Illinois Economic Empowerment Centers (EEC) Program
Deadline: Rolling / ongoing.
View the official program page →Official listing
This links the program's official page as published by the portal, or the portal itself when the program publishes none; verify details there before applying.
- Agency
- Commerce And Econ Opp
- Agency opportunity number
- FY26-1
- Deadline
- Rolling / ongoing
- Opened
- 2026-05-11
- Estimated total funding
- 2500000.00
- Amounts
- $250000 - $500000
- Expected awards
- 10
- Matching funds
- Yes
About this program
The objective is to create an inclusive business ecosystem for communities that have traditionally faced systemic barriers to entry and growth, including those who have been justice-involved. The Department will award grants to eligible applicants who provide Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Individuals (SEDI) business owners, entrepreneurs and/or dislocated workers with technical assistance, training, and access to resources necessary for their start-ups or existing businesses.
Run federal grants too?
State grants are free to browse and are not part of member fit-scoring, alerts, or the Tuesday digest — those cover federal grants. Members get every federal grant that opens fit-scored to their organization (the home page defines exactly what the board covers) — with an alert when a real match posts.
See grants pricingWant state grant alerts?
Fit-scored alerts cover federal grants today; this state board is free to browse. If alerts for state grants would help your team, say so below — enough interest is what gets them built.