Business Attraction Prime Sites
🏛 Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
✓ Free, no account · Source: Illinois GATA Catalog (CSFA) · Last verified Jun 1, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for Illinois businesses relocating or expanding operations and creating or retaining jobs. Applicants must have been approved for an EDGE, HIB, REV, or MICRO prequalifying program. Projects must include substantial capital investment in new construction, renovation of industrial/commercial facilities, or equipment installation. Warehouse construction and renovation projects are not eligible.
Eligible expenses include architectural planning, land and building acquisition, site preparation, utility work, building construction or renovation, and durable equipment purchase. Operational expenses, equipment leasing, staff labor costs, temporary facility construction, and vehicle or livestock purchases are not eligible.
Awards range from $250,000 to $25,000,000 and fund capital-intensive projects supporting job creation and retention in Illinois.
⚖️ Cost sharing / matching required — applicants must contribute their own funds.
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Program description
Rebuild Illinois Prime Sites grants are available to businesses that are relocating or expanding operations in Illinois, will create and/or retain jobs, commit to a substantial capital expenditure investment, and have been approved for either an EDGE, HIB, REV, or MICRO program. The intent of the Business Attraction Prime Sites capital grant program is to assist companies with large-scale capital investment projects that commit to significant job creation and/or retention in the state of Illinois. This grant program originates from Rebuild Illinois capital funds, therefore, expenditures for these funds are subject to Bondability Guidelines (see guidelines at the same webpage where this NOFO is posted).
Eligible projects may include new construction and renovation of industrial and commercial facilities, including associated infrastructure improvements and the purchase and installation of durable equipment. Construction or renovation of facilities to be used as warehouses are not eligible.
Eligible expenses for these funds include architectural planning and engineering design; land and building acquisition; costs related to site selection, preparation and improvement; utility work; new construction of buildings and structures; reconstruction or improvement of existing buildings or structures; and original furnishings and durable equipment, including scientific instruments and apparatuses with a long useful life.
Ineligible expenses include operational expenses, lease payments for rental of equipment or facilities, costs of staff or resident labor and material outside of project construction, expenditures to acquire or construct temporary facilities, purchase of automobiles, trucks, farm equipment, boats or rolling stock, and livestock or laboratory animals.
Pre-Award costs are allowed for Business Attraction Prime Site grants back to the effective date of the prequalifying program.
Applicants must submit a Project Narrative that describes in detail how the award will be
executed. The project narrative should include enough information for DCEO to understand the scope of the project, the budget, including a detailed breakdown of the costs associated with each budget line and any additional necessary detail to enable DCEO to manage the grant agreement activity against planned project performance. Beneficiaries: N/A Administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity via the Illinois GATA Catalog of State Financial Assistance (CSFA 420-45-2608).
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Prequalifying program approval documentation (EDGE, HIB, REV, or MICRO)
- Project Narrative with detailed scope and budget
- Detailed budget breakdown by line item
- Job creation/retention projections
- Site plans and architectural/engineering design documentation
- Cost-sharing source documentation
Program contact
- 👤 Joy Wolfe
- 📧 ceo.obd@illinois.gov
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Illinois state appropriations. How funding has trended year over year.
| 2022 | $1 | |
| 2023 | $33,581,935 | |
| 2024 | $60,000,000 | |
| 2025 | $1 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Businesses relocating or expanding in Illinois with approval from an EDGE, HIB, REV, or MICRO prequalifying program. Projects must create or retain jobs and commit substantial capital investment.
What types of projects are eligible?
New construction and renovation of industrial and commercial facilities, infrastructure improvements, and durable equipment installation. Warehouse construction is not eligible.
What expenses can the grant cover?
Architectural planning, land and building acquisition, site preparation, utility work, building construction/renovation, and original durable equipment. Operational costs and equipment leasing are not eligible.
Can we include pre-award costs?
Yes, pre-award costs are allowed going back to the effective date of your prequalifying program approval.
What is the funding range?
Awards typically range from $250,000 to $25,000,000 depending on project scope and job creation targets.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Secure prequalifying program approval (EDGE, HIB, REV, or MICRO) before applying. This is a mandatory prerequisite for eligibility.
- Document job creation and retention commitments clearly. Include detailed projections showing how many jobs will be created or retained.
- Submit a detailed project narrative with complete cost breakdown. DCEO needs to understand scope, budget, and how funds will be managed against performance milestones.
- Verify all expenses comply with Bondability Guidelines. Rebuild Illinois funds have specific restrictions on eligible uses.
- Plan for cost-sharing requirements. Budget includes business or other funding sources to cover the non-grant portion of project costs.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications rejected when prequalifying program approval is not documented or confirmed. Applicants fail to provide detailed job creation/retention evidence or submit vague project narratives. Budget narratives lack sufficient cost detail or include ineligible expenses like operational costs or equipment leasing.
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