Illinois Employer Training Investment Program (ETIP)
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO)
Up to 50% of training cost
IL covers half your training costs — competitive industries
Illinois reimburses employers up to 50% of eligible training costs for employees in competitive industries. Companies design and deliver training using any qualified provider — community colleges, private trainers, or internal staff — then submit for reimbursement. Priority goes to manufacturers, exporters, and companies in high-demand sectors. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis subject to available funding.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- State
- Amount
- Up to 50% of eligible training costs; per-company and per-trainee caps vary by project and annual appropriation.
- Realistic amount
- $150,000–$2,000,000 per award for the DCEO ETIP competitive NOFO round (FY 2025-26: $24.8M total, approximately 7 awards…
- Deadline
- Competitive NOFO rounds — not purely rolling. FY 2025-26 NOFO issued with December 2025 anticipated award start date. Contact DCEO for current open round status.
- Status
- active
- States
- IL
- Payment model
- reimbursement
Who qualifies
- Employer must be in a competitive industry (manufacturing, technology, exporters, companies with out-of-state competition)
- Training must be for Illinois-based employees
- Training must enhance employees' job skills — generic coursework or training required solely for safety compliance does not qualify
- Employer must contribute at least 50% of total training costs (program covers up to 50%)
- Any size employer is eligible — no minimum or maximum employee count
- Training must be conducted by a qualified provider: community college, accredited institution, or approved private training firm
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Tuition and fees paid to approved training providers
- Instructor fees for qualified private trainers
- Training materials and supplies directly related to skill development
- E-learning platform fees for approved content
- Internal trainer costs (qualified instructors with demonstrated expertise)
Ineligible expenses
- Employee wages during training
- Training that is not occupationally specific (general business management, soft-skills workshops)
- OSHA-required safety training without skill advancement component
- Training for employees located outside Illinois
- Administrative overhead and indirect costs
How to apply
-
1
Contact DCEO regional office
Reach out to the nearest DCEO regional office to discuss your training needs and confirm current ETIP funding availability. DCEO staff will assess eligibility and guide the application process.
~2 hrs
-
2
Develop training plan and budget
Prepare a training plan detailing job titles, skills to be developed, number of trainees, training provider, training hours per worker, and projected costs. ETIP covers up to 50% of approved training costs.
~6 hrs
-
3
Submit ETIP application
Submit the formal ETIP application including employer information, training plan, budget, and training provider qualifications. DCEO reviews and executes a training contract for approved projects.
~4 hrs
-
4
Deliver training and document completion
Conduct the approved training and maintain attendance records, completion documentation, and cost records for each trainee.
~2 hrs
-
5
Submit reimbursement claim
After training completion, submit invoices, attendance records, and completion certificates to DCEO. Reimbursement of up to 50% of approved eligible costs is processed after verification.
~3 hrs
ETIP funding can run out mid-year — contact your DCEO regional office at the start of Illinois' fiscal year (July) to gauge funding availability before building your training plan.
Deadline & timing
ETIP operates as a competitive Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) with defined rounds, not a purely rolling reimbursement program. FY 2025-26 NOFO: $24.8M total available, approximately 7 awards of $150K–$10M. Contact DCEO regional office to confirm current NOFO status and application window.
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Last reviewed 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.