The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (the “Department” or “DCEO”) is issuing this Notice of Funding Opportunity (“NOFO”) to provide grants to assist in the development or improvement of tourism attractions that increase the economic impact of tourism throughout the State.
Donor Name: Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
State: Illinois
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 12/20/2024
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: Less than 1 Year
Details:
Tourism Attractions are defined as fishing and hunting areas, State parks, historical/cultural sites, areas of historic or scenic interest, museums, recreation areas, botanical gardens, theme/amusement parks, interpretive programs and other facilities or businesses that attract or serve visitors that are open to the public for a minimum of 100 days per year (if the tourism attraction is entirely event-driven, then it shall be open for a minimum of 200 hours per year), and are marketed and promoted to visitors from more than 50 miles away.
Funding Information
- Estimated Total Program Funding: $1,708,809.
- Award Range: $15,000 – $200,000.
Grant Period
The period of performance is expected to be February 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025.
Eligible Expenditures and Activities
Expenditures and activities for which grant funds can be utilized by Grantees include, but are not limited to, the following for Tourism Attractions:
- Capital Projects- land and building acquisitions, construction and renovations of buildings for the purpose of creating or enhancing a Tourism Attraction;
- Equipment – purchase and installation of machinery and equipment designed to create or enhance the Tourism Attraction, or rental of equipment for a Festival;
- Training – development and presentation of hospitality, quality service and/or other types of tourism training programs intended to provide a competitive workforce for the tourism industry of Illinois;
- Interpretive Programs – creation, implementation and staffing of, and fabrication of exhibits for, interpretive programs located within historic/cultural sites.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible Applicants include:
- Units of local government;
- Counties;
- Municipalities;
- Not-for-profit organizations;
- Local promotion groups; and
- For-profit businesses.
For more information, visit DCEO.
