Illinois Grant News | March 2026

Washington, D.C. | March 26 2026 | Comprehensive Housing Counseling (CHC) and the Housing Counseling Training (HCT) NOFO (FY2025) (FR-6900-N-33) | The purpose of HUD”s Housing Counseling Grant Program is to provide funds to HUD-approved housing counseling agencies that provide counseling and advice to tenants and homeowners, with respect to property maintenance, financial management and literacy, and other matters as may be appropriate to assist program clients in improving their housing conditions, meeting their financial needs, and fulfilling the responsibilities of tenancy or homeownership. This NOFO plays an integral role in helping individuals and families obtain housing and stay in their homes through sustainable homeownership or affordable rental housing. Housing counseling agencies are an important safeguard in the prevention of housing scams and discrimination and serve as an important gateway to local, state, federal and private housing assistance and resources. Estimated Awards: 175. Total Funding: $56,100,000. Award Ceiling: $3,000,000. Closing Date: May 26 2026. 

Washington, D.C. | March 27 2026 | Safe Streets and Roads for All Funding Opportunity (DOT-SS4A-FY26-01) | The purpose of this notice is to solicit applications for Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grants. Funds for the fiscal year (FY) 2026 SS4A grant program are to be awarded on a competitive basis to support planning and demonstration activities, as well as projects and strategies to prevent death and serious injury on roads and streets for all users. Applicants must submit their applications via Valid Eval for Planning and Demonstration Grants (https://usg.valideval.com/teams/usdot_ss4a_2026_planning_demo/signup) or Implementation Grants (https://usg.valideval.com/teams/usdot_ss4a_2026_implementation/signup). Estimated Awards: 500. Total Funding: $993,488,194. Award Ceiling: $25,000,000. Closing Date: May 26 2026. 

Washington, D.C. | March 26 2026 | FY 2026 Notice of Funding Opportunity for Small Shipyard Grants (DTMASSG26) | his notice announces the intention of the Maritime Administration to provide grants to small shipyards. Under the Small Shipyard Grant Program, there is currently $35,000,000 available for grants for capital and related improvements to qualified shipyard facilities that will be effective in fostering efficiency, competitive operations, and quality ship construction, repair, and reconfiguration. Potential applicants are advised that it is expected, based on experience, that the number of applications will far exceed the funds available and that only a small percentage of applicants will be funded. Estimated Awards: 35. Total Funding: $35,000,000. Award Ceiling: $1,000,000. Closing Date: May 11 2026. 

Washington, D.C. | March 26 2026 | Comprehensive Housing Counseling (CHC) and the Housing Counseling Training (HCT) NOFO (FY2025) (FR-6900-N-33) | The purpose of HUD”s Housing Counseling Grant Program is to provide funds to HUD-approved housing counseling agencies that provide counseling and advice to tenants and homeowners, with respect to property maintenance, financial management and literacy, and other matters as may be appropriate to assist program clients in improving their housing conditions, meeting their financial needs, and fulfilling the responsibilities of tenancy or homeownership. This NOFO plays an integral role in helping individuals and families obtain housing and stay in their homes through sustainable homeownership or affordable rental housing. Housing counseling agencies (see here for Illinois eligible agencies) are an important safeguard in the prevention of housing scams and discrimination and serve as an important gateway to local, state, federal and private housing assistance and resources. Estimated Awards: 175. Total Funding: $56,100,000. Award Ceiling: $3,000,000. Closing Date: May 26 2026. 

Springfield, Ill. | March 23 2026 | Public Water Supply Energy Efficiency Grant Program | Illinois EPA Office of Energy intends to fund the implementation of energy efficiency projects at public water supply (PWS) facilities, also referred to as drinking water treatment plants. Eligible energy efficiency measures must have been identified in an earlier energy efficiency assessment. Energy efficiency and energy conservation measures may include improvement to pump and motor equipment including proper sizing and/or upgrades to standard efficiency motors or installment of variable frequency drives (VFDs); energy demand management, including load shifting; as well as HVAC and/or lighting upgrades. Projects will be scored and selected by proposed energy savings (kWh) per dollar invested and energy cost impact. Additional points will be awarded to proposed projects serving an area of environmental justice concern, as identified by the Illinois EPA Office of Environmental Justice AND for projects served by municipally owned electric utilities or electric cooperatives. Energy burden (%) of the PWS service area will be used to break a tie. Estimated Awards: 15. Total Funding: $1,500,000. Award Ceiling: $500,000. Closing Date: May 4 2026. 

