The Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF) provides grant funding for permanent building improvements and repairs across the city.
Donor Name: City of Chicago
State: Illinois
City: Chicago
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 09/30/2024
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF) grants are available in select districts across the City of up to $150,000 for commercial properties and up to $250,000 for industrial properties.
Eligible Expenses
Most permanent building improvements are eligible for SBIF grants, including:

Exterior renovations and repairs, including new windows, doors and roofs
Interior remodeling, including framing, drywall, flooring and ceilings
Tuck-pointing and masonry repairs
HVAC, electrical and plumbing system upgrades
Structural components of new signage
ADA improvements
Project-related architectural and construction management fees.

Eligible Applicants

The program is available for applicants that are:

Commercial businesses with gross annual sales of up to $9 million on average over the previous three years
Commercial property owners with a net worth of up to $9 million and liquid assets of up to $500,000
Industrial businesses with up to 200 full-time employees

Residential projects are not eligible for SBIF grants.

Ineligible Applicants
Several types of businesses are explicitly ineligible for SBIF grants. These include:

Chain and franchise businesses
Branch banks
Day labor employment agencies
Currency exchanges, pay day, and title secured loan stores
Pawn shops
Fortune telling services
Liquor stores and night clubs
Adult uses
Track waging facilities
K-12 schools
Gas stations
Firearms dealers
Places of worship
Smoke shops and cigar lounges
Tobacco dealers, including sales of tobacco, nicotine, or similar products and accessories
Residential storage warehouses
Trailer-storage yards, junk yards, and similar uses.

For more information, visit City of Chicago.