in the area. The grant funding will cover costs associated with demolition, clearing, and structural stabilization of the approximately 8,000-square-foot building. This project represents the initial phase of a broader redevelopment plan for the site. The funding is provided through state funds appropriated by the Illinois General Assembly under Public Act 103-0589, with a total program budget of $41,500. Only one award is anticipated through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). The performance period for the grant will begin on June 9, 2025, and run through June 9, 2026. There are no matching fund requirements, and indirect costs are allowed under the conditions specified by the state’s guidelines. Eligible applicants must be volunteer-driven nonprofit organizations located in Golconda, Illinois, with jurisdiction to perform the project as described. Applicants must be registered in the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) Grantee Portal and comply with several verification checks including having valid federal and state registrations and not being listed on exclusionary lists. Disregarded entities for federal income tax purposes are ineligible. Applications must be submitted electronically via the designated Smartsheet form by 5:00 PM CST on June 13, 2025. Required application materials include the Uniform Grant Application, Uniform Budget, Conflict of Interest Disclosure, Mandatory Disclosures, Project Narrative, and proof of organizational eligibility. Applications are subject to review under the Freedom of Information Act, and proprietary information should be clearly marked. The evaluation process will score applications on a 100-point scale across three criteria: Need, Capacity, and Quality. The scoring rubric considers factors such as the project's potential to promote economic growth and address safety concerns, the applicant's capacity to complete the project, and the quality of the project narrative and budget. An Evaluation Committee will conduct a merit-based review, and the highest-ranked application will receive funding. Appeals are limited to the evaluation process and must be filed within 14 calendar days of the award notice. Successful applicants will receive a Notice of State Award (NOSA) initiating the grant agreement phase. Grantees must adhere to state and federal grant management regulations, undergo performance monitoring, and submit regular financial and performance reports. The program contact for this opportunity is Travis Grupe (Travis.Grupe@Illinois.gov). The grant does not involve a technical assistance session and does not require a cost-sharing component.