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IL · State Grant

Illinois State Training Grants for Employers

Illinois's main state training grant for employers is DCEO's ETIP Single Company Grant. It pays up to 50% of training costs for full-time Illinois employees, with awards of $150,000 to $10,000,000, but only for companies with an active Tier II REV, EDGE or MICRO agreement. Applications are rolling under a notice posted November 14, 2025. DCEO's Job Training and Economic Development grant lets employers apply, but no open round is listed as of September 2026.

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  • Program type pre-filled: state_training_grant
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HOW IT WORKS

Four steps, in this order.

  1. 1

    Confirm you hold an active REV, EDGE or MICRO agreement

  2. 2

    Register and pre-qualify in the GATA portal

  3. 3

    Apply to DCEO and wait for a signed award

  4. 4

    Train, then claim up to 50% of costs and report

2 VERIFIED PROGRAMS

Where the Illinois money comes from.

Run by Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). Every figure is from an official page, linked on each card.

ETIP Strategic Sectors Single Company Grant (DCEO)

Up to 50% of training costs
ROLLING APPLICATIONS
WHAT YOU GET

Up to 50% of eligible training costs for full-time Illinois employees: instructors, tuition, materials, equipment rental, trainee travel, and trainee wages and fringe.

HOW MUCH

Awards from $150,000 to $10,000,000 from about $24.8 million for about 7 awards. You match 50% or more. Grant period December 15, 2025 to August 31, 2027.

WHO RECEIVES THE MONEY

Your company, reimbursed after the grant agreement is signed.

WHO QUALIFIES
  • Active Tier II REV, EDGE or MICRO program agreement
  • Full-time Illinois employees only; no part-time, seasonal, contract or temporary staff
  • Registered in the GATA grantee portal and SAM.gov, and in good standing with the Illinois Secretary of State
  • Not government, retail, restaurants, financial or insurance sales offices, fitness centers or nonprofits
Before you start: Yes. Costs count only after the Notice of Grant Award is fully executed.
HOW TO APPLY
  1. 1Confirm your REV, EDGE or MICRO agreement
  2. 2Register and pre-qualify in the GATA grantee portal
  3. 3Submit the application, uniform grant application and budget through the DCEO form

Deadlines and windows: Rolling, with no specific due dates, under NOFO FY26-1 posted November 14, 2025. Funds may run out.

SOURCE: DCEO.ILLINOIS.GOV

Job Training and Economic Development Grant Program (JTED)

Competitive; no open round listed
NO OPEN ROUND LISTED
WHAT YOU GET

Funding for career pathway training in target industries built with employer partners, plus Barrier Reduction funds for participants.

HOW MUCH

Set in each notice. The state grant record shows $10,000,000 for FY 2026.

WHO RECEIVES THE MONEY

Employers and workforce organizations may apply, but awards have mostly gone to nonprofits and workforce entities that run training projects with employer partners.

WHO QUALIFIES
  • Employers, nonprofits, WIOA administrative entities, Community Action Agencies, industry associations and educational institutions
  • Demonstrated expertise running workforce programs
  • Participants are unemployed, underemployed or face barriers to work
Before you start: Yes. Competitive application and award before any costs.
HOW TO APPLY
  1. 1Watch the DCEO grant opportunities page for a JTED notice
  2. 2Pre-qualify in the GATA portal
  3. 3Apply under the posted notice

Deadlines and windows: No open JTED round is listed on DCEO's grant page as of September 2026.

SOURCE: OMB.ILLINOIS.GOV
AVOID THESE

What gets Illinois State Grant claims denied.

STRAIGHT ANSWERS

Illinois State Grant questions.

Is the ETIP grant open now?

As of September 2026, DCEO lists the ETIP Single Company Grant as accepting applications on a rolling basis under NOFO FY26-1. Funds are limited.

SOURCE: DCEO.ILLINOIS.GOV
How much does ETIP pay?

Up to 50% of your actual training costs. Awards range from $150,000 to $10,000,000, and you must match at least 50%.

SOURCE: DCEO.ILLINOIS.GOV
Can a company without a state incentive agreement apply?

Not for this notice. It requires an active Tier II REV, EDGE or MICRO agreement. Other employers use WIOA incumbent worker training through a local board.

SOURCE: DCEO.ILLINOIS.GOV
What about a multi-company grant?

DCEO's notice says a separate notice will be released for the ETIP Multi-company Grant Program. None is listed as open.

SOURCE: DCEO.ILLINOIS.GOV

How we checked. Every fact on this page comes from a state agency, a local workforce board or federal regulation, read on . Where a board publishes nothing, we say so instead of guessing. Programs and funding change often; confirm with the program before you commit. Written by Jason Meehl, founder of Reimbursa. Found an error? Email hello@reimbursa.com.

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