Small business grants in Illinois
What a Illinois small business can apply for: Illinois programs first, then national ones.
- 3 open
- 1 rolling
- 0 upcoming
- Next deadline December 3, 2026
Illinois and regional programs
- Closes03 DEC
North Central SARE Farmer Rancher Grant
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education · Small businesses, Individuals
Grants for farmers and ranchers in the 12 North Central states to test sustainable practices on their own operations: up to $15,000 for one farmer, $30,000 for a team.
- Closes09 DEC
Illinois Grocery Initiative: New Stores in Food Deserts
State of Illinois · Small businesses, Nonprofits, Local governments
Reimburses capital and startup costs for opening grocery stores in Illinois food deserts.
National programs you can apply for
- Closes07 DEC
Small Business Digital Ready grants
Verizon · Small businesses
$10,000 grants for U.S. for-profit small businesses that take free courses or events on Verizon's Digital Ready platform. Ten businesses are picked each month.
- ApplyANYTIME
Amber Grant
WomensNet · Small businesses
Monthly grants for women-owned businesses in the U.S. and Canada, with a larger year-end grant, from WomensNet. One short application covers every grant.
Federal grants to Illinois small businesses in 2025
| Program | Awarded |
|---|---|
| Office of Science Financial Assistance Program 81.049 | $4.8 million |
| Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships 47.084 | $4.5 million |
| Aging Research 93.866 | $4 million |
| Cardiovascular Diseases Research 93.837 | $4 million |
| Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders 93.853 | $3.5 million |
| Assistance Programs for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control 93.945 | $2.5 million |
| Cancer Treatment Research 93.395 | $2.3 million |
| Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research 93.847 | $2.2 million |
Questions
What small business grants are open in Illinois now?
The next deadline is December 3, 2026 for North Central SARE Farmer Rancher Grant. One program takes applications at any time.
Can I get a grant to start a business in Illinois?
Startup grants are scarce. Most listed programs fund existing businesses, exports, training or research, and several state options are loans. A few national programs, such as the Amber Grant for women-owned businesses, take newer businesses; check each program's rules on age and revenue.
Do I have to pay to apply for a grant?
No. Real grant programs never charge to apply or to receive an award. Anyone asking for a fee before you get grant money is running a scam.