State of
Illinois Grant Programs
Employer
Training Investment Program (ETIP)- The
Employer Training Investment Program (ETIP) helps
keep Illinois workers' skills in pace with new technologies
and business practices, which, in turn, helps businesses
increase productivity, reduce costs, improve quality
and boost competitiveness.
Authorization
The Employer Training Investment Program is authorized
by statute 20
ILCS 605/605/415.
How the Program Works
ETIP grants can reimburse new or expanding companies
for up to 50 percent of the cost of training their
employees. Trainees must be employed by the company
prior to implementation of the training program. Instructors
may be plant workers, public educators, private consultants,
or others possessing the required expertise. Grants
may be awarded to individual businesses, original
equipment manufacturers sponsoring multi-company training
for employees of their Illinois supplier companies,
and to intermediary organizations operating multi-company
training projects.
Large
Business Development Program (LBDP)The LBDP program
is designed to provide grants to businesses undertaking
a major expansion or relocation project that will
result in substantial private investment and the creation
and/or retention of a large number of Illinois jobs.
Authorization
The Large Business Development Program is managed
by DCEO and authorized by code.
How the Program Works
Funds available through the program may be used by
large businesses for bondable business activities,
including financing the purchase of land or buildings,
building construction or renovation, and certain types
of machinery and equipment. Grant eligibility and
amounts are determined by the amount of investment
and job creation or retention involved.
Business
Development Public Infrastructure Program (BDPIP)
The BDPIP program is designed to provides grants
to units of local government for public improvements
on behalf of businesses undertaking a major expansion
or relocation project that will result in substantial
private investment and the creation and/or retention
of a large amount of Illinois jobs.
Authorization
The BDPIP program is authorized by Illinois statute
30
ILCS 750/8-3.
How the Program Works
The infrastructure improvements must be made for public
benefit and on public property and must directly result
in the creation or retention of private sector jobs.
The local government must demonstrate clear need for
financial assistance to undertake the improvements.
Grant eligibility and amounts are determined by the
amount of investment and job creation or retention
involved. Funding is available only for infrastructure
projects which lead directly to private sector expansion
or retention activities. General infrastructure construction
and renovation activities -- those which lead only
indirectly to job creation and retention -- are not
eligible for consideration. The program, for example,
could make funding available to a community to extend
a water line to permit the location of a new firm
and the creation of jobs, or to increase the capacity
of a sewer line to meet the expansion needs of an
existing firm. Administered by the Illinois Department
of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, program funds
may be used for a wide variety of public infrastructure
improvements needed to induce job creation and retention.
These include local roads and streets, access roads,
bridges, sidewalks, waste disposal systems, water
and sewer line extensions, water distribution and
purification facilities, sewage treatment facilities,
rail and air or water port improvements, gas and electric
utility extensions, public transit systems, and the
development and improvement of publicly-owned industrial
and commercial sites.
Illinois
Department of Transportation (IDOT)
IDOT has several programs that provide state assistance
for highway and rail access improvements to new or
expanding industrial, distribution or tourism developments.
The focus of these programs is the retention and creation
of Illinois jobs. Funding may be available for transportation
improvement projects related to facilities that provide
direct access to economic development projects. Projects
providing access to retail establishments, office
parks, government facilities or schools/universities
are not eligible.
Authorization
The IDOT programs are outlined in Illinois statute
20
ILCS 2705.
How the Programs Work
IDOT Economic Development Program (EDP) -
Administered through the Illinois Department of Transportation
(IDOT), the EDP program is designed to provide state
assistance to local governments for highway improvements
and access to new or expanding industrial distribution
and tourism development projects. The state may provide
up to 50 percent matching (grant) funds to local governments
for eligible public roadway-related construction and
engineering items. Projects involving private roadways,
retail development, office parks, government facilities,
and schools/universities are not eligible for funding.
IDOT Rail Freight Program (RFP) - Administered
through the Illinois Department of Transportation
(IDOT), the RFP program is designed to provide capital
assistance to communities, railroads and shippers
to preserve and improve rail freight service in Illinois.
