General Grant Questions
Where can I find information about the grant?
When the Grant Opportunity opens (likely in January of each year) Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity will post information on this website: https://dceo.illinois.gov/aboutdceo/grantopportunities/grants.html
The DCEO email address to communicate about the grant is CEO.CEJACommTransition@illinois.gov
Outside of the grant application window, DCEO does not maintain information about the grant online. Prairie Rivers Network has a Grant Information and Resource Webpage as well as a fact sheet about the grant.
Who is eligible for this grant?
Eligible applicants include local units of government, including municipalities, counties, school districts, and other taxing districts within 30 miles of a closed or closing power plant or coal mine.
How long is my community eligible for the grant?
The fossil fuel power plant or nuclear power plant or coal mine must have closed or significantly reduced operation within 6 years before the application or will be closed or have operation significantly reduced within 6 years following the application.
When will the grant be open again and what is the timeline for the grant?
The grant has been available for two years, 2023 and 2024. Based on the timeline in those two years, we expect DCEO to release 2025 Phase 1 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) in January 2025
This is an estimated timeline based on past years:
January 29, 2025: Phase 1 Notice of Funding Opportunity opens
March 15, 2025: Phase 1 application materials are due
May 15, 2025: Phase 2 award letters are issued and Phase 2 application period opens
July 31, 2025: Phase 2 application materials are due
Can more than one eligible entity partner on the same application and does that impact the amount of funding each entity gets?
Phase 1 Questions
The “uniform” application asks for an estimated funding request amount. Since communities don’t know how much they’re eligible for, can it be left blank, or what should be put in? Same for the for “start/end date”. How should that be filled that out?
The uniform application is a required GATA document for all SOI grants and we cannot change the format. However, in this case, applicants can put zeros or a best estimate in the funding portion of the uniform application. Likewise, applicants can use a generic date range. Both items will be accurately determined and documented in phase 2 of the grant process.
Can you describe a “resolution of support” that DCEO would find acceptable?
A letter of support should be from the host city, village, or county (if relevant) and include a clear statement that the host city, village, or county supports the applicant’s application for an Energy Transition Community Grant Program.
The application says that non-lead entities must provide a letter sharing what their role is. Can you provide clarity on this?
The letter should specify whether they are the lead grantee or participating as a non-lead entity. One eligible local government must be the lead who will enter directly into the grant agreement with us, with other participants as partners.
Phase 2 Questions
What does the stakeholder engagement process in Phase 2 entail?
In Phase 2, Applicants are required to solicit community input and consult with a diverse set of stakeholders. The stakeholders must include but are not limited to, 1) Regional Planning Councils 2) Economic development organizations 3) Low-income or environmental justice community 4) Educational institutions 5) Elected and appointed officials 6) Organizations representing workers or 7) Other relevant organizations.
The stakeholder engagement must include the following:
- Host at least one public meeting that allowed for public input, in which a discussion of the proposed use of Energy Transition Community Grant funds was on the agenda, and
- for at least one person in each category in the bulleted list above, solicited input and feedback regarding use of Energy Transition Community Grant funds by holding one or more meetings (this may include participation in the public meeting described in (1)), or submitting a direct written request for input and feedback via e-mail or mail correspondence
In Phase 2 DCEO will share a Submit Stakeholder Engagement Form that must be filled out and returned with the Phase 2 application.
