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Grants for
Illinois Businesses
Grants provide a multitude of advantages that make them a preferred option for many business owners. Here are some key benefits:
Access to Capital: Grants provide essential capital that can be used for various projects, including marketing, hiring, purchasing equipment, and expanding facilities. This financial boost can be a game-changer if you are looking to scale your small businesses.
No Repayment Required: Unlike loans, grants do not need to be repaid. This means your business can use the funds without worrying about interest rates or debt accumulation. You can free up your time and energy to focus on growth and development.
Economic Development: Grants often aim to stimulate local economies by supporting businesses that create jobs and contribute to community well-being. By securing a grant, your business can be a part of regional development initiatives in your Illinois community.
Benefits of Grants for Illinois Businesses
The birthplace of groundbreaking inventions including the cell phone, the wireless remote and the first-ever web browser, Illinois is a tech hub. The state is among the top 10 for IT jobs and GDP, and is home to a continuous flow of successful tech startups, along with innovation hubs for “traditional” companies.
The Illinois life sciences industry is large, growing and recognized as a national leader. More than 41,000 people are employed at life science companies statewide. The healthcare sector is also significant, driven by major hospitals and research institutions, particularly in Chicago.
According to the Illinois Department of Employment Security, Illinois small businesses play a vital role in the state’s economy, employing nearly half of the state's workforce and contributing to economic growth. If you run or manage a business in Illinois, grants and funding options can provide the financial support needed to grow your business, adopt new technologies, and stay competitive in the ever-evolving Illinois economy. Business grants offer an attractive alternative to traditional loans, providing much-needed capital. At American Funding Group, we are dedicated to helping businesses across the Sunshine State obtain these valuable grants, enabling innovation, growth, and success.
Agriculture remains a strong pillar, with the state being a top producer of corn and soybeans. Illinois is a world leader in agribusiness, where companies find a dynamic ecosystem of food manufacturers, producers and agtech companies committed to a sustainable future. Illinois is centrally located in the heart of the U.S., with unique access to the world via air, rail, road and waterways. It is home also to 27M acres of farmland that produce the most soybeans in the nation and the 2nd largest quantity of corn, while housing 474 agtech startups and everything in between.
Types of Illinois Businesses That Can Qualify for Grants
Illinois businesses have access to a wide range of grant opportunities, for various industries and business types. At American Funding Group, we help businesses across all sectors navigate the grant application process. Here are some examples of businesses that can qualify for grants:
Construction Firms: Commercial building industry in Illinois is currently valued at $12.5 Billion, with 2,366 businesses including companies responsible for work on the construction of office, retail, hotel, agricultural and entertainment buildings, including new construction, additions, alterations, maintenance and repairs. Illinois’ construction landscape is poised for a dynamic shift, presenting both promising opportunities and notable challenges. If you are part of this exciting industry, your business can obtain grants to help with hiring, training, equipment purchase, investing in more sustainable construction practices, and more.
Trucking and Logistics Businesses: the local freight trucking industry in Illinois is valued at $8.7 Billion, and comprises 45,048 businesses. General freight companies handle a variety of commodities, which are usually palletized and transported in a container or van trailer. Local general freight trucking companies commonly provide trucking within a metropolitan area that may cross state lines, and the trips are typically same-day return. Trucking businesses should apply for business grants because these funds can provide crucial financial support for operations, equipment upgrades, and technology improvements. Grants can help offset costs associated with purchasing new trucks, implementing eco-friendly practices, or enhancing safety measures.
Restaurants: Illinois is home to 26,543 restaurant locations, generating 42.6 Billion in annual sales. The restaurant industry is responsible for 10% of total jobs in the state, contributing $2.30 to the state economy for every dollar spent by customers at restaurants. Notably, 9 in 10 restaurants are small businesses. Business grants for Illinois restaurant owners can be used to offset costs of purchasing kitchen equipment, improving outdoor dining spaces, or implementing health and safety measures. By securing this funding, restaurant owners like you can update their offerings, attract more customers, and stay competitive in a challenging market.
