The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (the “Department”) is issuing this Notice of Funding Opportunity to establish the Energy Transition Community Grant Program, which provides grants to support economic development in communities impacted by a closure or reduced operation of a fossil fuel power plant, coal mine, or nuclear plant.
Donor Name: Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
State: Illinois
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 01/20/2023
Size of the Grant: $50,000
Grant Duration: 3 years
Details:
Program Description
The Energy Transition Community Grant Program will provide grants to promote economic development to communities that are in an area with a closure or reduced operation of a fossil fuel power plant, coal mine, or nuclear plant.
Grants must be used to plan for or address the economic and social impact on the community or region of plant or mine retirement or transition. Eligible uses of grant funds include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Workforce development, including upskilling and reskilling for high-demand/high-wage opportunities in regional industries, and investment in training facilities. This may include tuition assistance and wrap-around services for trainees, including stipends for housing, transportation, and childcare.
- Financial assistance for unemployed, underemployed, and/or low-income residents, including direct cash benefits, childcare, housing, transportation, and health care.
- Public infrastructure investment, including water/sewer, transportation, drainage, broadband, public facilities, and other.
- Site cleanup and environmental remediation.
- Grants to incentivize relocation or retention of companies.
- Marketing and other investment to boost tourism, recreation, and business development opportunities.
- Affordable housing.
- Public health initiatives and community health care facilities.
- Downtown/commercial redevelopment, including investment to enhance public space, improve energy efficiency/sustainability of facilities or infrastructure, and renovate/revitalize historic buildings.
- Planning, along with supporting research and analysis, for economic development, transportation, or other programs to address the impact of closure.
- Investment in local or regional operational capacity for economic development/business development/grantwriting/planning through local governments or nonprofits.
This opportunity will entail a two-phase application process:
- In Phase 1, local governments that meet program eligibility requirements will provide an application to the Department that provides basic information about the entity and their eligibility. After all Phase 1 applications have been received, DCEO will identify whether each Phase 1 applicant is eligible and determine the amount of funds that each entity is eligible for, according to a formula described. The deadline for the Phase 1 application is January 20. Applicants that are eligible due to a plant or mine closure that occurred in 2016 must provide their Phase 1 application by December 31, 2022.
- In Phase 2, Phase 1 applicants that have been provided an approved funding amount will prepare a more detailed application, with a project narrative and budget that includes specifics on their intended use of the grant award. The deadline for Phase 2 applications will be April 12, 2023.
Funding Information
- Total amount of funding expected to be awarded through this NOFO is $40,000,000, less any funds awarded to taxing authorities for a nuclear plant that was decommissioned, but continues storing nuclear waste, if those funds will be provided the same fiscal year. The minimum award will begin at $50,000. Anticipated start date for awards is May 1st, 2023.
- The period of performance is expected to be 1 to 3 years, but may exceed this if needed for a proposed eligible use of grant funds.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible applicants include:
- Local units of government, including municipalities, counties, school districts, and other taxing districts, within 30 miles of a closed or closing plant/mine.
- Communities eligible to receive these grants must meet one or more of the following:
- The area contains a fossil fuel or nuclear power plant that was retired from service or has significantly reduced service within 6 years before the application for designation or will be retired or have service significantly reduced within 6 years following the application for designation;
- The area contains a coal mine that was closed or had operations significantly reduced within 6 years before the application for designation or is anticipated to be closed or have operations significantly reduced within 6 years following the application for designation.
For more information, visit DCEO.
