Pritzker Announces $42 Million for Regional Site Readiness Program

 

[July 24, 2024] 

Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced $42 million in funding for the Regional Site Readiness Program. The goal of this program is to ensure sites are better prepared to attract future investment and new job opportunities in the industrial sector across all 10 of Illinois’ Economic Development Regions. Grantees will be selected through two competitive Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) processes – 1) Planning and 2) Capital Ready.

“Since the passage of Rebuild Illinois, we’ve taken transformative steps to modernize our state’s infrastructure,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “This $42 million investment in the Regional Site Readiness Program will help our state better prepare for future infrastructure and industrial development opportunities. I highly encourage all eligible organizations to apply to the available competitive grants.”

“Investing in Regional Site Readiness continues Illinois’ legacy of industrial strength, creating boundless opportunities for economic growth,” said Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton. “We are both preserving our rich industrial heritage and looking ahead to ensure that Illinois remains powerful and competitive on the global stage.”

The Regional Site Readiness Program aims to support communities and landowners in their site readiness planning, assessments, and infrastructure improvements. This includes addressing the financial barriers faced when gathering information and making infrastructure improvements. The program will also increase the number of sites with completed due diligence and expand the pipeline for future industrial site development.

“The Regional Site Readiness Program is essential to ensuring sites across Illinois are prepared for industrial development opportunities,” said DCEO Director Kristin Richards. “This funding will help communities plan for site investments, increase the number of attractive sites ready for investment and create new job opportunities in every Economic Development Region of the state.”

DCEO is investing in planning activities such as environmental due diligence and preliminary engineering costs, as well as capital ready activities including capital improvements to road or utility infrastructure to increase the number of sites ready for industrial development.

“Investing in the Regional Site Readiness Program is critical to increasing our state's industrial and infrastructure development opportunities,” said Sen. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago). “This funding will not only ensure our state's communities are prepared for future development projects, but it will also create job opportunities for hardworking Illinoisans across the state.”

“The Regional Site Readiness Program is crucial to our continued efforts to modernize Illinois' infrastructure,” said Sen. Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford). “Investments like this are moving the needle forward and ensuring our communities are prepared for these opportunities.”

Eligible applicants include local governments, economic development organizations, nonprofit organizations, and private landowners. Qualified entities can apply for Planning grants up to $150,000 and Capital Ready grants up to $3 million. Applications will be accepted until October 21, 2024, at 5:00 p.m.

To view the Planning and Capital Ready NOFOs and apply for the grants, please visit the DCEO website. Interested parties are encouraged to reach out to [e-mail] for application assistance. DCEO will be hosting Technical Assistance (TA) Sessions to provide assistance, answer questions, and provide information on becoming GATA pre-qualified.

Dates for the TA sessions are listed below:

TA Session 1: Tuesday, July 30, Noon–1 p.m.

TA Session 2: Thursday, August 8, 10:30–11:30 a.m.

TA Session 3: Wednesday, August 21, 2–3 p.m.

Passed in 2019, Rebuild Illinois is the largest capital program in Illinois history. The $45 billion investment is supporting improvements to the state’s infrastructure, creating jobs and promoting economic growth.

[Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity / Bureau of Strategic Sourcing]