Last verified November 11, 2026 · How we verify

Small business grants in Illinois

As of November 2026, an Illinois small business can be matched against 83 programs: 14 Illinois state programs, 4 multi-state programs that include Illinois, 64 national programs open to IL businesses, and 1 federal grants via Grants.gov.

9 open grants here, and we'll write the application. Write it for me, $25

We track 14 Illinois state programs. 11 are open or verified right now and named below. Most of these programs never run an ad. The money is real, but nobody tells you it exists. That's the part we fixed.

Illinois state programs

National programs open to IL businesses

Federal grants via Grants.gov

Illinois programs by the numbers

Who funds them: 6 funders: Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (6), Illinois Arts Council Agency (1), Illinois Department of Agriculture (1), Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), Office of Tourism (1), and 2 more.
Award size: Most awards $11K to $1.7M.
Timing: 9 open now, 4 of them rolling. Soonest deadline: Tourism Attraction Grant Program (TAP) (Illinois, FY27), Nov 13, 2026. 2 between cycles.
What they fund: Arts & Creative (2), Food & Restaurant (2), Retail (2), Agriculture (1), Services (1), and 2 more; 3 open to any industry.

9 open grants here, and we'll write the application.

Answer a few questions and get a full draft, checked by our own AI review. Need more than one? 10 for $97, and unused ones never expire.

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Don't qualify for this grant? Full refund within 14 days (one per customer).

All 11 Illinois state programs we can name

Only Illinois's own programs, open ones first. Each names its funder and links to the official page. Annual programs spend most of the year between windows; the date tells you when to be ready.

