Illinois Transportation Grants

This funding supports public agencies in Illinois to enhance transportation planning and investment decisions across the state.

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 funding program provides financial support to nonprofit organizations that deliver essential social services to residents of Naperville, Illinois, with a focus on areas such as emergency assistance, mental health, and support for seniors, youth, and individuals with disabilities.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to projects in Illinois that aim to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions from mobile sources, benefiting local governments, non-profits, and businesses focused on environmental improvement.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to certified convention and visitors bureaus in Illinois for enhancing and promoting the historic Route 66 tourism experience in preparation for its centennial celebration in 2026.

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

This program provides funding to local governments for airport-related projects, with grants allocated based on passenger numbers, cargo volume, and airport operations.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations in the Greater St. Louis region for projects that improve transportation, safety, and access to services for seniors aged 55 and older.

This program provides funding to certified convention and visitors bureaus in Illinois to enhance tourism and promote activities related to the 100th anniversary of Route 66.

This grant provides financial and in-kind support to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in the U.S. that promote social good, global health, and assistance for military members.

This funding opportunity is designed for private sector businesses in Illinois to develop projects that boost tourism and drive economic growth in the state.

This program provides federal funding to schools and local organizations in Illinois to create safer walking and biking routes for K-12 students.

This grant provides urgent financial assistance to nonprofit and public sector organizations facing unexpected emergencies that disrupt their ability to deliver essential services.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (the “Department” or “DCEO”) is issuing this Notice of Funding Opportunity (“NOFO”) to provide grant funding for establishment of an incentive grant program used by eligible entities to attract new out-of-state events to Illinois when competing with other states’ destinations. Donor Name: Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity State: Illinois County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/01/2024 Size of the Grant: More than $1 million Grant Duration: 5 Years Details: The program can be developed at the local level and may include, but not limited to: Event space/venue rental: Room rental, event staging – build, setup, trussing, lighting, pipe and draping, power and sound, security, traffic control. If the applicant is a venue that owns the facility and controls any assets outlined in this example those costs are not allowable. Event rentals: Tables, seating, décor, tents, dinnerware, flatware, glassware, linens Food/Beverage: Meals, beverages (excluding alcoholic beverages), service labor fees Audio/Visual Support: Microphones, screens/projectors, other specialized equipment, internet access, service labor fees Entertainment (as part of an otherwise planned event): Speakers, DJs, performing acts Registration & Event Management: Event management technology software that handles online event registration; virtual, hybrid and onsite solutions and attendee engagement Transportation: Shuttle service provided to move overnight guests to and from the event/venue space on a master account (individual guest receipts are not eligible). Shuttle service to pick up overnight guests at the airport and drop them off at the hotel and vice versa upon the conclusion of the meeting/event; this is for guests on a master account as individual guest receipts are not eligible. Bid fees associated with attracting a new event to Illinois Room night credits that are actualized, contracted, revenue-generating group room nights directly sourced by the bureau and must exceed 300 for outside the City of Chicago and 5000 for the City of Chicago Performance Goals and Measures Program goals or performance measures must include, but not limited to: Estimated hotel room nights booked as a result of the events. Economic impact of the events. Attract or retain events to Illinois that would not have otherwise occurred in Illinois. Funding Information Total amount of funding expected to be awarded through this NOFO is $15,000,000. Awards will range from $50,000 to $5,000,000. Project Period The period of performance is expected to be January 25th, 2024 through January 31st, 2029. Eligibility Criteria An entity must be registered in the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) Grantee Portal, at the time of grant application. The portal will verify that the entity: Has a valid FEIN number Has a current SAM.gov registration, SAM.gov registrations must be marked as “public” to allow the GATA Grantee Portal to expedite the review of the federal information; Has a valid UEI number Is not on the Federal Excluded Parties List Is in Good Standing with the Illinois Secretary of State Is not on the Illinois Stop Payment list Is not on the Department of Healthcare and Family Services Provider Sanctions list Eligible Applicants include Unit of local government Local promotion group, Not-for-profit organization; For-profit organization; Convention center authority For more information, visit DCEO.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (the “Department” or “DCEO”) is issuing this Notice of Funding Opportunity (“NOFO”) to request applications for the Rebuild Downtowns & Main Streets (RDMS) Capital Grant Program and for the Research in Illinois to Spur Economic Recovery (RISE) Implementation Grant Program. Donor Name: Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity State: Illinois County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 07/22/2024 Size of the Grant: More than $1 million Grant Duration: 2 Years Details: $20 million has been allocated for RDMS and $10 million for RISE, with individual grants for both opportunities ranging from $250,000 to $2 million. An applicant may receive no more than one award through this NOFO. RDMS will facilitate investment to revitalize commercial corridors and downtown areas in Illinois, offering capital grants to support improvements in communities that have experienced disinvestment, particularly those hardest-hit by the COVID-19 crisis. This support will help to accelerate Illinois’ economic recovery and promote long-term, sustainable, and inclusive growth for the state. RDMS grants are available for capital projects only. Examples of suitable projects include but are not limited to: Improvement and repair of roads, sidewalks, and lighting in commercial corridors and downtowns Development of public spaces that will attract events to and/or add to the appeal of commercial corridors and downtowns Improvement and repair of water and sewer infrastructure serving commercial corridors and downtowns Mixed-use development that will add to the vitality of commercial corridors and downtowns Funding Information Total amount of funding expected to be awarded through this NOFO is $20 million for RDMS and $10 million for RISE Implementation. Awards will range from $250,000 to $2 million for both programs. The period of performance is expected to be late calendar year 2024 through the end of calendar year 2026. Eligibility Criteria An entity must be registered in the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) Grantee Portal, at the time of grant application. The portal will verify that the entity: Has a valid FEIN number Has a current SAM.gov registration, SAM.gov registrations must be marked as “public” to allow the GATA Grantee Portal to expedite the review of the federal information; Has a valid UEI number Is not on the Federal Excluded Parties List Is in Good Standing with the Illinois Secretary of State, as applicable Is not on the Illinois Stop Payment list and Is not on the Department of Healthcare and Family Services Provider Sanctions list Eligible Applicants  The following entities are eligible to apply for both RDMS and RISE Implementation grants: Economic development organizations (EDOs) Local units of government (e.g., municipalities, counties, townships) Private Businesses Special purpose local units of government (e.g., library districts, fire protection districts, schools) are not eligible.  For more information, visit DCEO.

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.

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.