IL State Treasurer Programs

Employ Illinois: Employ Illinois gives business owners access to capital to start or enhance their businesses with the help of low-interest rate loans. The loans are available to business owners large and small, and we have programs tailored to owners of child care facilities and self-employed Reserve Forces. For more information, please visit the Treasurer’s Office online, contact the State Treasurer’s Economic Development staff at (312) 814-8953 or email employillinois@treasurer.state.il.us.

  • Business Owners Program: Employ Illinois loans are used to acquire land, purchase equipment, provide working capital, buyinventory or make capital improvements that will lead to job creation.
  • Child Care Providers: The Treasurer’s Office encourages the construction and expansion of licensed child care facilities in Illinois by offering loans at below-market interest rates. Child care providers can use the loans for real estate acquisition, construction or to purchase equipment that will lead to the creation of more spaces to enroll additional children.
  • HELP Employ Illinois – Small Business Program: In an effort to better serve small businesses, Harris bank and Treasurer Giannoulias launched a one-year pilot program August 6, 2008, to provide residents greater access to capital when starting or growing their businesses.
  • TV & Movie Makers Program: The Treasurer’s Office encourages the film and television industry to make major motion pictures, television and cable programs and commercial productions in Illinois by providing loans at below-market interest rates to help offset production costs.

Opportunity Illinois: Opportunity Illinois Consumer loans make a difference in the day-to-day lives of individuals with disabilities, families of U.S. military personnel who are called to duty, and the victims of natural disasters. Opportunity Illinois Community Development loans enable businesses and non-profits to broaden their services, strengthening neighborhoods and communities. For additional information, please click any of the the Opportunity Illinois links above or below, call (312) 814-1244 or email opportunityillinois@treasurer.state.il.us.

  • Consumer Programs
  • Illinoisans with Disabilities: Illinoisans with disabilities use Opportunity Illinois loans to finance construction projects or purchase equipment that will help them achieve greater mobility and self-sufficiency.
  • Citizen Soldiers: Members of the U.S. National Guard and U.S. Military Reserves use Opportunity Illinois loans to help support their families financially during deployment.
  • Storm Victims: Under the Opportunity Illinois: Disaster Recovery Loan Program, the Treasurer’s Office provides low-interest loans to storm victims whose property has sustained weather-related damage.
  • Community Development Programs
  • Non-Profit Development: Non-profit organizations use Opportunity Illinois loans to expand or improve their operations for the public good.
  • Historic Preservation: Organizations or businesses use community development loans to restore landmark buildings or historical structures for the benefit of future generations.
  • Bank Development: The Banking Development Program is intended to encourage banking institutions to open or expand a branch in a low or moderate income community so that the community’s credit and development needs are met.
  • Hospital Development: Hospital Development loans provide low-interest loans to hospitals to help cover the costs of improvements, including construction expansion or new equipment.
  • Credit Unions: The Opportunity Illinois Community Development Loan Program for Credit Unions is designed to provide the necessary resources credit unions need to help low-income residents who might otherwise be forced to turn to payday lenders.

Cultivate Illinois: Cultivate Illinois provides low-interest loans that help farmers offset the rising cost of farming and encourage green business development.

  • Green Energy Loans: The Green Energy program is a one-year pilot program that encourages energy efficient development and improvements by offering low-interest loans to businesses, non-profit organizations and local governments in Illinois. The Treasurer’s Office secures below-market interest rates for borrowers who finance their purchase or installation of energy efficient and renewable energy equipment at participating lenders. Projects can range from $10,000 to $10 million. For additional information, please visit the Cultivate Illinois website by clicking on the links above and below, call (217) 557-6436 or email cultivateillinois@treasurer.state.il.us.
  • Excellence in Agriculture Scholarship Program: Beginning in 2008, 10 $2,500 scholarships will be awarded annually to Illinois high school seniors who plan to pursue a college degree and career in agriculture or an agriculture-related field. Scholarship recipients are selected by a panel of Illinois agriculture agency representatives. Winners are notified in writing by the Treasurer’s Office and will be honored at the Illinois State Fair. For more information on the Excellence in Agriculture Scholarship Program, visit the above link or contact the State Treasurer’s Office at (217) 557-6436.