Efficient & Resilient Public Buildings Grant Program

Efficient & Resilient Public Buildings Grant Program is sponsored by Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - Office of Energy. This program offers financial support to improve energy efficiency and resilience in local government buildings. Eligible facilities must be owned by a city, county, or other unit of local government and used to provide public services.

Euna Grants - Environmental Protection Agency - Efficient and Resilient Public Building Grant Efficient and Resilient Public Building Grant Public Building Energy Efficiency Grant Efficient and Resilient Public Building Grant Illinois EPA Office of Energy is offering funding for energy efficiency projects at public buildings providing local government services.

Eligible applicants include municipalities, counties, and other units of local government. • "Municipalities" includes cities, villages and incorporated towns. • "Units of local government" include counties, municipalities, townships, special districts, and units, designated as units of local government by law, which exercise limited governmental powers or powers in respect to limited governmental subjects.

• School districts are NOT eligible. Eligible projects must include energy efficiency upgrades identified in an energy efficiency assessment or audit conducted within the last 5 years.

Examples of eligible projects include: - Building envelope insulation - Lighting upgrades (indoor and/or outdoor) - Programmable thermostats and occupancy sensors - Heating and cooling system retrofit - High efficiency appliances - Transfer Switch* (Does not need to be included in an energy assessment) *Applicants may include (not required) a transfer switch in their energy efficiency retrofit project for an emergency generator.

A transfer switch enables a building to smoothly transition from utility power to supplemental generators during an emergency. A generator transfer switch is required by the National Electrical Code (NEC) to connect a backup generator to a building’s electrical system. The transfer switch prevents “backfeed” of power into utility lines, which can be deadly for utility workers and damage equipment.

For this program, an "energy efficiency assessment" or "energy efficiency audit" means a review of the property conducted by a third-party professional that results in written recommendations aimed at improving energy efficiency or reducing energy costs. A copy of the assessment must be submitted with application. Applications will be evaluated based on total dollars and total kilowatts saved by the proposed project.

The number of awards depends on the volume of applications received and the level of funding requested. Partial awards may be offered, depending on available resources. Award recipients will have 12 months to complete their project.

The award will not allow for reimbursement of costs incurred prior to the effective date of the grant agreement or after the project period in the grant agreement ends. All payment requests must be submitted no later than 60 days after the end date of the grant agreement. rebecca.

j. luke@illinois. gov The program provides financial assistance for energy efficiency improvements at public buildings owned by municipalities, counties, and other units of local government.

Energy efficiency is essential for reducing energy demand, conserving natural resources, and minimizing the environmental impacts associated with energy production. Rebecca Luke, Emme Patton Funding Opportunity Number Agency Opportunity Number Assistance Listings Number https://il. amplifund.

com/Public/Opportunities/Details/bc2216ab-9e07-4baa-b9e5-f5561df2c247 Federal Or Federal Pass Through Funding Source Description The U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE) State Energy Program funding provides technical assistance to advance state-led energy initiatives and maximize the benefits of reducing energy waste, per 10 CFR 420.

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) Office of Energy is responsible for the state-level program development and management. Refer to 2 CFR 200, as amended by 2 CFR 910 regulations - Subpart E- Cost Principles and 44 Ill. Admin.

Code Part 7000 Expected Number of Awards Submission Timeline Additional Information Application Open Date: August 18, 2026 Application Close Date: September 30, 2026 Award Notification Date: Approximately 30 days after Application Close date. Grant Agreement Execution Expected Date: Approximately 45 days after Award Notification Date. Grant Agreement Performance Period End Date: 12 months after execution of grant agreement.

Final Payment Submittal Date: 60 days after the end date of the grant agreement.

Allow Multiple Applications Application Review Start Date / Pre-Qualification Deadline Other Submission Requirements Cost Match Requirement: The cost match for projects based on the total award requested are as follows: • 5% cost share of the total award requested for awards of $50,000 to $100,000 and/or *projects with properties located in areas of environmental concern • 10% cost share of the total award requested for awards of $100,000.

01 to $200,000. *Properties located in an environmental justice area of concern are required to meet a 5% cost match, regardless of the total award requested. Applicants should reference the IEPA EJ Start Map https://experience.

arcgis. com/experience/aa364c77db684dfa92afa5094b69f6ff to determine if the property falls into an area of concern. Cost share may include money spent (i.e. personnel, etc.) or in-kind services utilized to complete the approved scope of work within the effective dates of the agreement.

Required Components of Application: - Uniform State Grant Application - Programmatic Risk Assessment - Application Narrative & Implementation Timeline - Conflict of Interest Disclosure & NEPA Checklist - FFATA Data Collection Form Question Submission Information Question Submission Email Address EPA. EnergyGrants@Illinois.

gov Others, Government Organizations Applicant Eligibility Information Eligible entities include municipalities, counties and units of local government. "Municipalities" means cities, villages and incorporated towns.

"Units of local government" means counties, municipalities, townships, special districts, and units, designated as units of local government by law, which exercise limited governmental powers or powers in respect to limited governmental subjects, but does not include school districts. Applicants must be registered and pre-qualified through the GATA portal.

Applicants must be in good standing with the Secretary of the State of Illinois, if applicable. The project must be located in Illinois. The applicant must be able to provide up-front costs for the project with the understanding that reimbursement for eligible project costs will occur no more frequently than monthly.

