Through the Catalyst Grant, as many as 88 established and growing businesses in select industries will have the opportunity to advance to their next stage of development. Whether it’s addressing workforce needs, improving operations or upgrading facilities, this $100,000 grant empowers businesses to scale up and invest with confidence.
October 31, 2025
at 5:00 pm CT
*For selected businesses meeting grant criteria
This is a competitive opportunity for businesses that meet all of the following criteria:
To complete this application, you will need to gather the following documents:
Business owner’s valid photo identification (choose one)
2023 federal tax return (including required schedules, forms and attachments)
2024 federal tax return (including required schedules, forms and attachments)
IRS form 941 for Q4 2023
IRS form 941 for Q4 2024
State of Illinois proof of good standing (official certificate or screenshot from the Secretary of State’s website)
Please ensure all your documents are ready before you begin the application. Click here to download our document prep checklist to help ensure you have the correct documents before starting the application. Once you submit your application, you won’t be able to return to edit or upload additional documentation. To preview the application as a PDF before filling it out, click here.
Last Updated 9/23/2025
The 2025 Catalyst Grant, part of the Cook County Small Business Source initiative, offers up to 88 businesses a $100,000 grant to accelerate their next phase of growth. Funds can be used for hiring new talent, expanding operations, purchasing equipment, or upgrading facilities.
The Cook County Bureau of Economic Development has $8.8 million of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to support the grants associated with this program. Cook County has contracted with the Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC) and Allies for Community Business to serve (A4CB) as the program administrators.
Up to 88 grants of $100,000 each will be awarded.
This program targets key economic sectors that have demonstrated growth and profitability. For this program, eligible businesses must fall into one of the following sectors: Construction, Finance & Insurance, IT/Tech, Manufacturing, Professional Services, and Real Estate. A list of NAICS codes associated with the above sectors are listed in the “Industry Definitions” section below.
Businesses must meet all of the following factors:
No. Business owners of all demographics are eligible to apply.
No. Businesses that opened at any time are eligible for the grant.
Yes, if the for-profit meets all other eligibility requirements.
Only businesses that fall within the specified NAICS codes are eligible. A full list is available [here – insert link].
Businesses that operate in NAICS codes starting with 23.
Businesses that operate in the following NAICS codes starting with:
Businesses that operate in NAICS codes starting with 51.
Businesses that operate in NAICS codes starting with 31, 32, and 33.
Businesses that operate in NAICS codes starting with 54.
Businesses that operate in NAICS codes starting with 53.
There is no geographic preference between the City of Chicago and suburban Cook County. All eligible businesses are encouraged to apply.
Yes, Cook County aims to distribute approximately 75% of the grants to businesses located in what is called a Community Development Financial Institution Investment (CDFI) Area. A CDFI, as defined by the US Treasury, is a geographic area that meets specific criteria related to poverty, income and unemployment.
Grant administrators will determine whether a business is located in a CDFI Investment Area based on the address provided in its application.
The US Department of the Treasury has a CDFI Fund Mapping Tool that anyone can access to determine whether their business is located in such an area.
The application portal opens September 25, 2025 and closes October 31, 2025 at 5:00pm CST.
Selection: November 2025 – February 2026
Notifications: March 2026
Funds disbursed: April 2026
Applications are submitted via Smartsheet through the “Apply Now” button on the Catalyst Grant webpage.
The following documents are required for the application:
You can verify your business status through the Illinois Secretary of State’s online Business Services Search tool.
No. Applications cannot be saved or edited after submission. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. We encourage you to gather the information and documents required to apply before submitting your application. A PDF version of the application is linked here for you to review in advance.
Yes, but only one grant will be awarded per business owner.
No. Grant administrators will not begin to review applications until the application portal is closed. Applications received after October 31, 2025 at 5:00pm CST will not be reviewed.
The 2025 Catalyst Grant, part of the Cook County Small Business Source initiative, offers up to 88 businesses a $100,000 grant to accelerate their next phase of growth. Funds can be used for hiring new talent, expanding operations, purchasing equipment, or upgrading facilities.
Funds must be invested in equipment, people, and/or facilities directly related to business growth. The full list of eligible uses is provided below:
EQUIPMENT
FACILITIES
PEOPLE
No. Grant funds may only be used for expenses incurred after the grant has been disbursed.
Yes. Recipients of a grant award will receive tax information related to their grant proceeds, which will need to be reported on their tax returns. Please consult with a tax professional for additional information.
Recipients must:
Please find a list of The Source’s partners and the services they provide on The Source website linked here. Business Support Organizations (BSOs) provide free -no-cost business advising and Referral Partners provide marketing and outreach outreach services. A full list of partners can be found below.
Business Support Organizations
Referral Partners
No. We anticipate that demand will exceed the available funding. In total up to 88 grants of $100,000 each will be awarded.
Applicants will be able to share feedback on their application experience by answering a few optional questions at the end of the application. These questions are entirely voluntary and will not impact eligibility or the outcome of the 2025 Catalyst Grant application.
Our Help Desk is here to support you. Reach out by email at granthelp@a4cb.org or call us at (312) 275-3000.
The Source offers no-cost business advising that can support your unique business needs and provide one-on-one application assistance. Business advising is provided through The Source’s Business Support Organization network. Learn more at our business advising page here.
Visit our events calendar to discover upcoming grant information and assistance events.
7500 S Pulaski Rd, Chicago, IL 60652, USA
3636 S Iron St, Chicago, IL 60609, USA
1763 W Berteau Ave, Chicago, IL 60613, USA