The primary role of the program is to facilitate investments
in rail service by serving as a link between interested
parties and channeling government funds to projects
that achieve statewide economic development. IDOT
will generally provide low-interest loans to finance
rail improvements and, in some cases, provide grants.
The focus is on projects with the greatest potential
for improving access to markets and maintaining transportation
cost savings, and where state participation will leverage
private investments to foster permanent solutions
to rail service problems. A benefit/cost ratio is
used to evaluate potential rail freight projects.
IDOT Truck Access Route Program (TARP) -
Administered through the Illinois Department of Transportation
(IDOT), the TARP program can provide grants to local
government agencies to assist them in upgrading roads
to accommodate 80,000-pound trucks. The routes are
to provide access to points of loading and unloading
and to facilities for food, fuel, truck repair, and
driver rest. Projects must connect to a truck route
and end at another truck route or truck generator.
IDOT will provide up to $30,000 per lane mile and
$15,000 per intersection. The states participation
will not exceed 50 percent of the total construction
cost, or $600,000, whichever is less. Each fall IDOT
solicits local projects that can be constructed during
the upcoming fiscal year.
Renewable
Fuels Development Program (RFPD)
This program was established by Public Act 93-15 to
provide grants for the construction of new bio fuels
production facilities in Illinois. It was signed by
Governor Blagojevich in June 2003. This program provides
$15 million in FY’04.
Description:
This program was established by Public Act 93-15 to
provide grants for the construction of new bio fuels
production facilities in Illinois. It was signed by
Governor Blagojevich in June 2003. This program provided
a $15 million appropriation in FY’04.
* The minimum eligible facility
size is 30 million gallons per year.
* A Project Labor Agreement is required to be eligible
to receive a grant award
* Maximum RFDP grant award is $6.5 million, including
up to $1.5 million in rural economic development incentives
* Total grant award cannot exceed 10% of the total
construction costs of the facility
* Provides a $0.10 per gallon incentive for the construction
of new facilities up to the maximum grant award of
$6.5 million
* Provides a $0.05 per gallon incentive for the modification,
alteration, or retrofitting of an existing facility
up to the maximum grant award of $6.5 million
* Illinois corn and soybean growers will benefit from
higher grain prices
Public Act 93-15 and the RFDP
are designed to:
* Enhance the economy of Illinois,
* Expand rural economic development,
* Create new, permanent jobs in the state,
* Provide increased income to Illinois grain farmers,
* Reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and,
* Improve air quality by reducing vehicular exhaust
emissions.
Illinois
Department of Agriculture AgriFIRST Grant Program
The AgriFIRST program is designed to provide grants
to persons and agribusinesses in Illinois for the
purpose of developing projects that enhance the value
of agricultural products or expand agribusiness in
Illinois.
Authorization
The AgriFIRST Grant Program is authorized by Illinois
statute 505
ILCS 19/1.
How the Program Works
AgriFIRST is the Department of Agriculture’s
first economic development program for value-added
agriculture. Since the program began, AgriFIRST has
provided more than $3.7 million in funds for more
than 70 value-added agricultural projects.
Grant program for non-construction
projects
Purpose: To provide grants to persons and agribusinesses
in Illinois for technical assistance to develop a
project to enhance the value of agricultural products
or to expand agribusiness in Illinois and for undertaking
feasibility studies, competitive assessments and consulting
or productivity services that may result in the enhancement
of value-added agricultural projects.
Technical assistance: Up to 75% of the cost for technical
assistance to develop a project to enhance the value
of agricultural products or to expand agribusiness
in Illinois, but not to exceed $25,000; and feasibility
studies, competitive assessments & consulting-productivity
services: Up to 50% of the cost of undertaking feasibility
studies, competitive assessments and consulting or
productivity services that the department determines
may result in the enhancement of value-added agricultural
products.
