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Illinois Economic Empowerment Centers Program.

The EEC program funds eligible organizations to provide entrepreneurship training, mentoring, and resource navigation in communities facing systemic barriers.

Offered byIllinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunityverified 2026-07-10

Overview

What it does.

This is a grant to service providers, not a cash grant to individual businesses. A Chester-serving organization would need to meet the current NOFO and deliver the required enterprise-building program.

Best for: A qualified regional or local organization building structured support for underserved Chester-area entrepreneurs.

Eligibility

Who and what may qualify.

Eligible applicants

  • Eligible career-education agencies, nonprofit corporations, development organizations, chambers, and community-based organizations providing enterprise-building support

Applicants excluded by the source

  • Individual entrepreneurs seeking a direct grant under this NOFO

Eligible uses

  • Training, mentoring, technical assistance, outreach, and access-to-resource services for socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs and dislocated workers

Application

How to start.

  1. Review the current rolling NOFO and service-delivery requirements.
  2. Complete state grant prequalification.
  3. Submit the program, partnership, staffing, and budget materials through the official form.

Timing: The FY26 opportunity is a general announcement with no specific due date and remains listed as rolling.

Planning notes

Limits to account for.

  • Businesses do not receive direct grants through this provider NOFO.
  • Applicants must build and administer an eligible service program.

Coordinate with SBDC and other entrepreneurship providers to avoid duplicating funded services.

Evidence

Official sources.