Fall 2024/Winter 2025 Edition

Clay, Effingham, Fayette, Jasper and Marion Counties

"A service animal performs a task to assist a person with a disability live independently. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the U.S. DOT define a service animal as “any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability..."

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The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has recently announced a new grant program for small businesses in Illinois. The Small Business Capital and Infrastructure Grant Program serves enterprises owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals (SEDI) or very small businesses (VSB) with priority being given to those in a Community Development Financial Institution Investment Area (CDFI).

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Local Match: What it is & How it Works

Local match, in the simplest terms, is nonfederal cash or in-kind contributions that a grantee is required to contribute toward project costs funded by a federal grant award. The terms “cost sharing” and “match” are often used interchangeably. This money must come from local sources like state funds, local taxes, or in-kind contributions. 

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"Governor announces $7M Tech Incubator Enhancement Grants Program"

"Governor J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) recently announced $7 million in funding for the Tech Incubator Enhancement Grants Program (TIEG) to support entrepreneurship and innovation in key growth industries through startup incubators.

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