Tourism Private Sector Grant Program
Tourism Private Sector Grant Program supports Illinois local partners in attracting and hosting new or enhanced tourism events and festivals to draw visitors, generate overnight stays, and grow local economies.
Funder: Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
Due Dates: November 13, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Central Standard Time (Application) | October 22, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. (Optional technical assistance)
Funding Amounts: $10,000–$50,000 per award; $600,000 total funding; performance period through December 31, 2027
Summary: Matching grants support attracting and hosting new or significantly enhanced tourism events and festivals in Illinois.
Key Information: Applicants must be Illinois entities, pre-qualified by the deadline, and provide a dollar-for-dollar private-sector match.
Description
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) administers this state-funded program to help local partners attract and host tourism events and festivals. It supports new events and significant enhancements to existing events, with the goal of drawing visitors from across the country and around the world. The program aims to increase traffic to local hotels, restaurants, and retail businesses while supporting jobs and economic growth throughout Illinois.
Tourism events include major conventions, trade shows, sporting activities, and festivals with potential to attract visitors from beyond a 50-mile radius and generate increased economic impact through overnight stays. Festivals may include organized series of public activities, cultural performances, exhibitions, fairs, carnivals, music, and food and beverage service.
