ILRolling
Chicago Urban League Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Grantor
Chicago Urban League
Award Amount
Varies
black_ownedminority_owned
View GrantIllinois grants
Illinois Small Business Grants 2026
Browse open Illinois grant programs for small businesses, nonprofits, and founders in 2026, sorted by award size with deadlines and eligibility.
Forrest Grants
Funding is hiding in plain sight.
From Chicago, Springfield, and Peoria to rural Illinois, Forrest Grants tracks state, county, city, and foundation programs so you can shortlist the ones worth a real application.
🐻
Forrest Grant keeps the list clean, relevant, and pointed at programs worth a real application.
Open grants
223
Average award
Varies
Top eligibility tags
illinoistechnical_assistanceminority_ownedstudent
Featured grants
High-intent funding opportunities
Grants in IL
Where to focus first
Browse open Illinois grant programs for small businesses, nonprofits, and founders in 2026, sorted by award size with deadlines and eligibility. Use this page as your shortlist, then jump into the intake wizard so Forrest can narrow the list to the programs you are most likely to win.
ILRolling
Illinois Farm Bureau — Rural Development Grant Program
Grantor
Illinois Farm Bureau
Award Amount
Varies
rural Illinoisagricultural
View GrantILRolling
Cook County Small Business Source
Grantor
Cook County Bureau of Economic Development
Award Amount
Varies
direct to businesssmall_business
View GrantILRolling
WBDC Childcare Business Program
Grantor
Women's Business Development Center
Award Amount
Varies
womenchildcare
View GrantILRolling
Illinois SSBCI Technical Assistance Program
Grantor
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
Award Amount
Varies
veteran_ownedsedi
View GrantILRolling
Illinois Adult-Use Cannabis Social Equity Applicant Criteria Support
Grantor
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
Award Amount
Varies
illinoiscannabis
View GrantILRolling
Grainger Engineering Tech Startup Challenge
Grantor
University of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering Landuyt Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Award Amount
Varies
studentengineering
View GrantILRolling
Illinois Grocery Initiative — Equipment Upgrades Grant Program
Grantor
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO)
Award Amount
Varies
independent food businesssmall business
View GrantILRolling
Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce APEX Accelerator
Grantor
Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Award Amount
Varies
hispanic_ownedminority_owned
View GrantILRolling
All Kids Play Youth Sports Grants
Grantor
All Kids Play
Award Amount
Varies
youth_sportsfinancial_need
View GrantILRolling
Illinois Unified Certification Program (IL UCP) — DBE Certification
Grantor
Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT)
Award Amount
Varies
DBEminority owned
View GrantILRolling
UIC Spark Series and Blaze Venture Challenge
Grantor
University of Illinois Chicago Innovation Center
Award Amount
Varies
studentuic
View GrantILRolling
Illinois Tollway Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program
Grantor
Illinois State Toll Highway Authority
Award Amount
Varies
minority_owneddbe
View GrantILRolling
Blue Ocean Student Entrepreneur Competition
Grantor
Blue Ocean Student Entrepreneur Competition
Award Amount
Varies
high_schoolstudent
View GrantILRolling
Illinois Cannabis Social Equity Technical Assistance Program
Grantor
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
Award Amount
Varies
illinoiscannabis
View GrantILRolling
Advantage Illinois Participation Loan Program — Health Businesses
Grantor
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO)
Award Amount
Varies
small businessminority owned
View GrantILRolling
ComEd Energy Efficiency Program Industrial Incentives
Grantor
ComEd
Award Amount
Varies
illinoiscomed_customer
View GrantILRolling
Advantage Illinois Loan Guarantee Program
Grantor
Illinois DCEO
Award Amount
Varies
small_business
View GrantILRolling
Illinois Enterprise Zone Program Manufacturing Incentives
Grantor
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
Award Amount
Varies
illinoisenterprise_zone
View GrantILRolling
Cook County Minority-Owned Business Enterprise Certification
Grantor
Cook County Office of Contract Compliance
Award Amount
Varies
minority_ownedcook_county
View GrantILRolling
Women's Business Development Center Midwest Women's Business Center
Grantor
Women's Business Development Center
Award Amount
Varies
womenillinois
View GrantILRolling
Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center
Grantor
Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center
Award Amount
Varies
illinoismanufacturing
View GrantILRolling
Illinois DBE Certification Program
Grantor
Illinois Department of Transportation
Award Amount
Varies
minority_owneddbe
View GrantILRolling
Illinois Tech Kaplan Pitch Tank
Grantor
Illinois Institute of Technology Kaplan Institute
Award Amount
Varies
studentillinois_tech
View GrantILRolling
iVenture Accelerator
Grantor
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Gies College of Business
Award Amount
Varies
studentuniversity_of_illinois
View GrantILRolling
Illinois Grocery Initiative — New Stores in Food Deserts Program
Grantor
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO)
Award Amount
Varies
small businessindependent retailer
View GrantILRolling
WWBIC Veterans Business Outreach Center
Grantor
Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation
Award Amount
Varies
active_militarymilitary_spouse
View GrantILRolling
Illinois Works Bid Credit Program
Grantor
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO)
Award Amount
Varies
Illinois basedcontractor
View GrantILRolling
Cook County CannaBiz Pathways
Grantor
Cook County Bureau of Economic Development
Award Amount
Varies
cook_countycannabis
View GrantILRolling
EDGE Tax Credit — Economic Development for a Growing Economy
Grantor
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO)
Award Amount
Varies
job creationcapital investment
View GrantILRolling
SomerCor VetLoan Advantage
Grantor
SomerCor
Award Amount
Varies
veteran_ownedsba_504
View GrantILRolling
Ameren Illinois Energy Efficiency Program for Business
Grantor
Ameren Illinois
Award Amount
Varies
illinoisameren_customer
View GrantILRolling
Illinois State Trade Expansion Program
Grantor
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
Award Amount
Varies
illinoisexport
View GrantILRolling
Illinois APEX Accelerator — Government Contracting Technical Assistance
Grantor
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO)
Award Amount
Varies
small business
View GrantILRolling
Cannabis Social Equity Loan Program Round 3
Grantor
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
Award Amount
Varies
illinoiscannabis
View GrantILRolling
IAC Grant for Communities
Grantor
Illinois Arts Council Agency (IAC)
Award Amount
Varies
nonprofitmunicipality
View GrantILRolling
Illinois AIM HIGH Grant Program
Grantor
Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC)
Award Amount
Varies
higher educationIllinois institution
View GrantILRolling
Buckbee S.E.E.D. Social Equity and Economic Diversity Incubator
Grantor
Buckbee S.E.E.D. Co.
