Illinois Transportation Grants

This funding opportunity provides financial resources to local governments in Illinois for transportation planning initiatives that enhance mobility and support economic growth.

This funding program provides financial support to local public agencies in Illinois for safety improvements at highway-rail crossings on local roads, helping to reduce accidents and enhance safety.

This program provides funding to businesses and government entities in designated areas of Illinois to replace older diesel trucks with all-electric models, promoting cleaner air and reduced emissions.

This funding initiative provides financial support to local governments in Illinois for transportation infrastructure improvements that facilitate business growth and job creation.

This program provides federal funding to public-use airports in Illinois for essential infrastructure improvements, safety enhancements, and capacity upgrades to support aviation development and economic growth.

This program provides funding to public airports in Illinois for projects that improve aviation infrastructure and operations, ensuring safe and efficient air travel.

This program provides funding to the Illinois Department of Transportation for projects that enhance the state's freight infrastructure, promoting economic growth and improving transportation efficiency.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for the installation of electric vehicle charging stations at publicly accessible locations across Illinois, prioritizing projects in underserved communities and areas lacking existing infrastructure.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to local governments and partnered non-profits in the ComEd service area for projects that improve public safety, community resilience, and sustainability through electrification initiatives.

This program provides funding for projects that electrify mobile sources to improve air quality and reduce emissions in Illinois.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity issues a Notice of Funding Opportunity to establish an incentive grant program to attract new out of state events to Illinois when competing with other destinations. The program supports local development of competitive packages to secure events that generate hotel room nights and economic impact. Allowable costs may include venue rental and staging, event rentals, food and non alcoholic beverages and service labor, audio visual support and service labor, entertainment as part of an otherwise planned event, registration and event management software and services, transportation shuttles tied to master accounts, bid fees, and room night credits that exceed stated thresholds. Disallowed costs include venue owned items when the applicant controls the facility and assets. Performance goals include hotel room nights booked, economic impact, and attraction or retention of events that would not otherwise occur in Illinois. Eligible applicants include units of local government, local promotion groups, not for profit organizations, for profit organizations, and convention center authorities. Entities must be registered in the state’s GATA grantee portal with valid identifiers, good standing, and absence from exclusion lists. Awards will range from 50,000 to 5,000,000 dollars from a total expected pool of 15,000,000 dollars. The period of performance is expected to run from January 25, 2024 through January 31, 2029. Applications are due May 1, 2024 through the department’s process. Proposals should document public benefit and compliance with eligibility and performance measures. Additional information is available from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is offering two grant programs: the Rebuild Downtowns & Main Streets (RDMS) Capital Grant Program and the Research in Illinois to Spur Economic Recovery (RISE) Implementation Grant Program. Both programs aim to accelerate Illinois' economic recovery and promote long-term, sustainable, and inclusive growth, aligning with a mission to revitalize communities and foster economic development. The total funding expected is $20 million for RDMS and $10 million for RISE Implementation, with individual grants ranging from $250,000 to $2 million. The RDMS program specifically targets communities that have experienced disinvestment, particularly those hardest-hit by the COVID-19 crisis. The goal is to facilitate investment to revitalize commercial corridors and downtown areas in Illinois through capital grants. Eligible applicants for both programs include economic development organizations (EDOs), local units of government (e.g., municipalities, counties, townships), and private businesses. Special purpose local units of government are not eligible. The priorities for RDMS include supporting capital projects that improve and repair roads, sidewalks, and lighting; develop public spaces to attract events; improve water and sewer infrastructure; and facilitate mixed-use development to add vitality to commercial corridors and downtowns. These priorities are aimed at tangible infrastructure and development projects that directly contribute to the revitalization of downtown areas. Expected outcomes for these programs include accelerated economic recovery and the promotion of long-term, sustainable, and inclusive growth throughout Illinois. Measurable results will likely involve the number and scale of capital projects completed, the revitalization of commercial corridors, increased economic activity in targeted areas, and improvements in public infrastructure. The grant duration is 2 years, with the period of performance expected to be late calendar year 2024 through the end of calendar year 2026. The DCEO's strategic priority is clearly to stimulate economic recovery and growth through targeted investments in key community infrastructure and development.

The Regional Site Readiness Program’s Planning Grant, funded by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, offers $100,000 to $500,000 to local governments, economic development organizations, nonprofits, for-profit organizations, and private landowners for planning and due diligence activities aimed at preparing industrial and manufacturing sites for future development across all counties in Illinois.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to local public agencies in Illinois for improving safety at rail-highway crossings through various infrastructure enhancements and safety measures.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to local governments affected by the closure or reduced operation of the Zion Nuclear Plant, aimed at fostering economic development and addressing community impacts through various initiatives.

This funding is designated for the City of Belvidere, Illinois, to improve rail safety and traffic flow by constructing a grade separation at Appleton Road, eliminating dangerous at-grade crossings.

The Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), managed by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), provides funding for small-scale transportation projects that support active transportation users, including walkers and bicyclists. The program also funds historic preservation, vegetation management, and environmental mitigation transportation projects. Eligible applicants must be sponsored by a member entity of the Tri-County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), and other governmental entities within the MPO planning area must have co-sponsorship. The total program funding is $1,170,320. Applications are accepted from April 17, 2024, to June 28, 2024, with a mandatory technical assistance session offered on May 2, 2024. The federal funds cover 80% of preliminary engineering, utility relocation, construction engineering, and construction costs, with a 20% non-federal match required. Right-of-way and easement acquisitions are funded at 50% federal, 50% non-federal match. Indirect costs are not eligible.

This program provides low-interest loans to communities, railroads, and shippers in Illinois to improve rail freight services and support economic development through strategic infrastructure investments.

This funding opportunity provides $11.5 million to Rivian for roadway improvements or new construction near State Highway 150 in Illinois, aimed at enhancing public safety and promoting economic development.

This program provides funding to eligible public transit agencies in designated urban areas to improve security and resilience against terrorism and other threats through various protective measures and enhancements.