Illinois Grocery Initiative

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is offering grants to qualifying Illinois grocery stores for energy-efficient equipment upgrades. The grants will reimburse costs for the purchase and installation of new energy-efficient equipment, including heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment, refrigeration units and freezers, and lighting systems. The program aims to support energy-efficient investments in existing bricks-and-mortar operations in Illinois, with a focus on stores located in food deserts or areas that could become food deserts. • The grant program is limited to capital improvement expenses and will not compensate for indirect costs, overhead, or administrative expenses associated with the execution of the project. • Eligible applicants include independently-owned grocers or cooperatives with fewer than 500 employees and no more than 4 grocery stores. • The grant application process involves submitting a standard application package, which includes a uniform grant application, uniform budget, conflict of interest disclosure, and mandatory disclosures. • Applications will be reviewed on a competitive basis, with grants awarded to applicants who receive scores of 75 or higher. • The Department reserves the right to issue a reduced award or not to issue any award.