Formula Grant DESE0001821

Federal Formula Grant Award Summary

The Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO) received a formula grant of $19.66 million from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for the Weatherization Assistance for Low-Income Persons program (CFDA 81.042), effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. This award supports comprehensive whole-house energy efficiency retrofits for low-income households throughout Illinois, including HVAC repair or replacement, insulation, air sealing, lighting and appliance replacements, minor home repairs, and health and safety measures. The program prioritizes vulnerable populations including elderly persons, individuals with disabilities, families with children, high residential energy users, and households with elevated energy burdens, with weatherized households expected to achieve average annual energy cost savings exceeding $300 along with non-energy benefits such as improved health, safety, and comfort.

DCEO administers the program through a network of approximately 27 sub-grantees—including county governments, community action agencies, and nonprofit organizations—that deliver direct weatherization services to eligible low-income households across Illinois. Sub-awardees such as Kankakee County Community Services, Inc., Western Illinois Regional Council-Community Action Agency, DuPage County, and numerous other regional community action agencies provide on-the-ground implementation, coordinating whole-house retrofits and ensuring compliance with federal weatherization standards and guidelines established under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.