The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is issuing this Notice of Funding Opportunity to allow existing Illinois manufacturers to provide workers with the skills necessary to capitalize on the ever changing manufacturing landscape and provide educational assistance to create a safe and productive workforce, as well as assist companies to grow their business.
Donor Name: Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity
State: Illinois
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 04/19/2026
Size of the Grant: More than $1 million
Grant Duration: Less than 1 Year
Details:
The Workforce Training Support program will assist community employers in the training and retaining of skilled workforce. It is without question a challenge for almost every manufacturer to obtain the necessary assistance to include financial support to provide the required training for their workforce. Structured educational programs designed to equip employees working in a manufacturing setting with the necessary skills and knowledge to perform their jobs effectively and safely, including technical abilities, equipment operation, efficient process understanding, and adherence to safety protocols allows them to contribute productively on the production floor. In short, workforce training programs help Illinois manufacturers provide their workers with the skills necessary to be safe and productive, as well as grow Illinois based businesses. This Illinois manufacturing program will supplement the Employer Training Investment Program in place. This grant will provide additional participating manufacturers assistance increasing the number of companies and employees and strengthening workforce through training programs.
Funding Information
Total amount of funding expected to be awarded through this NOFO is $2,000,000.
Grant Period
The period of performance is expected to be March 15, 2026 through June 30, 2026.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible Applicants must be a non-profit Business or Industry Association based in Illinois that supports the manufacturing workforce by helping to meet specialized training needs. Organization must presently participate in the DCEO- Employer Training Investment Programs a multicompany training program grant recipient. Applicant must presently serve Small (average full-time employment of less than 250 employees) and Large Companies (average full-time employment of 250 employees or above) in all regions of the state. Grantee must have expended more than 80% of 2026 awarded Employer Training Investment Program funds prior to applying for this grant.
For more information, visit DCEO.
