Below is a list of grant and loan program opportunities that may be beneficial to your community and projects you are working on.   Other grant programs that NCICG works with regularly can be found on our website under the Grants tab.  Please contact NCICG at info@ncicg.org  or 815-433-5830 if your community needs assistance applying for these programs.

May, 2013      
    
Illinois Open Space Land Acquisition Development (OSLAD)
 
OSLAD is a reimbursement program that provides up to 50% funding assistance to local governments for the acquisition and development of land for public parks and open space. Communities that apply and are approved for a project must be able to finance the entire cost of the project and provide receipts prior to grant reimbursement. NCICG has worked with this program and the Department of Natural Resources for many years and will work closely with your community to prepare a competitive application. This program can provide assistance to communities desiring to build projects ranging from playground facilities to fishing piers. Please contact NCICG now if your community is interested in this opportunity.

Deadline - July 1, 2013
 

Bikes Belong Coalition: Community Partnerships Grants
 

The Bikes Belong Coalition is dedicated to encouraging bicycle usage and expanding bicycling opportunities. The Coalition is currently accepting applications for community partnership grants. A partnership consists of at least one local government, a non-profit organization with a mission to support bicycling recreation, and a local business. The goal of the program is to foster partnerships between these entities to improve a community's bicycling environment. Grants may be used for the development or expansion of bicycling facilities including paths, trails, and bike lanes. Grants may also be used for advocacy projects that promote bicycling. Applicants may apply for up to $10,000, but proposals that request funding for 50% or more of the project will not be considered. The program awards $180,000 yearly and funds approximately 15-20% of the proposals it receives. For more information visit:  http://www.bikesbelong.org/grants/. 

Deadline - May 24, 2013

April, 2013

The Illinois Fresh Food Fund (Loans funded by DCEO)
  
The Illinois Fresh Food fund is a loan and grant program that helps local developers and grocery store owners provide fresh food to underserved urban and rural areas across Illinois. Created by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the fund currently has $7 million in loans and $3 million in grant dollars available to provide grocers or developers with an additional financing option for their capital needs. The grant amount is limited to 10% of the loan, not to exceed $100,000. For more information on eligibility and to see if your community is in an underserved region, visit http://iff.org/illinois-food.

Application process ongoing.    
        
February, 2013
  
The Illinois Fresh Food Fund (Loans and Grants Funded by DCEO)

The Illinois Fresh Food fund is a loan and grant program that helps local developers and grocery store owners provide fresh food to underserved urban and rural areas across Illinois. Created by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the fund currently has $7 million in loans and $3 million in grant dollars available to provide grocers or developers with an additional financing option for their capital needs. The grant amount is limited to 10% of the loan, not to exceed $100,000. For more information on eligibility and to see if your community is in an underserved region, visit http://iff.org/illinois-food.

Application process ongoing.

January, 2013  

Illinois Electronic Recycling Program (Education Grant)    
Recycling coordinators within each county of the state of Illinois are eligible to apply for $2,000 grants to help educate consumers about the Illinois Electronic Recycling and Reuse Act and to inform the public about recycling opportunities in their county. The grant application is now available online and can be filled out and submitted electronically.  If you are interested in obtaining a grant, we invite you to review the grant requirements which are included within the online application.  The application can be accessed at the following link: http://www.epa.state.il.us/land/electronic-waste-recycling/grant-application.pdf

 Application deadline: February 1, 2013. 

December, 2012       

Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation 2013 Grant Opportunities

The Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation provides grants to state and local government agencies and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that have proposed projects or programs that benefit the public by implementing and improving energy efficiency, developing and increasing renewable energy sources, and enhancing and improving natural areas throughout Illinois . There are a variety of grants available. To find out more information, visit http://www.illinoiscleanenergy.org/.

Deadlines vary.

Illinois Energy Now

Illinois Energy Now is a program administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) that reimburses units of local governments for improvements they make to their electrical and natural gas systems. Projects may be small or large in scope and units of government have the potential to be reimbursed for up to 75 percent of their cost. More than $70 million is available annually to help fund these projects. The program aims to improve energy efficiency and reduce energy demand. All Illinois public facilities located within Ameren Illinois and ComEd electrical service areas or Ameren Illinois, NICOR, North Shore or Peoples natural gas areas are eligible to take advantage of Illinois Energy Now. For more information on this program, please visit http://www.ilenergynow.org/.

Ongoing Program.

America's Historical and Cultural Organizations: Planning Grants

Does your organization or agency have a project that will provide an analytical, reflective, or a historical perspective on the arts? The National Endowment for the Humanities is providing eligible tax-exempt nonprofit organizations, state and local governments, and federal recognized Indian tribal governments planning grants for the early stages of project development. Eligible institutions include, but are not limited to public, school, academic, and research libraries; museums; disciplinary and professional associations; cultural institutions; state humanities councils; and institutions of higher learning. For more information, please visit http://www.neh.gov/grants/ahco.

Deadline: January 9, 2013.

U.S. Department of the Interior- Fish and Wildlife Service

The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program is a voluntary, incentive-based program that provides technical and financial assistance to private landowners, non-profit and for-profit organizations, small businesses, private institutes of higher education, and Native American tribal organizations/governments to restore and conserve fish and wildlife habitat. Program staff will work with the landowners to plan and implement projects based on priorities and geographic focus areas identified in regional strategic plans. An estimated $22 million will be available to fund 5,000 projects. For more information on this program, please visit http://www.fws.gov/partners/.

Deadline: September 28, 2013.

November, 2013

Clean Water Initiative- Wastewater and Drinking Water Infrastructure Loans

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in partnership with the Illinois Finance Authority has made $1 billion in low-cost loans available to help communities fund critical waste water and drinking water infrastructure projects. For more information about this loan program, visit http://www.cleanwater.illinois.gov/ .

U.S. EPA Brownfield Area-Wide Planning Grants

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) will provide $200,000 to twenty communities to formulate revitalization plans for surrounding areas impacted by brownfields. The plans will help communities devise and implement strategies to conduct brownfields assessments and facilitate cleanup and reuse efforts. Applications are due November 30, 2012. For more information visit EPA.gov .

NEA Our Town Grant

The National Endowment for the Art’s (NEA) Our Town Grant is providing a limited number of grants ranging from $25,000 to $250,000 for projects that will make communities more livable, beautiful, and sustainable. Projects will seek to improve the quality of life, encourage creativity, foster community identity and sense of place, and revitalize economic development. Applications are due December 3, 2012. For more information visit arts.gov .