Washington, D.C. | March 23 2026 | TechAccess: AI-Ready America (26-508) | TechAccess: AI‑Ready America is a national-scale initiative to accelerate Artificial Intelligence (AI) readiness and adoption across the U.S. by strengthening coordination, leveraging partnerships and resources, filling gaps, and scaling what works—so local and state priorities can lead in shaping an AI-driven economy that benefits all Americans. Unlike initiatives centered around K–16 education, AI‑Ready America additionally reaches businesses, public-serving organizations, and individuals, among others, expanding access to AI knowledge, tools, and resources. The program also emphasizes practical implementation through hands‑on assistance and workforce upskilling, including experiential learning such as internships, project‑based work, and apprenticeships, to ensure stakeholders can effectively apply and innovate with AI. The program supports: (1) State/Territory Coordination Hubs (Coordination Hubs) – one in every state, the District of Columbia (DC), or territory in the United States – connecting partners, strengthening planning and deployment, and rapidly scaling approaches; (2) A National Coordination Lead (National Lead) – facilitating collaboration and knowledge sharing among Coordination Hubs, coordinating priority economic sectors, and informing national AI strategies; and (3) AI-Ready Catalyst Award Competitions – a series of topic-driven competitions issued over the course of the program to pilot and scale innovative approaches that address critical national AI readiness needs. This funding opportunity focuses on Coordination Hubs. The National Lead will be funded as an Other Transaction (OT) offered through an Other Transaction Agreement Solutions Offering. AI-Ready Catalyst Award Competitions will be announced through an NSF-approved mechanism, with proposals submitted according to the instructions provided at the time of announcement. Estimated Awards: 56. Total Funding: $224,000,000. Award Ceiling: $4,000,000. Closing Date: July 16 2026. 

Washington, D.C. | March 23 2026 | Grants to Military-Connected Local Educational Agencies for the World Language Advancement and Readiness Program (HE125426R5000) | Department of War Education Activity (DoWEA) plans to award multiple WORLD LANGUAGE grants, subject to funding availability. Each grant will range from $500,000 to $2,000,000. Award amount is subject to eligibility requirements as described within this announcement. Period of performance for each grant awarded under this announcement will begin on September 30, 2026, and will end on May 31, 2031. All applicants who are selected for award will be notified by DoWEA of their award selection no later than September 30, 2026. This announcement is for the World Language Advancement and Readiness Program Grant only! Prospective applicants must complete the mandatory forms and project narrative in accordance with the instructions provided. Estimated Awards: Not Specified. Total Funding: $15,000,000. Award Ceiling: $2,000,000. Closing Date: April 24 2026.

Washington, D.C. | March 20 2026 | NIJ FY25 Research and Evaluation on Violence Against Women (O-NIJ-2025-172572) | This NOFO seeks applications for grant funding to conduct research and evaluation projects examining a broad range of topics to reduce violence against women (VAW), including the crimes of domestic violence (DV) and family violence (FV); intimate partner violence (IPV); rape, sex trafficking, sexual violence (SV); stalking; and teen dating violence (TDV), also known as adolescent relationship abuse (ARA), along with the trauma that results from these crimes and the associated criminal justice system response, procedures, and policies. NIJ also seeks to invest in high-quality evaluations focused on testing programs, practices, models, or interventions aimed at (1) enhancing engagement with the justice system for women and girls who have been victimized and (2) improving accountability within the criminal justice system from individuals who engage in or perpetrate violence against women and girls. This program furthers the DOJ’s mission by supporting the development of new knowledge and tools to address the challenges of crime and justice in the United States through fundamental research. Estimated Awards: 5. Total Funding: $3,700,000. Award Ceiling: $3,700,000. Closing Date: May 11 2026.

Washington, D.C. | March 19 2026 | Media Projects (20260625-TD-TR) | The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Division of Lifelong Learning is accepting applications for the Media Projects program. The purpose of this program is to support the development, production, and distribution of radio programs, podcasts, and documentary films that engage general audiences with humanities ideas in creative and appealing ways. NEH makes Media Projects awards at two levels: Development and Production. Estimated Awards: 15. Total Funding: $6,000,000. Award Ceiling: $700,000. Closing Date: June 25 2026.