Program	Amount	Status	Built for	Official link
Illinois Grocery Initiative: New Stores in Food Deserts Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity For businesses with 500 employees or fewer Only for businesses opening a new grocery store in an Illinois food desert. Verified Nov 3, 2026	$500,000 to $5.2 million per award (Round 3); $20.8 million for about 8 awards	Closes Dec 9, 2026	Round 3 grants of $500,000 to $5.2 million to open independently owned grocery stores in Illinois food deserts, reimbursing eligible capital and non-capital costs. About 8 awards from $20.8 million; applications close December 9, 2026. A companion program funds equipment upgrades for existing independent grocers.	Write it for me, $25 Official page (opens in a new tab)See how this fits my business →
Illinois Federal Grant Support Program (DCEO) Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) Only for Illinois-based applicants seeking a competitive federal grant that needs a cost share; certify at least 51% of the federal award will be spent in Illinois. Verified Oct 28, 2026	$10,000 to $2,000,000 (1:1 cash match)	Rolling, apply anytime	A state grant that matches the cash cost share Illinois applicants must put up for a competitive federal grant, from $10,000 up to $2,000,000. Open to businesses, nonprofits and governments.	Write it for me, $25 Official page (opens in a new tab)See how this fits my business →
Illinois Grocery Initiative - Grocery Rescue Program Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity For businesses with 499 employees or fewer Only for Illinois grocery stores that closed in the last 12 months. GATA pre-qualification required. Verified Oct 31, 2026	$100,000 - $1,500,000	Closes Jun 30, 2027	Grants of $100,000-$1,500,000 to independent grocers or cooperatives (for-profit or nonprofit, under 500 employees, no more than four locations) that reopen an Illinois grocery store closed within the past 12 months. Funds cover acquisition, repair, equipment and some first-year operating costs. Cost share required.	Write it for me, $25 Official page (opens in a new tab)See how this fits my business →
Illinois Grocery Initiative - Equipment Upgrades Program (Round 3) Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Verified Oct 31, 2026	$25,000 - $250,000	Rolling, apply anytime	The Illinois Grocery Initiative Equipment Upgrade Round 3 provides grants of $25,000–$250,000 to for-profit grocery retailers in Illinois for equipment purchases and upgrades. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis with no specific deadline.	Write it for me, $25 Official page (opens in a new tab)See how this fits my business →
SBIR/STTR Match Program Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Only for Illinois small businesses that already hold a federal SBIR or STTR Phase I or Phase II award. Verified Nov 10, 2026	$1 - $250,000	Closes Jun 30, 2027	An Illinois state matching grant that provides funding to small businesses with successful federal SBIR/STTR Phase I or Phase II awards. The program offers match funds up to $250,000 to help qualified small businesses accelerate research, development, and commercialization.	Write it for me, $25 Official page (opens in a new tab)See how this fits my business →
Tourism Attraction Grant Program (TAP) (Illinois, FY27) Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Only for projects that develop or improve an Illinois tourism attraction; for-profits need a 75% cash match; GATA pre-qualification required. Verified Oct 28, 2026	$15,000 - $200,000	Closes in 2 days, Nov 13	Competitive state grants of $15,000 to $200,000 for developing or improving tourism attractions in Illinois. Counties, municipalities, nonprofits, local promotion groups and for-profit businesses may apply; for-profits must cover at least 75% of project cost in cash. Applications are open October 14 to November 13, 2026 at 5 PM and require GATA pre-qualification.	Write it for me, $25 Official page (opens in a new tab)See how this fits my business →
Tourism Private Sector Grant Program (Illinois, FY27) Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), Office of Tourism Only to attract or host a new tourism event or festival in Illinois (or enhance an existing one) with a dollar-for-dollar private cash match; GATA pre-qualification required. Verified Nov 11, 2026	$10,000 - $50,000	Closes in 2 days, Nov 13	DCEO's Office of Tourism gives $10,000 to $50,000 to Illinois for-profit entities, nonprofits, counties, municipalities and local promotion groups to attract or host a new tourism event or festival in Illinois (or enhance an existing one), with a dollar-for-dollar private-sector cash match. Applications are open October 14 through November 13, 2026 at 5:00 PM, and applicants need GATA pre-qualification. Repeat existing events are not eligible unless won in competition with another state.	Write it for me, $25 Official page (opens in a new tab)See how this fits my business →
Illinois State Trade and Export Promotion (ISTEP) Program Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Office of Trade and Investment For businesses with 500 employees or fewer For businesses with annual revenue up to $250K For businesses in operation 1+ year For businesses that sell, or are ready to sell, outside the U.S. Verified Nov 9, 2026	up to $5,000-$10,000 per option	Rolling, apply anytime	ISTEP provides Illinois small businesses with financial reimbursement for export-promotion activities including group trade missions, individual foreign market sales missions, product compliance certification, website localization, and export credit insurance. Assistance covers 25%-75% of eligible travel and compliance costs.	Write it for me, $25 Official page (opens in a new tab)See how this fits my business →
Driving a Cleaner Illinois VW Round 9: Electric Trucks Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Only for replacing an old diesel freight truck with an all-electric one in an Illinois priority area. Verified Nov 11, 2026	Up to $18,000,000 in Volkswagen funding	Rolling, apply anytime	Illinois Volkswagen settlement grants for all-electric Class 4-8 local freight trucks that replace old diesels in the state's three priority areas. Private businesses get 50% of the eligible truck cost and 50% of charging costs.	Write it for me, $25 Official page (opens in a new tab)See how this fits my business →
Illinois Specialty Crop Block Grant (ISCBG) Illinois Department of Agriculture Only for nonprofits, or farms teaching the public or other growers about specialty crops, with a project for the whole Illinois specialty crop industry. GATA pre-registration needed. Verified Nov 6, 2026	Up to $75,000	Between cycles Usually opens around May 2027, based on past rounds	Grants of up to $75,000 for projects that make Illinois specialty crops more competitive and produce measurable outcomes for the industry or the public. Open to nonprofits, local and tribal governments, schools and universities, and for-profit farmers who run specialty crop education for the public or other growers. GATA pre-registration required. The 2026 window ran May 7 to June 5, 2026.	See how this fits my business →Official page (opens in a new tab)
Creative Projects Grant for Individual Artists Illinois Arts Council Agency Illinois artist or arts educator 21+, an Illinois resident 1+ year, a non-student in any degree program (Ph.D. coursework done); one project with a public release; one CPG award per 2 years Verified Nov 9, 2026	up to $12,000	Reopens, date not announced yet	Project grants of up to $12,000 for Illinois individual artists and arts educators 21 and older, for one arts project that includes a public release or presentation during the grant period. Individuals may pay themselves within the budget; the award is taxable income. Open deadline by IAC region until each region's funds run out; FY27 funds were fully spent in all regions by August 7, 2026. The FY28 round is estimated for about July 2027.	See how this fits my business →Official page (opens in a new tab)

We track 3 more Illinois programs that are not open, dated or verified closely enough to name here yet. The quiz still checks your business against them.

City and county programs in Illinois

Open only to businesses in one city, county or local area, so they are not counted in the Illinois totals above.

SSA #50 Facade Enhancement Grants
Special Service Area #50 via Southeast Chicago Chamber of Commerce
City of Chicago (SSA #50: Calumet Heights and Avalon Park) only
50% of eligible facade costs, up to $10,000 · Rolling, apply anytime · Official page ↗

Multi-state programs that include Illinois

Each of these covers more than three states, so we list them here instead of counting them as Illinois state programs.