Cleaning and Janitorial Businesses: Part of a $4.8 Billion industry, cleaning and janitorial businesses in Illinois clean building interiors, the inner parts of transportation equipment, including aircraft, railcars and ships, and windows. Industry activities include contract cleaning services for factories, retail outlets, shopping centers and malls, business and government offices, trains and airlines and house-cleaning services. This industry comprises 47,951 businesses employing 137,933 people in the state. The janitorial industry is predominantly a small business industry, where business grants can provide the necessary capital to invest in new equipment, expand their workforce, and adopt the latest cleaning technologies, including eco-friendly practices.
Childcare: There are 40,944 market-based child care providers in Illinois with a combined annual revenue of $2.24 Billion. This includes 37,958 sole proprietors (family child care home-based providers) and 2,986 child care centers. If you run a childcare facility in Illinois, a grant could help with marketing, facility improvements, staff training, curriculum development, purchasing equipment or educational materials, and more.
Environmental and Green Businesses: Chicagoland's green economy produced over $18 billion in output in 2022, growing by nearly 180% between 2016 and 2022. By integrating cutting-edge solutions such as energy-efficient manufacturing processes, renewable energy sources, and advanced emissions control systems, Chicagoland's traditional sectors can undergo a sustainable revolution. The U.S. Green Building Council has ranked Illinois number one among all 50 states in the sustainable building design movement. Illinois has more than 29 million square feet of certified green buildings, or 2.29 square feet for every resident. If your business is part of this exciting industry in Illinois, be sure to apply for business grants that could help you invest in research and development, hiring and training, upgrading existing facilities, and more.
Illinois ranks 5th in economy size among states and Washington, DC. The state’s key industries include manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, and finance. As one of the largest manufacturing states in the U.S., Illinois produces a wide array of goods, from machinery to food products. Illinois also offers a tremendous ecosystem of organizations committed to advancing manufacturing including Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center, mHUB and MxD, coupled with some of the largest manufacturing companies in the world such as John Deere and Continental Tires.
Illinois Grants for Minority Business Owners
Minority-owned businesses in Illinois have access to many specialized grants and opportunities. These are just a few of the initiatives that offer business grants for minority-owned businesses:
Downstate Small Business Stabilization Program: Provides grants up to $25,000 in working capital for small businesses with up to 50 employees in downstate and rural counties.
Awesome Foundation Grants: Monthly grants of $1,000 to individuals and groups, including startups and small businesses.
Blueprint Medtech Small Business Translator Grant: For small businesses working on creating medical devices to treat nervous system disorders.
OMEE Minority-Owned Business Capital & Infrastructure Grant Program: Offers grants ranging from $150,000 to $300,000 for minority-owned businesses to invest in infrastructure improvements, essential equipment, or property acquisition.
The Black Experience Grant: Provided by the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership, this grant is specifically for Black-owned businesses located along Route 66 in Illinois.
Route 66 Grant Program: This program provides grants to certified convention and visitors bureaus for development of tourism, education, preservation and promotion of the 100th anniversary of Route 66.
Bioprocessing Research Infrastructure Program: The Bioprocessing Research Infrastructure Program seeks to promote bioprocessing in Illinois by providing assistance with the infrastructure and capital equipment necessary to expand training and research capacity in the state. As the bioprocessing market continues to grow, Illinois is poised to be a leader, but continued investments and expansions in infrastructure will be necessary.
Energy Transition Community Grant Program: Program will award grants to promote economic development in eligible communities.
Equitable Energy Future Grant Program: The Equitable Energy Future Grant Program funding is intended to address barriers to project, community, and business development in justice-impacted communities caused by a lack of available capital.