Washington, D.C. | March 17 2026 | Talent Search Program |The Employment and Training Administration at the U.S. Department of Labor (Labor), is soliciting applications in support of the administration of the Talent Search Program (TS) on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education (ED). The purpose of the Talent Search Program is to identify qualified individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds with potential for education at the postsecondary level and encourage them to complete secondary school and undertake postsecondary education. Talent Search projects publicize the availability of, and facilitate the application for, student financial assistance for persons who seek to pursue postsecondary education, and encourage persons who have not completed programs at the secondary or postsecondary level to enter or reenter and complete these programs…This grant opportunity is fully aligned with America’s Talent Strategy, encouraging grantees
to expand services to learners to explore a variety of postsecondary opportunities,
including Registered Apprenticeship. Estimated Awards: 175. Total Funding: $175,152,359. Award Ceiling: $10,000,000. Closing Date: May 1 2026.

Washington, D.C. | March 17 2026 | The Genesis Mission: Transforming Science and Energy with AI | The DOE Office of Science (SC), Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation (CMEI), Office of Environmental Management (EM), Office of Nuclear Energy (NE), Office of Electricity (OE), and Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Office (HGEO) hereby announce interest in receiving applications from interdisciplinary teams addressing the Genesis Mission National Science and Technology Challenges to accelerate scientific discovery and research and development (R&D) workflows using novel artificial intelligence (AI) models and frameworks. By achieving AI advantage, these teams will advance the DOE’s mission and ensure America’s security and prosperity by addressing energy, environmental, and nuclear challenges through science and technology. Teams are encouraged to leverage the extensive scientific and data resources of the DOE/National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), the National Laboratories, U.S. industry, and academia. The resulting AI models and workflows, if successful, may be integrated into the American Science Cloud. Estimated Awards: Not Specified. Total Funding: $293,760,000. Award Ceiling: $3,750,000. Closing Date: December 17 2026.

Washington, D.C. | March 13 2026 | Staff Sergeant Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program Funding Opportunity | The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is announcing the availability of funds for new and renewing suicide prevention grants under the Staff Sergeant Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program (SSG Fox SPGP) for services in Federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2027. The SSG Fox SPGP directs efforts to reduce Veteran suicide by awarding grants to community-based organizations to directly provide or coordinate the provision of primarily non-clinical suicide prevention services to eligible individuals and their families. Eligible individuals include certain Veterans and Active-Duty Service Members as defined by statute and regulations. Veteran suicide risk is reduced by services that improve mental health status, well-being, financial stability, and social support. Services provided by grantees may include case management, peer support, linkage to VA care and benefits, emergency clinical services, faith-based or innovative approaches. Most Veterans who die by suicide were not engaged with VA in the years prior to their deaths. This program addresses a critical gap by engaging and serving Veterans at risk for suicide who were previously out of VA’s reach and their family members. Estimated Awards: Not Specified. Total Funding: $111,000,000. Award Ceiling: $750,000. Closing Date: June 12 2026.

Washington, D.C. | March 12 2026 | Advancing Global Health | The Department of State invites eligible applicants to advance the America First Global Health Strategy, which aims to save lives, strengthen health systems, enhance efficiency, foster self-reliance, and ensure U.S. investments benefit American safety, strength, and prosperity. This Annual Program Statement (APS) establishes a supplemental framework through which the Department of State may identify and support projects that complement, extend, and/or fill identified gaps in the implementation of these bilateral MOUs. Through specific Addenda, the Department will signal priorities and needs. This APS provides the standard application instructions for the submission of all Statements of Interest (SOIs) to these specific Addenda. Estimated Awards: 100. Total Funding: $2,147,483,647. Award Ceiling: $250,000,000. Closing Date: February 14 2027.

Springfield, Ill. | March 11 2026 | Partners for Conservation – Illinois Soil and Water Conservation District Grants (FY26) | The Partners for Conservation Program is a long-term, state-supported initiative to protect natural resources and enhance outdoor recreational opportunities in Illinois. Several state agencies share responsibility for administering the Partners for Conservation Fund. The Illinois Department of Agriculture oversees the program’s agriculture-related components. Under the Illinois Department of Agriculture, the program implements strategies for maintaining the viability of Illinois’ soil and water resources. Soil and Water Conservation Districts assist landowners in natural resource management by providing technical assistance in such areas as soil conservation, water quality protection, wetlands management, flood control, soil erosion control at urban construction sites, stream bank stabilization, recycling, soil interpretation, land use and site suitability, and conservation education. Local County Soil and Water Conservation Districts in Illinois that provide natural resource management technical assistance to landowners in such areas as soil conservation, water quality protection, wetlands management, flood control, soil erosion, stream bank stabilization, recycling, soil interpretation, land use and site suitability, and conservation education are eligible to apply. Estimated Awards: 100. Total Funding: $2,147,483,647. Award Ceiling: $250,000,000. Closing Date: February 14 2027.

