The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (the “Department” or “DCEO”) is issuing this Notice of Funding Opportunity (“NOFO”) to provide grants to certified convention and visitors bureaus outside the City of Chicago to assist with international marketing efforts.
Donor Name: Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
State: Illinois
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 10/15/2025
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
International Tourism Program authorizes the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Office of Tourism, to award grants and work in cooperation with certified local tourism and convention bureaus outside the City of Chicago that demonstrate their international tourism appeal and request to develop or expand their international tourism marketing program. These grants are payable from the International Tourism Fund.
The International Tourism Grant Program is important to the State of Illinois‘ tourism industry to match/leverage local funds with State funds to promote destinations that are of interest to international travelers. The goal of the program is to increase international travel to Illinois by identified target markets.
Priority funding will be given to those areas with an extensive international product including bookable product with both receptive tour operators and international tour operators. This would include product in tour operator brochures and promotional material. Priority will also be given to those areas with state and national parks, national forests, scenic byways and have sites of historic and cultural significance.
Performance Goals and Measures
Applicant must identify performance measurements they will use to identify successful marketing outcomes. Such as:
- Number of international media and trade hosted on familiarization tours.
- Number of international media placements as a result of public relations efforts including the number of impressions and media value.
- Number of international advertisements placed and results.
- Number of tour operators that carry your product and in what markets.
- Number of bookings achieved with tour operators based on promotions.
Funding Information
Total amount of funding expected to be awarded through this NOFO is $1,000,000. Awards will range from $10,000 to $150,000.
Eligible Use of Funds
Expenditures and activities for which grant funds can be utilized by Grantees include, but are not limited to, the following that target international markets:
- Brochures;
- Advertising;
- Travel expenses;
- Familiarization tours for trade and media;
- Translation services;
- Trade Shows;
- Sales missions;
- International association fees for regional organizations such as Great Lakes USA and Mississippi River Country as well as US Travel Association;
- Promotional items, which should, to the greatest extent practicable, be manufactured or produced in the United States, consistent;
- Salary and fringe benefits for one international program person who’s duties are 100% dedicated to performing the duties set forth in the grant agreement’s scope of work;
Eligibility Criteria
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 current SAM.gov registration. SAM.gov registrations must be marked as “public” to allow the GATA Grantee Portal to expedite the review of the federal information;
- Has a valid UEI number
- Is not on the Federal Excluded Parties List
- Is in Good Standing with the Illinois Secretary of State, as applicable
- Is not on the Illinois Stop Payment list;
- Is not on the Department of Healthcare and Family Services Provider Sanctions list
Pursuant to the policy of the Illinois Office of the Comptroller, to receive grant funds from the State of Illinois, a grantee must be considered a regarded entity by the IRS for federal income tax purposes. Disregarded entities will not be eligible to receive grant funds.
For more information, visit DCEO.
