The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (the “Department” or “DCEO”) is issuing this Notice of Funding Opportunity to the Illinois Sound Stage Capital Grant Program.
Donor Name: Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
State: Illinois
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 11/10/2023
Size of the Grant: More than $1 million
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
The program will provide assistance to modernize or purpose build new and existing Film, Television, and TV Commercial sound stages.
Through this NOFO, the Department will fund proposals for studio infrastructure projects in order to support the streaming, TV, and film industry’s growth across the state. DCEO would like to incentivize large scale, strategic projects that can ensure Illinois is positioned as a leading production center in North America and the world with these grant funds.
The following are requirements for all projects funded through this grant:
- A project must include a job training program in partnership with the Illinois Film Office dedicated to preparing Illinois residents who live in Underserved Areas1 for work in the streaming, TV, and film industry. For projects within the City of Chicago, at least 35% of participants in the training program should be from underserved areas. For Illinois Regional Projects (outside of Chicago), at least 25% of training program should be from Underserved Areas.
- A project scope must include at least one soundstage and production support space.
- A project must incur actual construction costs. Projects only involving repair and maintenance expenditures are ineligible.
The goal of the program is to maximize construction of new soundstage and support facilities that will increase the film, television and streaming production capabilities in Chicago and other regions of the state.
The specific goals of this program are to:
- Focusing positive attention on Illinois by studio developers and producers at a critical time worldwide opportunities are being evaluated for new capital investment
- Creating lasting economic development in communities in Illinois that are in need to new investment
- Increase the number of productions and associated job opportunities in Illinois by expanding the film studio infrastructure offerings
- Change the perception that Illinois has a “competitive gap’ of world class, bespoke production facilities compared to other North American production centers.
- Providing new facilities to expand film industry training opportunities supported by the Illinois Film Office focused on bringing residents from underserved communities into the industry workforce
- Creating new business opportunities for local suppliers to create new revenue streams from production facilities and the projects that locate in the facilities
- Provide capital grants to match investment in new construction for new large sound stages or upgrades to existing sound stages that meet the needs of modern-day major film, television, and commercial productions
Funding Information
Total amount of funding expected to be awarded through this NOFO is $10,000,000. Awards will range from $1,000,000 to $5,000,000.
Project Period
Anticipated start date for awards is January 1, 2024. The period of performance is expected to be January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible applicants include:
- Nonprofit Organizations;
- Education Organizations;
- For-Profit Organizations.
For more information, visit DCEO.
