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Equitable Energy Future Grants is sponsored by Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). Provides pre-development and planning grants for eligible contractors or businesses, including planning for EV charging stations.
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CSFA | GATA | Illinois. gov Equitable Energy Future Grant Program Department Of Commerce And Economic Opportunity (420) Aaron McEvoy 217-720-5910 Provides front-loaded funding of up to $1 million to support development of energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, businesses, community organizations, and job creation benefitting historically disadvantaged populations.
Illinois Statue Authorization PA 102-0662, Section 5-60 Illinois Administrative Rules Authorization The funding is intended to address barriers to project, community, and business development in justice-impacted communities caused by a lack of available capital.
Nonprofit Organizations; For-Profit Organizations; Small Businesses; Individuals; Eligible Applicants include equity eligible contractors, as defined in the Illinois Power Agency Act, which encompasses businesses majority-owned by equity eligible persons, nonprofits or cooperatives majority governed by equity eligible persons, and natural persons who are equity eligible offering personal services as independent contractors.
Additionally, Illinois businesses or nonprofit or cooperative organizations that meet the equity-building criteria in paragraph (9. 5) of subsection (g) of Section 8-103B of the Public Utilities Act are eligible.
These applicants must provide a diversity inclusion and access plan with goals and objectives for subcontractors, vendors, and workforce, detailing strategies to meet workforce and contractor objectives described in the program description.
Equity eligible persons are those who graduate from or are current or former participants in the CEJA or FEJA workforce programs, graduates or current enrollees in the foster care system, formerly incarcerated individuals, or those whose primary residence is in an equity eligible investment community.
All applicants must demonstrate proof of a historical or future, long-term partnership with the community where the project will be located, particularly within environmental justice (EJ) and/or Restore, Reinvest, Renew (R3) communities.
The primary beneficiaries of the Equitable Energy Future Grant Program include low-income residents, who gain access to energy savings and renewable energy benefits that reduce costs and improve clean energy access; nonprofits serving low-income communities, which receive energy efficiency upgrades or renewable energy installations that enhance sustainability and reduce expenses; equity investment eligible communities, identified based on environmental justice or economic disadvantage, where projects stimulate economic development, create jobs, and improve environmental quality; and participants and graduates of clean energy workforce programs, such as the Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program, Illinois Climate Works Pre-apprenticeship Program, and Returning Residents Clean Jobs Training Program, who may secure employment opportunities through grant-funded initiatives.
Credentials / Documentation Equity eligible contractors per the equity accountability systems described in subsection (c-10) of Section 1-75 of the Illinois Power Agency Act, or meet the equity building criteria in paragraph (9.
5) of subsection (g) of Section 8-103B of the Public Utilities Act o a business that is majority-owned by equity investment eligible individuals or persons who are or have been participants in the Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program, Clean Energy Contractor Incubator Program, Returning Residents Clean Jobs Training Program, Illinois Climate Works Preapprenticeship Program, or Clean Energy Primes Contractor Accelerator Program o a nonprofit or cooperative that is majority-governed by equity investment eligible individuals or persons who are or have been participants in the Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program, Clean Energy Contractor Incubator Program, Returning Residents Clean Jobs Training Program, Illinois Climate Works Preapprenticeship Program, or Clean Energy Primes Contractor Accelerator Program o an equity investment eligible person or an individual who is or has been a participant in the Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program, Clean Energy Contractor Incubator Program, Returning Residents Clean Jobs Training Program, Illinois Climate Works Preapprenticeship Program, or Clean Energy Primes Contractor Accelerator Program and who is offering personal services as an independent contractor.
• Provides demonstrable proof of a historical or future, and persisting, long-term partnership with the community in which the project will be located Preapplication Coordination A standard application package submitted via the State of Illinois Grant Management System.
Each submission must include the following: a Uniform Grant Application in fillable PDF format, with the signature page printed, signed, scanned, and submitted alongside the application. Additionally, a Uniform Budget using the template provided by DCEO for this project must be included. The complete budget, with all worksheets, must be submitted even if some worksheets are not relevant to the grant opportunity.
The budget's signature page must also be printed, signed, scanned, and submitted. Furthermore, a Conflict of Interest Disclosure and Mandatory Disclosures are required as part of the application materials.
