Made in Illinois grant program announced, Chamber integral in creation

Last week, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced with the Governor’s Office the Made in Illinois Grant Program. The creation of this funding tool was a direct result of the Chamber's team relentlessly advocating for matching grant funding for manufacturers in Illinois. Our close work with DCEO and the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC) resulted in a big win for our region's manufacturers. 

Chris Caves, the Chamber's Vice President of Business and Economic Growth said, "From our unique, bi-state perspective we have witnessed the success of the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s Manufacturing 4.0 Matching Grant Program and encouraged our economic development partners in Illinois to design something similar. The Made in Illinois Program is a significant opportunity to advance manufacturing in the state of Illinois and support the growth of local, small and medium manufacturers. We look forward to a great response to this announcement and anticipate a positive investment in our region!"

Applications for the Made in Illinois Grant Program are open until March 31, 2024. The program will award matching grants between $5,000 and $50,000 to eligible companies. Interested manufacturers are encouraged to visit the official program page at www.imec.org/madeinillinois.