Illinois FY2027 Tourism Attraction Grant Program — NOFO 2168-4351
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is accepting applications for the Tourism Attraction Grant Program to develop or improve Illinois visitor attractions, increase out-of-area tourism and enhance regional economic activity. This is a state financial-assistance grant for applicants, not an equipment-purchase or contractor procurement solicitation.
Individual awards, total funding and deadline
Applicants may request $15,000–$200,000. The $1,800,000 reported by DCEO is the total program pool, not the amount available to each applicant. The agency anticipates roughly 9–20 grants. Applications opened October 14, 2026 and are due November 13, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.; the published NOFO does not explicitly specify a time-zone abbreviation. The planned performance period is January 1 through December 31, 2027.
Eligible organizations and tourism facilities
Eligible applicants include Illinois counties, municipalities, other local government units, qualifying nonprofit organizations, local promotion groups and for-profit businesses. Proposed attractions may include museums, historical and cultural sites, recreation and scenic destinations, gardens, parks, visitor facilities, interpretive programs and other visitor-oriented businesses or facilities that draw people from more than 50 miles. An attraction must be accessible to the public at least 100 days annually, or 200 hours annually if entirely event-driven, with relevant tourism promotion. One application may be submitted per applicant.
Required matching contributions
Counties, municipalities, nonprofits, other local governmental entities and local promotion groups must cover at least 50% of total project costs with eligible non-DCEO match. For-profit businesses must cover at least 75% of total project costs. These are percentages of total project costs, not percentages of the grant amount. Eligible cash, certain financing and, for noncommercial eligible applicants only, documented in-kind contributions up to 25% of the matching requirement may count. For-profit applicants cannot count in-kind contributions. Existing property, lines of credit, debt refinancing and other DCEO grant funds used as match are excluded.
Allowable projects, restrictions and payment
Funds may support eligible new or improved attraction capital facilities, land or building acquisition, construction/renovation, visitor-focused equipment, eligible hospitality workforce training, and interpretive exhibits/programming. Grant money cannot be used for debt refinancing, contingency reserves, ordinary payroll or operations, administrative/overhead costs, or alcohol purchases. DCEO may approve some pre-award costs incurred on or after January 1, 2027 under the NOFO. Payment is generally reimbursement/cash-needs based, with a possible advance of up to two months of costs only at DCEO’s discretion after the award notice and agreement. Construction and capital projects may trigger prevailing-wage, environmental-review, public-works and apprenticeship requirements.
Application steps
Complete Illinois GATA Grantee Portal registration and required prequalification, including applicable organizational good standing, FEIN, SAM.gov and UEI requirements; the NOFO explains when UEI completion may be deferred until award execution. Submit a signed Uniform Grant Application, full Excel Uniform Budget with all tabs, signed conflict-of-interest and mandatory disclosures, and program-specific application. Use DCEO’s specified SmartSheet form by the deadline. Only up to ten document uploads may be accepted by the form; combine attachments where necessary rather than linking to external document storage.
Official program page and forms: DCEO FY2027 Tourism Attraction Grant Program. Controlling NOFO: NOFO 2168-4351, 11-page PDF. Application form: DCEO SmartSheet submission. The controlling PDF identifies CSFA 420-25-2168, although the program webpage displays a different CSFA number; use the controlling solicitation’s identifier and verify with DCEO.