The Illinois Economic Empowerment Centers Program provides training in the principles and practice of entrepreneurship to prepare individuals, including minorities, women, veterans, individuals with a disability, dislocated workers, and youth entrepreneurs to pursue self-employment and/or a business enterprise opportunity.
Donor Name: Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
State: Illinois
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: All Time
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
The purpose of the EEC Program is to provide grants to eligible career education agencies and not-for-profit corporations, including, but not limited to, local development corporations, chambers of commerce, community-based business outreach centers and other community based organizations that offer technical assistance, training, and access to resources necessary to startups or existing businesses including, but not limited to, Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Individual (SEDI) business owners and/or Very Small Businesses (VSBs)2 , entrepreneurs, and/or dislocated workers. By allocating funds to EECs, the Office of Economic Equity and Empowerment (OE3) aims to create an inclusive and welcoming business ecosystem for communities that have traditionally faced systemic barriers to entry and growth, including, without limitations, communities that have historically been marginalized, discriminated against, underrepresented and those who have been justiceinvolved. Program funding will allow EECs in economically distressed areas and Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI)3 investment areas to substantially impact these communities by expanding on existing partnerships, providing targeted outreach and support, and developing culturally competent training programs and initiatives to support the Targeted Program. The EECs provide training in all aspects of business development and small business management.
Performance Goals and Measures
The EEC must design and implement data collection systems to collect and report on the following required programmatic data points:
- The EEC must monitor and provide a summary of the extent to which the centers serve the Program
- Participants and the method by which this information will be verified.
- Data concerning the Program Participants should be collected at intake (which could be gathered at a pre-registration for a training or advising session), plus follow-up data should be collected on participants that have participated in an EECs training program or one-on-one advising.
- EEC Business Advice/Technical Assistance
- EEC Education and Cohort Training
- EEC Education and Cohort Training
- EEC Business Advice/Technical Assistance and EEC Education and Cohort Training
- EEC Business Advice/Technical Assistance and EEC Education and Cohort Training
Funding Information
- Estimated Total Program Funding: $2,500,000
- Award Range: $250000 – $500000
Grant Period
July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2028.
Eligible Expenses
Eligible expenses under this opportunity are limited to:
- The cost of services and expenses of the EEC Program Director;
- The cost of services and expenses for instructors of the participating career education agency or not-for-profit corporation;
- The cost of services and expenses of the faculty and support personnel thereof; and
- The cost of services and expenses for any other person in the service of providing instruction and counseling in furtherance of the program.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible Applicants include:
- Career education agencies; and
- Non-profit organizations, including but not limited to: local development corporations, chambers of commerce, community based outreach centers, and community based organizations that provide services to underserved businesses and entrepreneurs.
- Each center must:
- Have a designated EEC Program Director;
- Be operated by a Board of Directors representing community leaders in business, education, finance, and government;
- Be incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation; and
- Be located in an area accessible to eligible Program Participants.
For more information, visit IDCEO.