Grants for Minority-Owned Businesses: Numerous foundations and non-profit organizations offer grants to minority entrepreneurs in Illinois. These include grants for:
» African American-owned businesses
» Hispanic and Latino-owned businesses
» Asian American-owned businesses
» Native American and Alaska Native-owned businesses
» Pacific Islander-owned businesses
» Women-owned businesses
» Veteran-owned businesses
» Disabled-owned businesses
Requirements for Illinois Businesses Looking For Grants:
If you search “How to qualify for a business grant,” you may find that the requirements range widely. At American Funding Group, we have streamlined the requirements to create a straightforward application process for you:
» You must be a business owner in the United States
» You must have an active LLC, S-Corp, or S-Corp and an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
» You will be able to fill out one form with American Funding Group and answer 30+ questions to be paired with our best grant.
Illinois Counties We Serve
Business grants are available for businesses from every county in Illinois. Some grants are county-specific, and aligned with the goals of local communities and economic development. Other grants are available regardless of the county in which your business is located. We have helped clients from all over the Prairie State apply for grants and obtain funding:
These are just some of the counties we serve, ensuring that businesses throughout Illinois have access to grant opportunities.
✓ Adams
✓ Alexander
✓ Bond
✓ Boone
✓ Brown
✓ Bureau
✓ Calhoun
✓ Carroll
✓ Cass
✓ Champaign
✓ Christian
✓ Clark
✓ Clay
✓ Clinton
✓ Coles
✓ Cook
✓ Crawford
✓ Cumberland
✓ DeKalb
✓ DeWitt
✓ Douglas
✓ DuPage
✓ Edgar
✓ Edwards
✓ Effingham
✓ Fayette
✓ Ford
✓ Franklin
✓ Fulton
✓ Gallatin
✓ Greene
✓ Grundy
✓ Hamilton
✓ Hancock
✓ Hardin
✓ Henderson
✓ Henry
✓ Iroquois
✓ Jackson
✓ Jasper
✓ Jefferson
✓ Jersey
✓ Jo Daviess
✓ Johnson
✓ Kane
✓ Kankakee
✓ Kendall
✓ Knox
✓ LaSalle
✓ Lawrence
✓ Lee
✓ Livingston
✓ Logan
✓ McDonough
✓ McHenry
✓ McLean
✓ Macon
✓ Madison
✓ Marion
✓ Marshall
✓ Mason
✓ Massac
✓ Menard
✓ Mercer
✓ Monroe
✓ Montgomery
✓ Morgan
✓ Moultrie
✓ Ogle
✓ Peoria
✓ Perry
✓ Piatt
✓ Pike
✓ Pope
✓ Pulaski
✓ Putnam
✓ Randolph
✓ Richland
✓ Rock Island
✓ Saline
✓ Sangamon
✓ Schuyler
✓ Scott
✓ Shelby
✓ St. Clair
✓ Stark
✓ Stevenson
✓ Tazewell
✓ Union
✓ Vermilion
✓ Wabash
✓ Warren
✓ Washington
✓ Wayne
✓ White
✓ Whiteside
✓ Will
✓ Williamson
✓ Winnebago
✓ Woodford
How American Funding Group Helps Businesses Owners Obtain Grants
Navigating the world of grant applications can be complicated, especially for busy business owners who juggle multiple roles and responsibilities. At American Funding Group, we specialize in helping businesses identify and secure the grants they need. Here's how we support businesses through the process:
✓ You fill out a single application form on our website.
✓ Our system searches 7,000 grants
✓ Auto-apply for grants every month with our portal
✓ Grants are provided and distributed by private and federally-funded institutions listed on:
https://a4cb.org/services/grants
https://www.decaturedc.com/b2b
✓ The average approval rate for obtaining a grant is 30% to 40%.
✓ Once your grant is approved, it may take the grantor who approved it 30 to 90 days to distribute the funds to you.
Apply For Grant Funding Today
Grants offer a unique and valuable opportunity for Illinois businesses to access the funding they need to grow and succeed. Whether you're launching a business, expanding an existing business, or are a minority entrepreneur seeking targeted support, there are numerous grant programs available to help you achieve your goals. At American Funding Group, we simplify the grant application process for you, to help you secure funding and drive your business forward. Tap into your business's potential with American Funding Group and take the first step to apply for a business grant today.
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