The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for a state-funded grant titled “Provision of services to the public from named line GRF &/or FIF source.” This grant is designed to support a one-time initiative funded through the Illinois General Assembly under Public Act 103-0589, with a total allocation of $452,360. The program’s primary objective is to provide unemployment insurance relief to small restaurants in the Rockford region that experienced layoffs during the first or second quarters of 2021, based on data from the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) form BEN-118-Statement of Benefit Charges.

The grant will be awarded to one not-for-profit organization with jurisdiction in the Rockford area that promotes economic development and quality of life through tourism and destination development. The successful applicant will serve as an administrator, issuing subgrants to small restaurants that qualify, and is responsible for the overall management of funds and program reporting. This includes submitting quarterly Periodic Performance Reports (PPRs), Periodic Financial Reports (PFRs), expense ledgers, and other required documentation to demonstrate financial and performance accountability.

Applications must include a project narrative describing the scope of work, budget details, subgrantee arrangements (if applicable), economic impact, capacity, and need for services. All agreements and budgets involving subrecipients or subcontractors must be pre-approved by DCEO and maintained on file. Applications must be submitted electronically to the DCEO’s Office of Grants Management by 5:00 p.m. on April 23, 2025.

To be eligible, applicants must be pre-qualified through the Illinois GATA Grantee Portal, have valid FEIN and UEI numbers, be registered with SAM.gov, and not appear on the Illinois Stop Payment List or federal debarment lists. Applicants must also be regarded as legitimate entities by the IRS. Only one application per organization will be accepted.

Grant proposals will be evaluated on a 100-point scale, with specific emphasis on capacity (40 points), economic impact (25 points), community need (20 points), and project quality (15 points). Awards are expected to be announced approximately three months after the application deadline. Indirect costs are permitted under the award, and applicants may use a federally negotiated, state-negotiated, or de minimis indirect cost rate. Reporting and compliance with applicable state and federal regulations is mandatory throughout the grant period, including audits, fiscal monitoring, and final closeout reports.

For questions or technical assistance, applicants can contact David Parr at david.parr@illinois.gov or 217-685-1197. Additional resources, including application forms and templates, are available on the DCEO grant opportunities website.