Provides front-loaded funding of up to $1 million to support development of energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, businesses, community organizations, and job creation benefitting historically disadvantaged populations.

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PA 102-0662, Section 5-60

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The funding is intended to address barriers to project, community, and business development in justice-impacted communities caused by a lack of available capital.

Yes

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Nonprofit Organizations; For-Profit Organizations; Small Businesses; Individuals;

Eligible Applicants include equity eligible contractors, as defined in the Illinois Power Agency Act, which encompasses businesses majority-owned by equity eligible persons, nonprofits or cooperatives majority governed by equity eligible persons, and natural persons who are equity eligible offering personal services as independent contractors. Additionally, Illinois businesses or nonprofit or cooperative organizations that meet the equity-building criteria in paragraph (9.5) of subsection (g) of Section 8-103B of the Public Utilities Act are eligible. These applicants must provide a diversity inclusion and access plan with goals and objectives for subcontractors, vendors, and workforce, detailing strategies to meet workforce and contractor objectives described in the program description. Equity eligible persons are those who graduate from or are current or former participants in the CEJA or FEJA workforce programs, graduates or current enrollees in the foster care system, formerly incarcerated individuals, or those whose primary residence is in an equity eligible investment community. All applicants must demonstrate proof of a historical or future, long-term partnership with the community where the project will be located, particularly within environmental justice (EJ) and/or Restore, Reinvest, Renew (R3) communities.

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Project Grants

Economic Development

Equity eligible contractors per the equity accountability systems described in subsection (c-10) of Section 1-75 of the Illinois Power Agency Act, or meet the equity building criteria in paragraph (9.5) of subsection (g) of Section 8-103B of the Public Utilities Act o a business that is majority-owned by equity investment eligible individuals or persons who are or have been participants in the Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program, Clean Energy Contractor Incubator Program, Returning Residents Clean Jobs Training Program, Illinois Climate Works Preapprenticeship Program, or Clean Energy Primes Contractor Accelerator Program o a nonprofit or cooperative that is majority-governed by equity investment eligible individuals or persons who are or have been participants in the Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program, Clean Energy Contractor Incubator Program, Returning Residents Clean Jobs Training Program, Illinois Climate Works Preapprenticeship Program, or Clean Energy Primes Contractor Accelerator Program o an equity investment eligible person or an individual who is or has been a participant in the Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program, Clean Energy Contractor Incubator Program, Returning Residents Clean Jobs Training Program, Illinois Climate Works Preapprenticeship Program, or Clean Energy Primes Contractor Accelerator Program and who is offering personal services as an independent contractor. • Provides demonstrable proof of a historical or future, and persisting, long-term partnership with the community in which the project will be located

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A standard application package submitted via the State of Illinois Grant Management System. Each submission must include the following: a Uniform Grant Application in fillable PDF format, with the signature page printed, signed, scanned, and submitted alongside the application. Additionally, a Uniform Budget using the template provided by DCEO for this project must be included. The complete budget, with all worksheets, must be submitted even if some worksheets are not relevant to the grant opportunity. The budget's signature page must also be printed, signed, scanned, and submitted. Furthermore, a Conflict of Interest Disclosure and Mandatory Disclosures are required as part of the application materials.

Grants shall be awarded to projects that most effectively provide opportunities for equity eligible contractors and equity investment eligible communities, and should consider the following criteria: (i)projects that provide community benefits, which are projects that have one or more of the following characteristics: (A) greater than 50% of the project's energy provided or saved benefits low-income residents, or (B) the project benefits not-for-profit organizations providing services to low-income households, affordable housing owners, or community-based limited liability companies providing services to low-income households; (ii) projects that are located in equity investment eligible communities; (iii) projects that provide on-the-job training; (iv) projects that contract with contractors who are participating or have participated in the Clean Energy Contractor Incubator Program, Clean Energy Primes Contractor Accelerator Program, or similar programs; and (v) projects employ a minimum of 51% of its workforce from participants and graduates of the Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program, Illinois Climate Works Preapprenticeship Program, and Returning Residents Clean Jobs Training Program

Merit Based Review

6/30/2025

60 days

The Merit Based Review process is subject to appeal. However, competitive grant appeals are limited to the evaluation process. Evaluation scores may not be protested. Only the evaluation process is subject to appeal. The appeal must be submitted in writing to the Department within 14 calendar days after the date that the grant award notice has been published. The written appeal shall include the name and address of the appealing party, the identification of the grant and a statement of reasons for the appeal. To file an appeal, applicants must submit the appeal in writing and in accordance with the Merit-Based Application Review Appeals Process listed on the Grant Opportunities page of the DCEO website: https://www2.illinois.gov/dceo/AboutDCEO/GrantOpportunities/Pages/MeritAppReview.aspx.

Extensions as needed

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Uses are open-ended so long as consistent with development of renewable energy resources and energy efficiency projects

Quarterly reporting using PPR and PFR; Grant recipients shall submit reports to the Department at the end of the grant term on the activities pursued under their grant and any lessons learned for publication on the Department's website so that other energy sovereignty projects may learn from their experience.

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TBD

Estimated annual expenditures of $25.5M

Minimum: $250k; Maximum = $1m

Renewable energy capacity and output, energy efficiency savings, jobs created or supported, investment leveraged

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1011 South Second Street, Springfield, IL 62704

https://dceo.illinois.gov/ceja/other-ceja-programs.html#equitable-energy

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FY 2023 : $25,500,000
FY 2024 : $25,500,000
FY 2025 : $25,500,000