North Central SARE Farmer Rancher Grant
North Central Region SARE
Only for farmers and ranchers running an on-farm research, demonstration or education project. It does not pay day-to-day farm costs.
Open in 12 states, including IL
Up to $15,000 (individual); up to $30,000 (team of 2+ farms) · Closes Dec 3, 2026 · Official page ↗
Dairy Business Innovation Alliance Dairy Business Builder Grant
Dairy Business Innovation Alliance (Center for Dairy Research and Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association)
Only for for-profit dairy farms or dairy processors with a business address and plant in IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, OH, SD or WI.
Open in 11 states, including IL
Up to $150,000 (for large equipment projects, or $100,000 for other projects) · Reopens, date not announced yet · Official page ↗
Dairy Industry Impact Grant
Dairy Business Innovation Alliance (Center for Dairy Research and Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association)
Only for dairy farmers, manufacturers and processors, with a project that benefits the wider dairy industry.
Open in 11 states, including IL
Up to $100,000 (for Dairy Industry Impact grant); up to $150,000 or $100,000 (for Dairy Business Builder grant) · Reopens, date not announced yet · Official page ↗
Lenovo Evolve Small Grant
Lenovo (with Intel and Microsoft; administered with Goodie Nation)
For businesses with 75 employees or fewer
For businesses with annual revenue up to $7.5M
Only for small businesses in the Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, San Diego, Miami or Washington DC metro areas that use Microsoft 365 as their main computer system.
Covers 5 states (plus DC), including IL
$25,000 + $10,000 tech package · Reopens, date not announced yet · Official page ↗

Also open to IL businesses: 64 national programs and 1 federal grants via Grants.gov. They are the same in every state, so we list them by who they fund: women-owned, veteran-owned, minority-owned, or by industry.

Every verified grant deadline in the next 90 days is on one page: the live deadlines list.

Open right now in Illinois

Illinois Grocery Initiative: New Stores in Food Deserts: $500,000 to $5.2 million per award (Round 3); $20.8 million for about 8 awards, closes Dec 9, 2026
Illinois Federal Grant Support Program (DCEO): $10,000 to $2,000,000 (1:1 cash match), rolling, apply anytime
Illinois Grocery Initiative - Grocery Rescue Program: $100,000 - $1,500,000, closes Jun 30, 2027
Illinois Grocery Initiative - Equipment Upgrades Program (Round 3): $25,000 - $250,000, rolling, apply anytime
SBIR/STTR Match Program: $1 - $250,000, closes Jun 30, 2027
Tourism Attraction Grant Program (TAP) (Illinois, FY27): $15,000 - $200,000, closes Nov 13, 2026Closes in 2 days
Tourism Private Sector Grant Program (Illinois, FY27): $10,000 - $50,000, closes Nov 13, 2026Closes in 2 days
Illinois State Trade and Export Promotion (ISTEP) Program: up to $5,000-$10,000 per option, rolling, apply anytime
Driving a Cleaner Illinois VW Round 9: Electric Trucks: Up to $18,000,000 in Volkswagen funding, rolling, apply anytime

Illinois small business grants, program by program

Illinois Grocery Initiative: New Stores in Food Deserts (Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity): $500,000 to $5.2 million per award (Round 3); $20.8 million for about 8 awards, closes Dec 9, 2026

Round 3 grants of $500,000 to $5.2 million to open independently owned grocery stores in Illinois food deserts, reimbursing eligible capital and non-capital costs. About 8 awards from $20.8 million; applications close December 9, 2026. A companion program funds equipment upgrades for existing independent grocers. Verified against the funder's own page Nov 3, 2026. Official page ↗

Illinois Federal Grant Support Program (DCEO): $10,000 to $2,000,000 (1:1 cash match)

Run by Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). A state grant that matches the cash cost share Illinois applicants must put up for a competitive federal grant, from $10,000 up to $2,000,000. Open to businesses, nonprofits and governments. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 28, 2026. Official page ↗

Illinois Grocery Initiative - Grocery Rescue Program (Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity): $100,000 - $1,500,000, closes Jun 30, 2027

Grants of $100,000-$1,500,000 to independent grocers or cooperatives (for-profit or nonprofit, under 500 employees, no more than four locations) that reopen an Illinois grocery store closed within the past 12 months. Funds cover acquisition, repair, equipment and some first-year operating costs. Cost share required. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 31, 2026. Official page ↗