Washington, D.C. | March 11 2026 | Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative – OREI Research Projects with Extension and/or Education Components | Applications may only be submitted by the following entities:State Agricultural Experiment StationsColleges and universitiesUniversity research foundationsOther research institutions and organizationsFederal agenciesNational laboratoriesPrivate organizations, foundations, or corporationsIndividuals who are United States citizens or nationalsA group consisting of two or more of the entities described in items (1) through (8).Award recipients may subcontract to organizations not eligible to apply provided such organizations are necessary for the conduct of the project by an eligible entity. Estimated Awards: 26. Total Funding: $65,000,000. Award Ceiling: $3,500,000. Closing Date: May 14 2026.

Washington, D.C. | March 10 2026 | Feed the Future Innovation Labs | The Department of State invites eligible applicants for Feed the Future Innovation Labs to advance global food security in alignment with U.S. policy through targeted research that meets one or both of the following core objectives: (1) Advances agricultural science and research to increase productivity, mitigate threats to production systems, and support food systems to reduce hunger and malnutrition through enhanced supply of nutritious and safe foods; and/or (2) Increases demand for individual and household consumption of nutritious, safe foods as part of healthy diets, and improves market pathways and opportunities for government and private sector actors to promote consumption of nutritious and safe foods. Estimated Awards: 7. Total Funding: $64,000,000. Award Ceiling: $40,000,000. Closing Date: April 9 2026.

Springfield, Ill. | March 11 2026 | 590 Crisis Care System | Implementation of the Community Emergency Services and Support Act (CESSA) is woven into the UCC framework and this program. CESSA requires that individuals who call 911 Public Safety Answering Points (911) due to a behavioral health crisis receive a behavioral health response, rather than a law enforcement only response, when appropriate. Accordingly, Mobile Crisis Response (MCR) is increasingly available through calls that start with 911, connecting the UCC to the State’s traditional crisis response system; the 911 to 988 to MCR connection will be implemented statewide by July 1, 2027. Estimated Awards: 60. Total Funding: $54,000,000. Award Ceiling: $2,000,000. Closing Date: April 7 2026.

Springfield, Ill. | March 6 2026 | FY2027 Federal Postsecondary Perkins Basic Grant – Career and Technical Education | Provides Federal Postsecondary Perkins grants to community colleges for career and technical education (CTE) through the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V). Perkins V is the most important piece of legislation affecting CTE in Illinois. The purpose of the law is to develop more fully the academic knowledge and technical and employability skills of secondary and postsecondary education students who elect to enroll in CTE programs and programs of study. Estimated Awards: 39. Total Funding: Not Specified. Award Ceiling: Not Specified. Closing Date: May 15 2026.

Washington, D.C. | March 6 2026 | Development of Collaborative Research Facilities or Research-Resource Facilities (C06 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) solicits applications to develop shared-use research facilities or research-supporting facilities that enable collaborative research and benefit broad research communities at large. The NOFO supports two existing construction programs: the Biomedical Research Facilities (BRF) program and the HIV/AIDS Research Facilities (HRF) program.The BRF program supports the construction or modernization of biomedical research facilities that advance basic, translational, clinical, or behavioral science research in all areas. Intended facilities include shared research spaces, core facilities, biorepositories, or other shared-use resource facilities that serve a broad scientific community with a significant, long-term impact on biomedical research. Estimated Awards: 14. Total Funding: $88,000,000. Award Ceiling: $8,000,000. Closing Date: April 6 2026 (First Round); January 25 2027 (Second Round) January 25 2028 (Third Round).

Washington, D.C. | March 3 2026 | Early Career Research Program (ECRP) | DOE SC hereby invites applications for support under the ECRP in the following program areas: Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR); Basic Energy Sciences (BES); Biological and Environmental Research (BER); Fusion Energy Sciences (FES); High Energy Physics (HEP); Nuclear Physics (NP); Isotope Research and Development and Production (DOE IP). The purpose of this program is to support the development of individual research programs of outstanding scientists early in their careers and to stimulate research careers in the areas supported by SC. Estimated Awards: 100. Total Funding: $145,000,000. Award Ceiling: $2,750,000. Closing Date: June 2 2026.