The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is accepting applications for its Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Program.
Donor Name: Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
State: Illinois
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 07/16/2025
Size of the Grant: More than $1 million
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
Funding Information
Total amount of funding expected to be awarded through this NOFO is $1,000,000,000.
Eligible Costs
Eligible costs for last-mile broadband deployment projects: Per the BEAD NOFO, eligible uses of funding in connection with last-mile broadband deployment projects include the following:
- Construction, improvement, and/or acquisition of the facilities and telecommunications equipment required to provide qualifying broadband service, including infrastructure for backhaul, middle- and last-mile networks, and multi-tenant buildings.
- Long-term leases (for terms greater than one year) of facilities required to provide qualifying broadband service, including indefeasible right-of-use (IRU) agreements.
- Deployment of internet and Wi-Fi infrastructure within an eligible multi-family residential building.
- Engineering design, permitting, and work related to environmental, historical, and cultural reviews.
- Personnel costs, including salaries and fringe benefits for staff and consultants who provide services directly connected to the implementation of the BEAD program (such as project managers, program directors, and subject-matter experts).
- Network software upgrades, including but not limited to cybersecurity solutions.
- Training for cybersecurity professionals who will work on BEAD-funded networks.
- Workforce development – including Registered Apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships – and community college and/or vocational training for broadband-related occupations to support deployment, maintenance, and upgrades.
- Reasonable financing costs that meet the definitions of 2 C.F.R. 200.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible participant type: Entities that can deploy broadband are eligible to apply. Eligible entities include, but are not limited to, an incorporated business or partnership, a political subdivision, a nonprofit organization, a cooperative association, or a limited liability corporation organized for the purpose of expanding broadband access. As required by the Infrastructure Act, the State shall not exclude cooperatives, nonprofit organizations, public-private partnerships, private companies, public or private utilities, public utility districts, or local governments from eligibility for grant funds for broadband deployment projects.
For more information, visit DCEO.