Illinois Grocery Initiative - Equipment Upgrades Program (Round 3) (Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity): $25,000 - $250,000

The Illinois Grocery Initiative Equipment Upgrade Round 3 provides grants of $25,000–$250,000 to for-profit grocery retailers in Illinois for equipment purchases and upgrades. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis with no specific deadline. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 31, 2026. Official page ↗

SBIR/STTR Match Program (Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity): $1 - $250,000, closes Jun 30, 2027

An Illinois state matching grant that provides funding to small businesses with successful federal SBIR/STTR Phase I or Phase II awards. The program offers match funds up to $250,000 to help qualified small businesses accelerate research, development, and commercialization. Verified against the funder's own page Nov 10, 2026. Official page ↗

Tourism Attraction Grant Program (TAP) (Illinois, FY27) (Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity): $15,000 - $200,000, closes Nov 13, 2026

Closes in 2 days

Competitive state grants of $15,000 to $200,000 for developing or improving tourism attractions in Illinois. Counties, municipalities, nonprofits, local promotion groups and for-profit businesses may apply; for-profits must cover at least 75% of project cost in cash. Applications are open October 14 to November 13, 2026 at 5 PM and require GATA pre-qualification. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 28, 2026. Official page ↗

Tourism Private Sector Grant Program (Illinois, FY27): $10,000 - $50,000, closes Nov 13, 2026

Closes in 2 days

Run by Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), Office of Tourism. DCEO's Office of Tourism gives $10,000 to $50,000 to Illinois for-profit entities, nonprofits, counties, municipalities and local promotion groups to attract or host a new tourism event or festival in Illinois (or enhance an existing one), with a dollar-for-dollar private-sector cash match. Applications are open October 14 through November 13, 2026 at 5:00 PM, and applicants need GATA pre-qualification. Repeat existing events are not eligible unless won in competition with another state. Verified against the funder's own page Nov 11, 2026. Official page ↗

Illinois State Trade and Export Promotion (ISTEP) Program (Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Office of Trade and Investment): up to $5,000-$10,000 per option

ISTEP provides Illinois small businesses with financial reimbursement for export-promotion activities including group trade missions, individual foreign market sales missions, product compliance certification, website localization, and export credit insurance. Assistance covers 25%-75% of eligible travel and compliance costs. Verified against the funder's own page Nov 9, 2026. Official page ↗

Driving a Cleaner Illinois VW Round 9: Electric Trucks (Illinois Environmental Protection Agency): Up to $18,000,000 in Volkswagen funding

Illinois Volkswagen settlement grants for all-electric Class 4-8 local freight trucks that replace old diesels in the state's three priority areas. Private businesses get 50% of the eligible truck cost and 50% of charging costs. Verified against the funder's own page Nov 11, 2026. Official page ↗

Illinois Specialty Crop Block Grant (ISCBG) (Illinois Department of Agriculture): Up to $75,000, usually opens around May 2027, based on past rounds

Grants of up to $75,000 for projects that make Illinois specialty crops more competitive and produce measurable outcomes for the industry or the public. Open to nonprofits, local and tribal governments, schools and universities, and for-profit farmers who run specialty crop education for the public or other growers. GATA pre-registration required. The 2026 window ran May 7 to June 5, 2026. Verified against the funder's own page Nov 6, 2026. Official page ↗

Creative Projects Grant for Individual Artists (Illinois Arts Council Agency): up to $12,000

Project grants of up to $12,000 for Illinois individual artists and arts educators 21 and older, for one arts project that includes a public release or presentation during the grant period. Individuals may pay themselves within the budget; the award is taxable income. Open deadline by IAC region until each region's funds run out; FY27 funds were fully spent in all regions by August 7, 2026. The FY28 round is estimated for about July 2027. Verified against the funder's own page Nov 9, 2026. Official page ↗

Grant programs

National grant programs

Straight answers

What's the difference between state, national, and federal programs?

State programs are run through Illinois agencies and partners and are limited to IL businesses or projects. Less competition. National programs are run by companies and foundations and are open to businesses in every state. Federal grants come through Grants.gov and tend to be larger and more paperwork-heavy.

Do I pay these back? How current is this list?

No. Grants are not loans. Each row shows the date we last checked it against the funder's own page. How we verify.

Which of these fit your Illinois business?

This page can't read your business. The 3-minute quiz can. It matches your industry, state, and ownership against all 83 programs and shows you where you stand.

See how many grants fit my business