Energy Transition Community Grant

Under the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity's CEJA portfolio, the Energy Transition Community Grant backs Illinois communities hit by coal, natural gas, or nuclear plant closures. It is a state grant route tied to transition zones and community development, with an annual allocation of up to $40 million. The program is grant-based and runs annually. The materials point to a community-recovery purpose rather than a research or company-building one, and they exclude for-profit businesses and individuals while allowing nonprofits, universities, and research organizations. Minimum and maximum award sizes are not published in the available materials, and the annual allocation gives DCEO room to support more than one community at a time. The strongest fit is a project that helps a closure-affected place diversify its economy, strengthen local services, or move into a new growth path. DCEO administers the route, and applicants are likely to be judged on how directly the proposal answers the economic disruption caused by fossil-fuel or nuclear shutdowns.

Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.