Illinois FY2027 Tourism Private Sector Grant Program — NOFO 2167-4352
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is accepting competitive applications for the FY2027 Tourism Private Sector Grant Program, funding new Illinois tourism events and festivals or significant expansions of existing events that attract visitors from more than 50 miles away and generate local overnight stays. This is a state financial-assistance grant competition, not a procurement contract.
Applicant awards and deadline
Individual applicant award range: $10,000–$50,000. The $600,000 figure is the entire program’s available funding pool, not a maximum award for one applicant; DCEO anticipates approximately 12–20 awards. Applications opened October 14, 2026 and are due November 13, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. The official notice does not explicitly label the time zone; applicants should follow DCEO’s deadline instructions.
Eligible applicants and projects
Eligible entities include Illinois nonprofit organizations, for-profit entities, counties, municipalities, and local tourism-promotion groups. Proposals should create or attract a tourism event, convention, sporting activity, festival, or similarly qualifying event in Illinois, or substantially enhance an existing event with documented prospects for out-of-area attendance. Routine repeat events are ineligible unless secured in competition with other states or significantly expanded to attract visitors from outside 50 miles. Moving an existing event from one Illinois community to another is not a fundable purpose. Applicants may submit one application for this opportunity.
Required match, eligible expenses and restrictions
A minimum 1:1 match from private, non-government sources is required. Up to 25% of the required private match may be documented eligible in-kind support. Other government funds, ordinary operating expenses and double-counted matching funds cannot satisfy the match. Grant-supported expenses may include out-of-area marketing, visitor transportation or lodging, event space or equipment rentals, programming, speakers, temporary staffing, and other eligible event costs. Funds cannot pay for permanent facility improvements, equipment purchases, ordinary payroll/operations, or alcoholic beverages; indirect costs are not allowed. The planned performance period is January 1 through December 31, 2027.
Payment conditions
Funding generally uses reimbursement or cash-needs-based payments. After an award notice, a grantee may request an advance of up to two months of projected expenditures, but any such advance is entirely at DCEO’s discretion and must be incorporated into the award agreement. The NOFO discusses certain pre-award costs incurred on or after January 1, 2027; applicants should secure DCEO’s confirmation of allowability before relying on those costs. Awardees must follow financial/performance reporting and applicable grant conditions.
Application process and prerequisites
Before applying, complete Illinois GATA Grantee Portal registration and prequalification. The state checks FEIN, organizational good standing, exclusions, SAM.gov registration and UEI compliance; the NOFO notes a limited accommodation under which a UEI may be obtained before award execution. Prepare the signed Uniform Grant Application, complete Uniform Budget workbook including every tab, signed conflict-of-interest and mandatory disclosures, and program-specific application. Upload via the official DCEO SmartSheet application form, which limits the number of attachments; links to files kept in outside cloud document services are not accepted.
Official application and all required forms: DCEO FY27 Tourism Private Sector Grant Program. Controlling notice: NOFO Supplement 2167-4352 (PDF). Submission form: DCEO SmartSheet application. Verify possible amendments directly with DCEO before submitting.