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NOFO: OE3 Small Business Capital & Infrastructure Grant Program
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.
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 [email protected].
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.