An energy efficiency assessment/ energy efficiency audit for the project property must have been completed within the previous five years. Additional Eligibility Information Additional Information URL https://epa. illinois.

gov/topics/energy/energy-efficiency/public-buildings-energy-efficiency-grant-program. html Additional Information URL Description https://epa. illinois.

gov/topics/energy/energy-efficiency/public-buildings-energy-efficiency-grant-program. html Award Administration Information Initial notice of award will be sent to the applicant via Euna Grants with a follow up email from the Office of Energy Projects Coordinator. After all prerequisites have been completed, the Grant Agreement between the Illinois EPA and the applicant will be sent for the applicant to sign and return.

Once the Grant Agreement is fully executed by the Illinois EPA, a copy will be returned to the applicant. Only after the Grant Agreement has been signed by the Director of the Illinois EPA can expenses be incurred for grant reimbursement. Any expenses incurred outside of the grant period (before or after) are not eligible either as match or for reimbursement related to the grant.

Administrative and National Policy Requirements Grant agreements from this funding opportunity are administered under the Code of Federal Regulations at 2 CFR 200. The Grant Funds Recovery Act (30 ILCS 705) also governs all grant agreements resulting from this NOFO, except in the event of a conflict between the Illinois Grant Funds Recovery Act and the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act.

In this circumstance, the provisions of the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act control. All grantees will be required to submit quarterly reports to the Illinois EPA Office of Energy. • The Performance and Financial Reports are required quarterly with a final cumulative report at the end of the performance period.

More frequent reports may be required for individual grantees pursuant to specific award conditions. • Quarterly reports must be submitted no later than 20 calendar days following the three-month period covered by the report. Failure to submit the required reports may cause a delay or suspension of funding.

• Quarterly reports will be due on October 20, January 20, April 20, and July 20 over the duration of the grant project period. • Quarterly reports will be consistent with the Grant Funds Recovery Act (30 ILCS 705). Grantees will also be required to submit cumulative performance and financial close-out reports.

Any additional reporting requirements will be outlined in the award agreement executed. State Awarding Agency Contacts Energy Projects Coordinator E-mail: Rebecca. Luke@Illinois.

gov Neither the State of Illinois, nor Illinois EPA is obligated to make any award as a result of this funding opportunity. All applications will be reviewed for completeness, technical merit, and adherence to the grant eligibility requirements. Eligible applications will be ranked based on the proposed project’s monetary savings per kilowatt.

In the event of a tie, the application proposing the installation of a transfer switch will be ranked higher; if both applications propose installing a transfer switch, the application with the shortest project performance period will be ranked higher. The number of awards will depend on the volume of applications received, the requested funding level, and available resources. Partial awards may be offered.

Awards are subject to available resources and the final ranking of eligible applications. Review and Selection Process • If the Agency determines that an applicant incorrectly calculated or indicated the project cost and/or total funding request based on the applicable cost estimate or eligible costs, and the Agency can correct the error, the application may still be accepted and reviewed.

If the applicant is awarded the grant, the Agency will contact the applicant and request a decision from the applicant as to whether it will accept the award based on the Agency’s determination of the project cost and/or total funding requested. If the applicant does not accept the Agency’s determination, the application will be rejected.

• If the amount of available grant funding is not sufficient to fund the application in its entirety, the review committee may evaluate the application to determine if a discrete portion or phase of the Project meeting the objectives of this program can be funded.

If the review committee determines that it cannot fund the application in full or part, the application that was received next may be reviewed for a discrete portion or phase to be funded to meet the objectives of the program. • Illinois EPA staff will be responsible for evaluating applications. An appeal process is available to applicants and other interested parties; however, appeals are limited to the Illinois EPA evaluation process.

Evaluation scores may not be protested. An appeal must be submitted in writing to the following address: Illinois EPA, Attn: Energy Efficiency Trust Fund Evaluation Process Appeal, Office of Energy, 2520 W. Iles Ave PO Box 19276, Springfield IL 62794-9276.

and must be received within 14 calendar days after the date that the grant award notice has been published by the Illinois EPA on GATA. Illinois. gov .

The written appeal shall include at a minimum the following: the name and address of the appealing party, identification of the grant, and a statement of reasons for the appeal. Illinois EPA shall acknowledge receipt of an appeal within fourteen (14) calendar days from the date the appeal was received.

When an appeal is received, the execution of the grant in contention that Illinois EPA intends to make under this NOFO shall be stayed until the appeal is resolved, unless the agency head or designee determines that the needs of the State require that the grant program move forward despite the appeal. This determination, and its rationale, must be documented in writing.

Illinois EPA shall respond to the appeal within 60 days or supply a written explanation to the appealing party as to why additional time is required. The appealing party must supply any additional information requested by Illinois EPA within the time period set in the request.

The Director of the Illinois EPA may appoint one or more Appeal Review Officers (ARO) to consider the grant-related appeal and make a recommendation to the Director of the Illinois EPA or designee for resolution. The ARO shall make a recommendation to the Director of the Illinois EPA or designee as expeditiously as possible after receiving all relevant, requested information.

In determining the appropriate recommendation, the ARO shall consider the integrity of the competitive grant process and the impact of the recommendation on the Illinois EPA. The Illinois EPA shall resolve the appeal by means of written determination, which shall include, but not be limited to: review of the appeal, appeal determination, and rationale for the determination.

Neither the State of Illinois nor Illinois EPA is obligated to make any award as a result of this program. Grant applicants are not authorized to proceed with projects until the Director or Director’s designee has signed the Grant Agreement.

Anticipated Announcement Dates Anticipated Date Illinois EPA Action or Award Deadline August 2026 Program Opens to Accept Applications Approximately 30 days after submission close date Award notification sent to selected grantees Approximately 45 days after award notification Grantees receive a fully executed grant agreement Not to exceed 12 months after date of execution of award agreement Awarded projects must be completed Not to exceed 60 days after grant agreement end date Final Payment Request must be submitted to Illinois EPA