Small business grants provide financial aid without the burden of repayment, but obtaining them may be competitive. Federal and state agencies, corporations and industry-specific organizations may offer grant funding. For more information, click here.

The Greater Freeport Partnership does it’s best to update information on grant opportunities as they become available. 

FEDERAL & STATE GRANT PROGRAMS

State Surplus:
•    Priority agencies (i.e., nonprofits, veteran/minority owned small businesses, municipalities, school districts) may purchase State surplus property items two weeks prior to public auction for around 10% of the original acquisition value based on condition/age.
o   Types of property typically available: vehicles (cars, trucks, vans), tractors, boats, computers, furniture, commercial kitchen equipment/appliances, off-road vehicles, etc.
o    Application to purchase and additional information:  https://cms.illinois.gov/business/surplus/statesurp.html

Federal Surplus:
•    Eligible organizations (i.e., Illinois Public Agencies such as local municipalities, police, fire, and schools; Non-Profit Organizations that serve the Illinois elderly, homeless and/or impoverished; Service Educational Activities such as local Illinois Boy and Girl Scouts; Illinois museums; Illinois Veteran Service Organizations such as the VFW and American Legion; as well as Illinois Veteran-Owned Small Businesses.) can acquire Federal surplus property items listed by the General Services Administration (GSA) available across the country for FREE, aside from the cost to pick up or transport the items.
o    Types of property typically available: medical supplies, search and rescue equipment, disaster preparedness supplies, vehicles, agricultural equipment, ATV’s, marine equipment, computer equipment, construction equipment, tools, trailers, industrial machinery, generators, and more.
o    Application to join an additional information: https://cms.illinois.gov/business/surplus/fedsurp.html

Fiscal Year 2026 Competitive Funding Opportunity: Low or No Emission Program
Department of Transportation
Deadline: September 21, 2026

Direct-to-Consumer Distribution of HIV and other STI Self-Tests
Centers for Disease Control
Forecasted Opportunity

Early Detection, Response, and Control of Global Rabies Outbreaks and Associated Threats to America’s Dog-Rabies Free Status
Centers for Disease Control
Forecasted Opportunity

OVW Fiscal Year 2026 Training and Services to End Abuse in Later Life Program
Office on Violence Against Women
Deadline: September 14, 2026

Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) Program
Health Resources and Services Administration
Forecasted Opportunity

Statewide Perinatal Quality Collaboratives: Improving Perinatal Care and Outcomes
Centers for Disease Control
Forecasted Opportunity

FY26 Bureau of Land Management Forest and Woodlands Resource Management – Bureau Wide
Bureau of Land Management
Deadline: August 28, 2026

FY26 Bureau of Land Management Invasive and Noxious Plant Management – Bureau wide
Bureau of Land Management
Deadline: September 25, 2026

Fiscal Year 2026 Competitive Funding Opportunity: Buses and Bus Facilities Program
Department of Transportation
Deadline: September 21, 2026

Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Program for States
Centers for Disease Control
Forecasted Opportunity

FY26 Bureau of Land Management Fuels Management and Community Fire Assistance – Bureau wide     
Bureau of Land Management
Deadline: August 28, 2026

Collaborative Approaches to Adoption for Children with Complex Needs
Administration for Children and Families
Deadline: August 26, 2026

Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program – NEW (Year 1)
Centers for Disease Control
Forecasted Opportunity

FY26 Bureau of Land Management Plant Conservation and Restoration Management – Bureau wide
Bureau of Land Management
Deadline: September 28, 2026

OVW Fiscal Year 2026 State and Territory Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalitions Program
Office on Violence Against Women
Deadline: August 31, 2026

Rural Decentralized Water System Grant Program
Rural Water Services
Deadline: September 30, 2026

Program to End Modern Slavery Annual Program Statement
Office to Monitor-Combat Trafficking in Persons
Deadline: Undefined

Fiscal Year 2026 Funding Allotments and Operating Guidance for Unemployment Insurance Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessments Grants
Eligibility: State Workforce Agencies
Deadline: August 28, 2026

Global Cybercrime and Cryptocurrency Assessment and Intelligence Gathering
Bureau of International Narcotics-Law Enforcement
Deadline: August 31, 2026

Sheep Production and Marketing Grant Program FY 2026
Agricultural Marketing Services
Deadline: October 2, 2026

FY26 Bus Safety, Accessibility, and Innovation Notice of Funding Opportunity
DOT – Federal Transit Administration
Deadline: September 28, 2026

Diaper Distribution Demonstration Research Pilot (DDDRP)
Administration for Children and Families
Deadline: September 15, 2026

Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Service Area Competition (SAC)
Health Resources and Services Administration
Forecasted Opportunity

Maternal and Child Health Encounters Networks (MCHEK)
Health Resources and Services Administration
Forecasted Opportunity

State Maternal Health Innovation Program (SMHI)
Health Resources and Services Administration
Forecasted Opportunity

Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Nutrition Training Program
Health Resources and Services Administration
Forecasted Opportunity