Chicago Construction News staff writer
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) has awarded $35 million to support site-readiness projects at 22 locations across the state with a goal of attracting new industrial investment and jobs.
The latest round of Regional Site Readiness Program is designed to help communities overcome barriers preventing industrial projects from moving forward, including incomplete environmental studies, engineering work, site assessments and a lack of necessary infrastructure.
Awards include 11 Planning grants to fund due diligence activities, studies and site plans, as well as 11 Capital Ready grants for infrastructure improvements.
“The Regional Site Readiness Program is a powerful example of Team Illinois in action: State government, local leaders, federal partners, and the private sector all coming together to build a stronger economy and create new opportunities for communities in our state,” Gov. JB Pritzker said in a statement. “From planning grants to complete environmental studies, engineering, and site assessments, to capital grants to build roads, extend utilities, and improve water and sewer infrastructure, we are removing the barriers that stand between empty sites and opportunity for communities across our state.”
The initiative is part of Pritzker’s $500 million FY2026 site-readiness investment, described by the state as the largest such investment in Illinois history.
“While industrial businesses invest in our communities, we’re investing alongside them, creating jobs and ensuring they have the support to thrive,” said Lieutenant Gov. Juliana Stratton.
The Regional Site Readiness Program operates across all 10 of Illinois’ economic development regions. According to DCEO, the latest round represents a doubling of the funding available through the program and supports 30 grantees as they prepare sites for business attraction and development.
“The State’s investments in the Regional Site Readiness Program are preparing sites for business across all 10 of our Economic Development Regions,” DCEO Director Kristin Richards said. “With double the funding available for the program, this second round of grants is supporting 30 grantees across Illinois as they ready their sites for business attraction and development.”
By helping communities complete and improve utility infrastructure before a prospective company arrives, the program is intended to increase the number of sites that are ready for development and reduce the time required to bring industrial projects online.
The state also plans to expand site-readiness efforts through energy infrastructure investments designed to reduce long lead times, while helping municipalities, economic development organizations and landowners prepare properties for investment.
One example is the Urbana & Champaign Sanitary District, which received a Regional Site Readiness Program grant to support wastewater capacity serving Apollo Industrial Park.
“This collaborative effort between the District, City of Champaign, Champaign County Economic Development Corporation, and The Atkins Group will help expand wastewater capacity serving Apollo Industrial Park, strengthening the site’s readiness for future industrial development,” said Champaign Mayor Deborah Frank Feinen.
The Site Ready Illinois program is intended to build on recent industrial development momentum and position Illinois to pursue larger-scale business development projects by ensuring more sites have the planning, infrastructure and utilities needed to attract new investment.
