Workforce Solutions Program

The City of Chicago’s Department of Planning & Development (DPD) Workforce Solutions Program is a semi-competitive (depending on the applicant’s location), reimbursable grant that covers trainings to upgrade the skills of current (incumbent) employees and/or training for new hires (On-the-Job Training).

Workforce Solutions reimbursement grants are funded through Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and proceeds from the 2025 Housing and Economic Development Bond. Grants fund up to 100% of eligible expenses for businesses seeking to train current employees and/or new hires. E&ES serves as the Workforce Solutions Program Administrator on behalf of the Chicago Department of Planning and Development.

Already applied? Find more resources on the Current Applicants Page.

Contents:

Workforce Solutions Grant Amounts

The Workforce Solutions Program is a reimbursement grant that can fund:

  • Up to 100% of total eligible project costs up to a standard maximum of $250,000.
  • Under rare circumstances, Workforce Solutions can cover up to $500,000 in total project
    costs when a qualifying participant can demonstrate a project’s extraordinary
    community impact.

What does the Workforce Solutions Program fund?

The Workforce Solutions program can fund trainings for current employees; on-the-job
training; or a combination of both.

  • Current employee upskilling (incumbent worker training)
  • On-the-Job (OJT)/New Hire Training
  • Leadership Development
  • Instructor Wages/Trainer’s fee for incumbent worker training
  • Domestic travel related to the training program (for training provider)
  • Training supplies and materials (items associated with direct training costs only)
  • Training rental equipment
  • Customized Training Curriculum
  • Apprenticeships (apprenticeship projects will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis)

Eligibility

Eligible Organizations

  • Small to mid-size Businesses
  • Not-for-Profits

Eligible Industries/Uses

  • Retail
  • Transportation, Distribution and Logistics
  • Information Technology
  • Food Service, Tourism and Hospitality
  • Healthcare and Life Sciences
  • Manufacturing and Industrial

Ineligible Participants

  • Chain Businesses
  • Franchise Businesses
  • Branch Banks
  • Employment Agencies
  • Religious/Worship Institutions
  • Currency Exchanges
  • Pay Day Loan Stores
  • Pawn Shops
  • Astrology/Palm Reading Stores
  • Liquor Stores/Bars/Night Clubs
  • Adult Book Stores
  • Massage Parlors
  • Hotels or Motels
  • Track Waging Facilities
  • Trailer Storage Yards/Junk Yards
  • For full eligibility and requirements, please see the Workforce Solutions Policies & Procedures

Funding

What does Workforce Solutions fund?
The Workforce Solutions program can fund trainings for current employees; on-the-job training;
or a combination of both. Eligible costs comprise of the following or some combination thereof:

  • Current employee upskilling (incumbent worker training)
  • On-the-Job (OJT)/New Hire Training
  • Leadership Development
  • Instructor Wages/Trainer’s fee for incumbent worker training
  • Domestic travel related to the training program (for training provider)
  • Training supplies and materials (items associated with direct training costs only)
  • Training rental equipment
  • Customized Training Curriculum
  • Apprenticeships – requests for apprenticeship projects will be evaluated on a case-bycase basis, we have a limited amount of funds that can be used for this purpose and once those funds are exhausted these types of projects will no longer be eligible. Eligible
    Expenses

What types of activities does the Workforce Solutions Program fund?
Applicants have to demonstrate that the grant funding being sought are job or skill specific and
will have a material impact on the applicant’s workforce needs. Below are classifications of
eligible training types along with representative examples of permissible trainings:

  • Market Expansion
  • Staff Development
  • Company or Job Specific Trainings
  • Industry Required Trainings

How are Workforce Solutions funds not to be spent?

  • Reimburse educational degree programs, including GED programs
  • Consulting services not related to workforce training
  • Non-job-related training
  • Any expenses not agreed to at the time of the contract

Application

Eligible TIF Districts
Check your TIF District with the Locator Tool 
APPLY HERE 

Are there any location requirements for Workforce Solutions?
Yes and no, it depends. Workforce Solutions will support projects city-wide to the extent
possible, however, this will be based on the funding that is already set aside, demand for the
program, etc. One of the funding sources for Workforce Solutions includes Tax Increment
Financing (“TIF”), which is a place-based funding tool. This will limit where some projects can
receive funding based on the applicant’s physical address. However, this should not discourage
potential applicants located in or out of TIF districts from applying, as DPD will do it’s best to
fund any qualifying applications it receives. If for whatever reason all funding has been
exhausted by the time an application is received, the applicant will be placed on a waitlist and
contacted when funding is made available again. In short, the applicant’s physical address
should not be a barrier to applying.

