Site Improvements

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) has announced a State Fiscal Year 2026 funding opportunity under its Grants Management Program. This initiative is supported by state funds appropriated through Public Act 104-0003, with an allocation of $600,000 for capital improvements. The program is designed to enhance the quality of life for Illinois residents by funding infrastructure and site improvements in specific Chicago parks, namely Hamilton Park, Foster Park, West Chatham Park, and Hayes Park. The funded activities must comply with requirements of the Build Illinois Bond Act, which restricts expenditures to bondable direct costs. The opportunity is open to eligible park districts within Illinois municipalities with populations greater than 500,000 according to the 2010 U.S. Census. Only applicants that can demonstrate jurisdiction over the listed park projects are permitted to apply. Proof of eligibility must accompany submissions. Applicants must also be fully registered and pre-qualified through the Illinois Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) Grantee Portal. This process verifies federal and state compliance, including checks against the federal debarred and suspended lists, state stop payment lists, and other compliance checks. Entities must hold active SAM.gov registrations and maintain good standing with the Illinois Secretary of State if applicable. Applicants must submit a complete application package by September 29, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. The package includes the Uniform Grant Application, Uniform Budget, Conflict of Interest Disclosure, Mandatory Disclosure, Project Narrative, W-9, and IRS letter. The Project Narrative must provide a detailed description of proposed activities, including evidence of community need, project capacity, economic impact, quality, a cost breakdown, and a projected timeline. Subrecipient and subcontractor agreements must also be approved and on file with DCEO. Applications must be submitted electronically to the Office of Grants Management via the provided email. Submissions through cloud links such as Google Docs will not be accepted. The grant program does not require cost sharing or matching funds. Indirect costs are not allowable due to bond fund restrictions, and only direct capital expenditures are permitted. Grantees must comply with state requirements such as the Prevailing Wage Act, the Business Enterprise Program for contracts above $250,000, the Illinois Works Apprenticeship Initiative for projects exceeding $500,000 in total cost, and the Employment of Illinois Workers on Public Works Act during times of excessive unemployment. Environmental review and approval may be required prior to disbursement of funds, and the purchase of real property may be eligible under certain restrictions. Applications will be reviewed competitively using a merit-based process. Proposals will be scored on a 100-point scale, with capacity (40 points), economic impact (25 points), need (20 points), and quality (15 points) forming the evaluation criteria. An Evaluation Committee will review and average scores to produce rankings. The Department anticipates issuing Notices of State Award within approximately three months of the deadline, though this may vary depending on required environmental reviews and the release of bond funds. Appeals are allowed for the merit review process but not for individual evaluation scores. Successful applicants will be required to submit quarterly financial and performance reports, as well as final closeout reports within 45 days of the performance period’s end. Monitoring and audits will be conducted under state and federal requirements, including provisions of the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act and the Single Audit Act. The grant does not permit pre-award costs, except those allowable at the time of notice posting. All performance and fiscal compliance will be closely monitored to ensure adherence to state statutes. The program contact is David E. Parr, Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, Office of Grants Management, 1011 S. 2nd Street, Springfield, IL 62704-3004. He can be reached by phone at 217-685-1197 or by email at CEO.OGMgrants@illinois.gov. The NOFO was posted on August 15, 2025, with applications accepted through September 29, 2025. There are no technical assistance sessions scheduled for this program. This initiative is a one-time funding opportunity focused exclusively on capital improvements as outlined in the state appropriation law.

Applicants must ensure subrecipient agreements are approved, include evidence of community need, and adhere strictly to bond fund restrictions