SSBCI Technical Assistance Grant Program

Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity · State of Illinois

At a glance

SSBCI Technical Assistance Grant Program is an open Illinois state grant opportunity from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (State of Illinois). Applications are due October 30, 2026. Total estimated funding is $2.25M across about 1 awards. It is listed on the Illinois Catalog of State Financial Assistance. Cost sharing is not required.

Summary assembled from the official notice's fields. The official notice governs.

Key facts

Sep 30, 2026Posted
Oct 30, 2026Application deadlinenext date

Opened: Sep 30, 2026
Close date: Oct 30, 2026
Award floor: Not specified
Award ceiling: Not specified
Est. total funding: $2,250,000
Implied average award: $2,250,000 calculated
Expected awards: 1
Matching funds: Not required
Funding instrument: Grant

Program details (as published on the Illinois Catalog of State Financial Assistance)

CSFA number: 420-35-2932
Program: SSBCI Technical Assistance Grant Program
Announcement type: Initial
Source of funding: Federal
Federal authorization: Title III of the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 (SBJA), Pub. L. 111-240, as amended by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), Pub. L. 117-2 (codified at 12 U.S.C. §§ 5701 et seq.).
Indirect costs allowed: Yes
Technical assistance session: Offered : Yes; Mandatory : No; Date : 10/14/2026 : 1:00 PM; Registration link : https://illinois.webex.com/weblink/register/red4c457c6e9fa60623c5fefc0a5108e6
Beneficiaries: Businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals (SEDI ) or very small businesses (VSBs ) participating in, or seeking assistance from the state’s State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) -funded program.
Types of assistance: Formula Grants
Deadline details: See NOFO for deadlines.
Award procedures: A merit-based review will be used to select grantees. Funds will be disbursed on a reimbursement basis.

Implied average = estimated total funding ÷ expected number of awards, calculated by GrantsJunction. Actual awards vary.

Who can apply

The source record does not list applicant types. See the official notice.

Additional information on eligibility (from the listing)

Eligible applicants include: Legal, Accounting, or Financial advisory Non-Profit or For-Profit entities. Applicants may administer TA services directly or contract with legal, accounting, and financial advisory firms to provide TA services. In accordance with 12 U.S.C. § 5708(e)(1), a subrecipient may be an entity of the eligible recipient (e.g., a state entity), or a legal, accounting, or financial advisory nonprofit or for-profit entity, and a third-party contractor may be a legal, accounting, or financial advisory nonprofit or for-profit entity. Eligible applicants may not be suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded from or ineligible for participation in federal assistance programs or activities pursuant to 31 C.F.R. § 19.300.

Also named in the notice's eligibility text

501(c)(3) nonprofits
Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status
For-profit organizations (not small businesses)

Matched from the wording above by GrantsJunction — confirm in the full announcement.

Can your organization apply?

A quick check against the listed applicant types — other requirements in the notice still apply.

Based on the published notice. Review the official notice for complete eligibility requirements.

What it funds

Purpose and description as published on the Illinois Catalog of State Financial Assistance.

Summary

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is the SSBCI implementing entity for the State of Illinois. Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), DCEO is seeking grantees to provide technical assistance to eligible VSB and SEDI-owned businesses that are applying for, preparing to apply for, or have previously applied for a SSBCI capital program or other federal or other jurisdiction small business program.

Objective

The SSBCI VC TA Program is intended to provide grant funds to eligible recipients to provide legal, accounting, and financial advisory services either directly or through legal, accounting, or financial advisory firms to very small businesses (VSB) and business enterprises owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals (SEDI-owned businesses) that are applying for, preparing to apply for, or have previously applied for a SSBCI capital program or other federal or other jurisdiction small business program.

Program terms

CODE of FEDERAL REGULATIONS Title 2: Grants and Agreements PART 200 - Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (2 CFR 200) Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA), 30 ILCS 708/1 Illinois Administrative Code Grant recipients will be required to comply with Treasury’s TA Grant Program Guidelines, the SBJA, as amended (codified at 12 U.S.C. § 5701 et seq., referred to herein as “the SSBCI statute”), and other SSBCI guidance, including Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) that Treasury may publish from time to time. TA grant recipients will be required to comply with U.S. Treasury technical assistance guidelines, the SBJA, as amended (codified at 12 U.S.C. § 5701 et seq., referred to herein as “the SSBCI statute”), and other SSBCI guidance, including Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) that Treasury may publish from time to time. Because awards under the TA Grant Program are considered federal financial assistance, eligible recipients must also comply with the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), 2 C.F.R. Part 200, unless otherwise specified in the U.S. Treasury technical assistance guidelines

Application procedures

Application submission format will be via a Smartsheet application form, URL will be available at the time of application release.

How proposals are selected

Applications will be graded using the Merit Review Process and scored on the criteria specified in the Review and Selection criteria of the NOFO.

Program record in the Illinois Catalog of State Financial Assistance ↗

Full announcement & documents

The full announcement has the complete rules — page limits, required attachments, evaluation criteria and any letter-of-intent dates. Files download directly from Illinois Catalog of State Financial Assistance.

Full notice of funding opportunityFull Announcement · Notice of Funding Opportunity (PDF)PDF

How to apply

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Read the program guidelinesThe agency's solicitation or guidelines set eligibility details, scoring criteria and required documents. Open ↗
Confirm eligibility and fitCheck your organization type and location (applicants are generally expected to be in Illinois).
Find out how to submitSee the agency's program page for the application portal or submission address. Open ↗
Prepare the application and budgetFollow the guidelines' format exactly; state programs often require specific forms and attachments.
Ask the program contact any questions earlyShivani Chokshi · ceo.ssbci.vc.ta@illinois.gov Open ↗
Submit before October 30, 2026Due by 5:00 p.m. Central time. Submit early and keep your submission confirmation.

Program contact (as published)

Shivani Chokshi
ceo.ssbci.vc.ta@illinois.gov

Quick answers

When is the deadline for “SSBCI Technical Assistance Grant Program”?

According to the official notice, applications are due October 30, 2026. The notice adds: “Due by 5:00 p.m. Central time.” Confirm the deadline and submission time with the agency before applying.

How much funding is available through “SSBCI Technical Assistance Grant Program”?

Per the notice, total estimated program funding is $2,250,000 and the agency expects to make about 1 awards.

How do I apply for “SSBCI Technical Assistance Grant Program”?

Applications go directly to Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, not through GrantsJunction. Read the program guidelines on the agency's site first; state programs set their own forms and registration requirements.

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