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Small Business Capital and Infrastructure Grant

OVERVIEW & ELIGIBILITY

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) Office of Economic Equity & Empowerment (OE3) is pleased to announce the OE3 Small Business Capital and Infrastructure Grant Program. This program will provide funding to small businesses owned by Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Individuals (SEDI) or Very Small Businesses (VSBs) with 25 or fewer permanent full-time employees for capital improvement and infrastructure projects.

Grants ranging from $10,000 to $245,000 will support initiatives that drive business growth, enhance operational efficiency, promote sustainability, and create or retain jobs. This funding opportunity is exclusively focused on capital improvements and infrastructure projects to support SEDI-owned businesses and VSBs. Priority will be given to applicants located in Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Investment Areas where businesses play a critical role in addressing local economic needs.

Programa de Subvenciones de Capital e lnfraestructura para equeiias Empresas

El Departamento de Comercio y Oportunidades Económicas de Illinois (DCEO), a través de la Oficina de Equidad Económica y Empoderamiento (OE3), se complace en anunciar el Programa de Subvenciones para Capital e Infraestructura de Pequeñas Empresas (OE3). Este programa proporcionará fondos a pequeñas empresas propiedad de Individuos Social y Económicamente Desfavorecidos (SEDI) o Microempresas (VSBs) con 25 o menos empleados permanentes a tiempo completo para proyectos de mejoras de capital e infraestructura.

Las subvenciones, que van desde $10,000 hasta $245,000, apoyarán iniciativas que impulsen el crecimiento empresarial, mejoren la eficiencia operativa, promuevan la sostenibilidad y creen o retengan empleos.

Recursos en Español

Folleto en formato PDF

Martes 14 de enero 2pm webinar

Contacto

Ver video corto

Guía de la Ley de Transparencia y Responsabilidad de Subvenciones

ELIGIBLE PROJECTS

Examples of eligible capital and infrastructure projects can be found here bit.ly/4gFmCB9.

APPLICATION INFORMATION

Applications must be submitted by Monday, April 7, 2025, at 5 pm.

WEBINAR

Tuesday | January 14, 2025 | 11 am | Register here (in English)

Tuesday | January 14, 2025 | 2 pm | Register here (in Spanish)

CONTACT

For program-specific questions, contact the team at CEO.OE3Grant@illinois.gov.

PREQUALIFICATION

As a reminder, with this NOFO and applying for State grants, an entity must be pre-qualified. For more information on that process, please watch this short video. Click here to read the GATA guide in English and Spanish.

Learn more about this grant opportunity.

Steps to get pre-qualified for State of Illinois programs

  1. Obtain a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN} - FREE
  2. Register with the Illinois Secretary of State and obtain a Certificate of Good Standing - COST
  3. Register at System Award Management (SAM.gov} - FREE
  4. Register with the Grant Accountability & Transparency Act (GATA} Grantee Portal - FREE
  5. Check your entity's Prequalification status in the GATA Grantee Portal to ensure your entity is in good standing.