Illinois Hosts Workshops to Help Local Governments Secure Transportation Funding

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The Illinois Department of Transportation is hosting a series of 11 workshops across the state to help local governments and communities learn about and apply for funding through the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program. The workshops will provide guidance on identifying eligible projects and crafting successful grant applications for the program, which supports bike and pedestrian infrastructure as well as other transportation improvements that enhance quality of life.

Why it matters

The Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program is a key source of funding for community-based transportation projects that promote active mobility and livability. By offering these application assistance workshops, IDOT is aiming to make the program more accessible to a wider range of local governments, especially those that may have limited resources to dedicate to the grant process.

The details

The workshops will be held over two days in 11 different locations around Illinois between April and June 2026. The first day will feature group presentations to help stakeholders understand the program requirements and identify eligible projects. The second day will offer one-on-one appointments and networking opportunities for attendees to get personalized guidance on crafting their grant applications. In the last funding cycle, IDOT distributed $139.2 million to support 67 projects, with approximately 75% of the funding going to communities demonstrating financial need.

• The workshops will be held from April 14-15 to June 17-18, 2026.
• In the last funding cycle, IDOT distributed $139.2 million to support 67 projects.

What’s next

Interested local governments and communities can register for the workshops and find more program details on IDOT's website.