Selection Process
Workforce Solutions applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with quarterly funding round
deadlines in March (Round 1), June (Round 2), September (Round 3) and December (Round 4).
Applicants must complete and submit a City of Chicago Workforce Solutions Grant Application
via the City’s online platform, Submittable. Applicants must complete the free registration with
Submittable to apply.
All proposed projects will be evaluated by E&ES, with funding receiving final approval from
DPD’s Bureau of Small Business Development Workforce Solutions Team.

To Apply
Please complete the application and submit via the Submittable portal.

After submitting your application, you will receive an email within two business days to confirm
the application was received and advised of any preliminary concerns. If you do not receive an
email confirmation within this time, please contact E&ES to verify your application status.
Contact E&ES 

Applications Open May 15

Approval Process

Applicant is notified by E&ES of their eligibility via Submittable and asked to complete a Training Needs Assessment (also via Submittable).

Applicant proceeds with submitting the required documentation, including:

  • Training Needs Assessment:
    Identifies skill gaps and growth opportunities to align employee development with organizational goals and improve performance.
  • Proof of Revenue:
    Financial statements or documents showing current and past two years of sales to determine if a match is required.
  • Certificate of Insurance:
    Verifies the existence of an insurance policy meeting the City’s minimum requirements. Includes policyholder, coverage type, dates, and limits.
  • Program Policies and Procedures – Executed:
    Signed form acknowledging understanding and agreement to follow all program rules and guidelines.
  • Economic Disclosure Statement & Affidavit Certificate of Completion (Time Sensitive):
    Required by the City of Chicago. Must be completed electronically by all parties with 7.5%+ ownership. Certificate of completion is required.
  • Principal Profile (Time Sensitive):
    Required for all individuals with 7.5%+ ownership to check for outstanding City obligations (e.g., bills, tickets, support payments).
  • Child Support Affidavit (Time Sensitive):
    Confirms the applicant is not behind on any court-ordered child support payments.
  • Monitoring Protocol Requirement Form:
    Signed form acknowledging awareness and willingness to follow the monitoring protocol process.
  • Copy of Business License:
    Issued by BACP. If exempt, submit a letter on business letterhead explaining the exemption category.
  • ACH/Banking Information:
    Required for ACH transfers. All reimbursements will be processed via direct deposit.
  • Training Curriculum/Schedule:
    Include a synopsis of training, schedule, and vendor details.
  • Trainer Resumes/References:
    Required unless the trainer has already been vetted.
  • Training Cost Estimate:
    Include quote or estimate from training vendor.
  • Job Description for New Hires:
    Required if hiring new employees. Include job descriptions and hourly wages for each position.
  • Signature Authorization Form

Templates for all the required documentation can be found in Additional Resources.

Once the documents are reviewed and approved, E&ES sends applicant a Conditional Award Letter and Recipient Agreement.

Applicant submits executed Recipient Agreement to E&ES

Applicant is notified by E&ES that contract has been executed and processed. Applicant may begin trainings (trainings need to occur within a year of contract execution).

GRANT CONDITIONS & COMPLIANCE

Aside from the requirements laid out in previous sections, grantees are subject to monitoring
and compliance protocols during and after their involvement with the Workforce Solutions
program. Grantees may be subject to on-site inspections (which can occur before, during and/or
after project completion), virtual training check-ins and need to be open and operational for
three years after receiving a grant. For businesses that receive TIF funding, they have to remain
open at an address within that same TIF district three years after having received the grant as
well.

Additionally, grant recipients will have to affirmatively state that when it comes to their
business’s ownership, either directly or indirectly, that none of the following individuals has an
ownership stake: i.) any City employee or official; ii.) any member of the City’s Community
Development Commission; iii.) any City consultant involved in the development of TIF Area or
TIF Areas.

If for whatever reason the grantee is found to be non-compliant with these program
stipulations, DPD has the right to delay the approval of existing payment vouchers, reclaim any
grants that have been disbursed after project completion and/or deny/deem the grantee
ineligible for future funding allocations.

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