Illinois Small Business Grants & Funding Programs
Illinois supports small businesses through the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), Intersect Illinois, and numerous local programs. Chicago and other major cities offer additional grant opportunities for entrepreneurs.
DCEO Programs
The Illinois DCEO offers various grant programs including the Advantage Illinois program, Small Business Development Loan program, and industry-specific incentives for manufacturing and technology companies.
Chicago Business Grants
Chicago offers numerous small business programs including the Chicago Small Business Resiliency Fund, Neighborhood Opportunity Fund, and various TIF district incentives for qualifying businesses.
Regional Programs
Illinois regions outside Chicago have their own economic development programs. Intersect Illinois can connect businesses with regional grants, tax incentives, and workforce training funds.
Illinois Business Grants
120 grants found
Breva Thrive Grant
The Breva Thrive Grant awards $5,000 each quarter to small business owners who are making a measurable difference in their local communities.
2026 Pride Fund for LGBTQIA+ Business Owners
The 2026 Pride Fund for LGBTQIA+ Business Owners provides $1,000 microgrants to 20 LGBTQIA+-owned small businesses across the U.S.
Hey Helen Grant
The Hey Helen Grant offers $10,000 in unrestricted funding to support women and nonbinary entrepreneurs building mission-driven, for-profit businesses in the U.S.
Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC)
The WOTC is a federal tax credit that encourages companies to hire employees from groups who have historically faced significant barriers to gainful employment.
Cancer Intervention and Surveillance Modeling Network (CISNET) (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
The National Institutes of Health is accepting applications for grants to support cancer intervention and surveillance modeling.
NEA Grants for Arts Projects 1, FY 2027
The National Endowment for the Arts is accepting applications for grants to support arts projects.
Limited Competition: Competing Revisions to Support Clinical Trials in Somatic Cell Genome Editing (U19 Clinical Trial Required)
The National Institutes of Health is accepting applications for grants to support clinical trials in somatic cell genome editing.
Enhancing Reuse of NHGRI Data Assets (R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
The National Institutes of Health is accepting applications for grants to support the reuse of data assets.
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION – MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL MULTIDISCIPLINARY INNOVATION ECOSYSTEMS
The Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command is accepting applications for requests for information to support innovation ecosystems.
Ocean Technology and Interdisciplinary Coordination
The U.S. National Science Foundation is accepting applications for grants to support ocean technology and interdisciplinary coordination.
Physical Oceanography
The U.S. National Science Foundation is accepting applications for grants to support physical oceanography research.
FY 2026 Notice of Funding Opportunity: Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) FAA Contract Tower (FCT) Competitive Grant Program
The Airport Improvement Program Discretionary Grants is accepting applications for grants to support contract tower competitive grants.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about business grants in Illinois