The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (the “Department”) is issuing this Notice of Funding Opportunity to encourage infrastructure and other investment in large industrial sites, in order to make such sites viable alternatives for large economic development projects.
Donor Name: Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity
State: Illinois
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 04/06/2023
Size of the Grant:$250,000 to $5,000,000
Details:
Input from economic development experts indicate that there is a shortage of large sites that can be successfully developed within a 1 to 2-year time frame in Illinois. This puts Illinois at a disadvantage when competing with other states for site selection projects requiring a large industrial site. In order to make major industrial sites in Illinois viable alternatives for significant economic development projects, DCEO will incentivize infrastructure and other investment in such areas. The Megasites Development Program will reduce the financial burden and shorten the time required to develop large sites for industrial use and will dramatically increase the assets available across the state that can be leveraged for economic development purposes.
Purpose of the Program
- To improve Illinois’ competitive edge by increasing the number of appropriate and attractive site locations for industrial development.
- Allow site selectors and businesses to develop projects more quickly.
- Address barriers to preparing sites for competitive site selection opportunities
Mandatory Requirements
- Minimum developable acreage: 200 acres
- Both greenfield and brownfield locations appropriate for industrial use are eligible.
- Clear land title, right-of-way and easements
- Eligible entities: Private-sector businesses, non-profit organizations, or local governments that own eligible properties that they seek to lease or sell for future industrial development
- Current zoning: Industrial or agricultural
Funding Information
- This grant program is utilizing state capital funds and other available funds consistent with the purpose of this initiative appropriated by the General Assembly. Total amount of funding expected to be awarded through this NOFO is $40,000,000. Awards will range from $250,000 to $5,000,000. The Department expects to make 10 to 25 awards though this NOFO.
- Anticipated start date for awards is Spring of 2023. The period of performance is expected to be Spring 2023 through the end of calendar year 2024.
Details of Funding
- Funding Source: State bond funds and other funds appropriate for this initiative
- Total funding: Up to $40 million in one competitive round. Of the $40,000,000, $15,000,000 may be used only at brownfield locations.
- Awards will be up to $5,000/acre with a minimum award of $250,000 and a maximum award of $5 million. Grants will be awarded on a reimbursement basis.
- This opportunity requires a 1:1 cash match.
Eligible expenses for these funds include:
- Land acquisition, including related expenses such as clearing title
- Infrastructure expenses, including those related to electricity, water & sewer, natural gas, broadband, and transportation systems
- Site development expenses, including grading and drainage, environmental assessments, remediation and cleanup, and rehabilitation of existing structures.
Applicants must submit a project application 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. The Project Narrative must include evidence of capacity, quality and need.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible applicants include:
- Private businesses, non-profit organizations, or local governments.
- Applicants must currently own land or have an agreement to acquire land comprising the project site that has the following characteristics:
- Project site is at least 200 contiguous, developable acres.
- Property must be zoned for agricultural or industrial use, and industrial usage must be consistent with any applicable local and regional comprehensive plans.
- Property must have clear land title, rights-of-way, and easements.
- Property must not currently be occupied by a long-term tenant conducting industrial business operations.
- Applicants shall demonstrate the intent to lease or sell land for the purpose of future industrial development. Projects primarily intended to enhance the utility of the location for current property owners and/or tenants are ineligible.
Additional Eligibility Information
An entity must be registered in the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) Grantee Portal, at the time of grant application. The portal will verify that the entity:
- Has a valid FEIN number
- Has a valid UEI number
- Has a current SAM.gov registration
- Is not on the Federal Excluded Parties List
- Is in Good Standing with the Illinois Secretary of State
- Is not on the Illinois Stop Payment list (verified once entity is registered in GATA Grantee Portal); and
- Is not on the Department of Healthcare and Family Services Provider Sanctions list
For more information, visit DCEO.
