The State of Illinois Uniform Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), under the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), seeks proposals for capital improvement grants to fund sidewalk construction and/or restoration projects. This program is supported through the Build Illinois Bond Act (30 ILCS 425), with $1,000,000 in available state funding. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, but indirect costs, general overhead, and administrative expenses are not allowable under bond fund restrictions.

Eligible applicants must be municipalities located in Cook County, Illinois, with populations between 10,500 and 10,600, as per the 2010 U.S. Census. Proof of eligibility is required upon application submission. Applicants must also be registered and pre-qualified through the GATA Grantee Portal, verifying their federal and state compliance, including good standing with the Illinois Secretary of State and an active SAM.gov account.

Applications must include a detailed project narrative, outlining the project scope, costs, economic impact, timeline, and performance objectives. Required forms include the Uniform Grant Application, Uniform Budget, Conflict of Interest and Mandatory Disclosure statements, a W-9 form, and an IRS Letter. Applications must be submitted electronically to CEO.OGMgrants@illinois.gov no later than 5:00 PM on January 17, 2025.

Grant proposals will be competitively evaluated on a 100-point scale across four key criteria:

Capacity (40 points) – Demonstrated ability to complete the project.
Economic Impact (30 points) – Positive economic contributions to the community.
Need (15 points) – Justification of community need for the project.
Quality (15 points) – Overall project features and adherence to NOFO goals.
Additional compliance includes adherence to the Prevailing Wage Act, Illinois Works Jobs Program Act (for projects exceeding $500,000), and environmental review requirements. Grantees must submit quarterly performance and financial reports and participate in monitoring visits.

Applicants may direct questions to David E. Parr at CEO.OGMgrants@illinois.gov or by calling 217-685-1197. More information and required forms can be accessed on the DCEO website.