Award Amount
Varies
illinoiscannabis
View GrantILRolling
M3 Chicago: Metro, Manufacturing, Momentum
Grantor
Cook County Bureau of Economic Development
Award Amount
Varies
cook_countymanufacturing
View GrantILRolling
Illinois Entrepreneurship Assistance Centers for Youth Entrepreneurs
Grantor
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
Award Amount
Varies
youthages_16_29
View GrantILRolling
LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Illinois Business Support
Grantor
LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Illinois
Award Amount
Varies
lgbtq_ownedillinois
View GrantILRolling
Reimagining Energy and Vehicles Illinois Program
Grantor
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
Award Amount
Varies
illinoiselectric_vehicle
View GrantILRolling
Restore, Reinvest, Renew (R3) Program Grants
Grantor
Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA)
Award Amount
Varies
nonprofitdisinvested community
View GrantILRolling
Illinois DRS Self-Employment Support
Grantor
Illinois Department of Human Services Division of Rehabilitation Services
Award Amount
Varies
disabilityillinois
View GrantILRolling
DCEO Federal Grant Support Program — Health Sector
Grantor
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO)
Award Amount
Varies
healthnonprofit
View GrantILRolling
Junior Achievement of Chicago Company Program
Grantor
Junior Achievement of Chicago
Award Amount
Varies
studentchicago_region
View GrantILRolling
Chicago MSDC Young Entrepreneurs Pitch Competition
Grantor
Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council
Award Amount
Varies
youthages_18_35
View GrantILRolling
Employer Training Investment Program
Grantor
Illinois Manufacturers' Association and Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
Award Amount
Varies
illinoismanufacturing
View GrantILRolling
Minority Business Development Center Central Illinois
Grantor
Minority Business Development Center
Award Amount
Varies
minority_ownedcentral_illinois
View GrantILRolling
Illinois Capital Development Board — Business Enterprise Program (BEP) for Construction
Grantor
Illinois Capital Development Board (CDB)
Award Amount
Varies
Illinois basedcertified MBE/WBE/VBE/PBE
View GrantILRolling
Illinois FBLA Competitive Events
Grantor
Illinois Future Business Leaders of America
Award Amount
Varies
studentillinois
View GrantILRolling
Smart Start Workforce Grants
Grantor
Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS)
Award Amount
Varies
licensed childcare providerCCAP participant
View GrantILRolling
Manufacturing Illinois Chips for Real Opportunity
Grantor
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
Award Amount
Varies
illinoissemiconductor
View GrantILRolling
IMEC Supply Chain Center
Grantor
Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center
Award Amount
Varies
illinoismanufacturing
View GrantILRolling
DCEO Federal Grant Support Program
Grantor
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO)
Award Amount
Varies
educationnonprofit
View GrantILRolling
Restore, Reinvest, Renew (R3) Program — Economic Development Grants for Food Businesses
Grantor
Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA)
Award Amount
Varies
R3 zonedisinvested community
View GrantILRolling
Illinois Specialty Crop Block Grant Program
Grantor
Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA)
Award Amount
Varies
specialty cropfarm
View GrantILRolling
Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Program
Grantor
Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA)
Award Amount
Varies
food producervalue added agriculture
View GrantILRolling
Illinois MBDA Business Center
Grantor
Minority Business Development Agency
Award Amount
Varies
minority_ownedillinois
View GrantILRolling
IDOT Economic Development Program (EDP)
Grantor
Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT)
Award Amount
Varies
transportation infrastructureeconomic development
View GrantGrants by business type
- Women-Owned Business Grants
- Nonprofit Grants
- Restaurant Grants
- Daycare Grants
- Veteran-Owned Business Grants
- Minority-Owned Business Grants
- LGBTQ-Owned Business Grants
- Disability-Owned Business Grants
- Native American Business Grants
- Grants for Young Entrepreneurs
- Grants for Active Military and Military Spouses
- Rural Business Grants
- Startup Grants
- Small Business Grants
- Grants for Artists and Creative Businesses
- Manufacturing Grants
- Retail Business Grants
- Agriculture and Farm Grants
- Technology and Innovation Grants
- Arts and Culture Grants
- Healthcare Grants
- Construction and Trades Grants
- Education and Training Grants
- Housing and Real Estate Grants
- Clean Energy and Sustainability Grants
Other states
Ready to apply?