Grant programs for construction
projects
Purpose: To provide grants to persons and agribusinesses
in Illinois, on or after July 1, 2003, for capital
construction projects in Illinois. On or after July
1, 2003, a grant under this subpart may provide up
to 10% of the project’s total capital construction
cost not to exceed $5,000,000, including but not limited
to: purchasing land; purchasing, constructing or refurbishing
buildings; purchasing or refurbishing machinery or
equipment; installation; repairs; labor; and working
capital. Grant moneys cannot be used for the purpose
of compliance with the provisions of the Livestock
Management Facilities Act [505 ILCS 19/35 (a)].
Community
Development Assistance Program for Economic Development
(CDAP-ED) The CDAP- ED program is a federally
funded program that is designed to provide grants
to units of local government for economic development
activities related to business retention and/or expansion
opportunities.
Authorization
The Community Development Assistance Program is managed
by DCEO and statutes are found in chapter 20
ILCS 605.
How the Program Works
The program is targeted to assist low-to-moderate-income
citizens by creating job opportunities and improving
the quality of their living environment. Local governments
qualifying to receive grant funds can then make these
funds available in the form of loans to businesses
locating or expanding in their community. A local
government may request grant funds of up to $750,000.
Funds may be used for machinery and equipment, working
capital, and building construction and renovation.
The local government may also use the grant funds
for improvements to public infrastructure that directly
support a specific economic development project. Applications
may be submitted at any time. Local government entities
located in heavily-populated metropolitan areas of
the state may receive funding directly from the federal
government, and therefore are ineligible for participation
through this program. For 2005, the state's federal
Community Development Assistance Program tentative
allocation was $37,851,155. Funds for the Competitive
Housing Rehabilitation and Public Facilities Components
will come from the federal 2006 program allocation.
Each program component has a maximum funding level
or grant ceiling. While grant ceilings establish the
upper limits that may be requested, individual grants
are invited only in amounts commensurate with requirements
of the proposed project. The department allocated
$8,000,000 in block grant funds to the ED program
component and established a grant ceiling of $750,000.
The general Economic Development Component funds are
available on an as-needed basis throughout the year
to all eligible applicants meeting program component
requirements until all funds allocated to this component
have been distributed. All awards in this category
are predicated upon project feasibility and a demonstrated
need for funds.
Illinois
Coal Competitiveness Program
Grants provide partial funding to improve coal extraction,
preparation and transportation systems within Illinois.
Description
The Coal Competitiveness Program encourages communities
and businesses to improve the coal extraction, preparation
and transportation systems within Illinois. The program
is aimed at improving the efficiency of the Illinois
coal industry, enhancing the competitive position
of Illinois coal in domestic and international markets,
and opening new markets for Illinois coal and byproducts.
Illinois
Coal Demonstration Program
Grants provide partial funding to bring state-of-the-art,
advanced coal-use technologies to commercial readiness.
Description
The state of Illinois is committed to bringing state-of-the-art,
advanced coal-use technologies to commercial readiness.
To that end, the Coal Demonstration Program provides
partial funding for selected large-scale demonstration
of advanced coal systems for utility and industrial
use. Not only are these efforts bringing a new generation
of clean coal techniques to the commercial marketplace,
but also each project provides near-term benefits
to the state and local communities through increased
employment, personal income and tax revenues.
Illinois
Coal Research Program
Grants provide partial funding to research clean coal
technology, coal chemistry, mining productivity and
coal combustion byproduct utilization.
Description
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
oversees the largest state-sponsored coal research
program in the United States. This program is administered
by DCEO and is under the technical oversight of the
Illinois Clean Coal Institute (ICCI).
Illinois
Coal Development Program
Grants provide partial funding to advance promising
clean coal technologies beyond the research stage
toward commercialization.
Description
The Coal Development Program seeks to advance promising
clean coal technologies beyond the research stage
toward commercialization. The program provides a 50/50
match with private industry dollars to support market-driven
needs of the industry. Development processes include
technology maturation, technology transfer and related
studies.
Illinois
Coal Revival Program grants provide partial funding
to assist with the development of new, coal-fired
electric generation capacity and coal gasification,
or IGCC units that generate chemical feedstocks or
transportation fuels derived from Illinois coal.
Description
The Coal Revival Program seeks to promote the development
of new, coal-fired electric generation capacity in
Illinois.
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