Criteria Selecting Proposals Grants shall be awarded to projects that most effectively provide opportunities for equity eligible contractors and equity investment eligible communities, and should consider the following criteria: (i)projects that provide community benefits, which are projects that have one or more of the following characteristics: (A) greater than 50% of the project's energy provided or saved benefits low-income residents, or (B) the project benefits not-for-profit organizations providing services to low-income households, affordable housing owners, or community-based limited liability companies providing services to low-income households; (ii) projects that are located in equity investment eligible communities; (iii) projects that provide on-the-job training; (iv) projects that contract with contractors who are participating or have participated in the Clean Energy Contractor Incubator Program, Clean Energy Primes Contractor Accelerator Program, or similar programs; and (v) projects employ a minimum of 51% of its workforce from participants and graduates of the Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program, Illinois Climate Works Preapprenticeship Program, and Returning Residents Clean Jobs Training Program.
Range of Approval or Disapproval Time The Merit Based Review process is subject to appeal. However, competitive grant appeals are limited to the evaluation process. Evaluation scores may not be protested.
Only the evaluation process is subject to appeal. The appeal must be submitted in writing to the Department within 14 calendar days after the date that the grant award notice has been published. The written appeal shall include the name and address of the appealing party, the identification of the grant and a statement of reasons for the appeal.
To file an appeal, applicants must submit the appeal in writing and in accordance with the Merit-Based Application Review Appeals Process listed on the Grant Opportunities page of the DCEO website: https://www2. illinois. gov/dceo/AboutDCEO/GrantOpportunities/Pages/MeritAppReview.
aspx.
Formula Matching Requirements Uses are open-ended so long as consistent with development of renewable energy resources and energy efficiency projects Quarterly reporting using PPR and PFR; Grant recipients shall submit reports to the Department at the end of the grant term on the activities pursued under their grant and any lessons learned for publication on the Department's website so that other energy projects may learn from their experience.
Estimated annual expenditures of $25.
5M per calendar year Range and Average of Financial Assistance Minimum: $250k; Maximum = $1m Program accomplishments for the Equitable Energy Future Grant Program include the total number of renewable energy and energy efficiency projects funded, the cumulative reduction in energy consumption measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh) or British Thermal Units (BTUs), and the installed capacity of renewable energy systems in kilowatts (kW) or megawatts (MW).
Additional measures include the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions quantified in metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), the number of low-income households, nonprofit organizations, and communities directly benefiting from the program, and the number of jobs created or sustained along with individuals trained or employed through associated workforce programs.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature For comprehensive information on the Equitable Energy Future Grant Program, refer to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) official program page for details on application guidelines, eligibility criteria, and important dates.
The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Supplement provides in-depth insights into the program's objectives, funding details, and application procedures. The Catalog of State Financial Assistance (CSFA) outlines the program's statutory authority, objectives, and eligibility requirements.
Additionally, CEJA program announcements offer updates related to the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) programs, including the Equitable Energy Future Grant Program. These resources collectively provide the necessary guidelines, regulations, and literature specific to the program. Regional or Local Assistance Location 1011 South Second Street, Springfield, IL 62704 https://dceo.
illinois. gov/ceja/other-ceja-programs. html#equitable-energy Program Title: Equitable Energy Future Grant Program Popular Name: Equitable Energy Future Cost Principles; Indirect Cost Rate; Uniform Agreement; Other; Agency ID Grantee Name Comptroller Name Start Date End Date Amount 23-444002 St.
Paul's Episcopal Church ST PAULS EPISCOPAL CHURCH 07/01/2024 06/30/2027 1,000,000 23-444005 BLV Holdings 1, LLC - BRS BLV HOLDINGS 1 LLC BRS 07/01/2024 06/30/2027 1,000,000 23-444008 548 ENERGY SOLUTIONS LLC 548 ENERGY SOLUTIONS LLC 07/01/2024 06/30/2027 1,000,000 23-444015 Imani Works, Inc. IMANI WORKS INC 07/01/2024 06/30/2026 1,000,000 24-444104 Academy for Global Citizenship Charter School ACADEMY FOR GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP 07/01/2025 06/30/2026 1,000,000
Scoring criteria used to review proposals for this grant.
According to the current listing, eligibility includes: Eligible contractors or businesses with an on-the-job training component. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
Equitable Energy Future Grants is funded by Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
This opportunity targets applicants in Illinois. If your organization operates elsewhere, check the official notice for location requirements.
Applications go through the funder's official portal — the Apply Now link on this page goes there directly.
The solicitation lists 5 required documents: Uniform Grant Application, Uniform Budget, Conflict of Interest Disclosure, Mandatory Disclosures, and Diversity inclusion and access plan. Check the official notice for formatting and page-limit rules.
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