Business Resources

NWILED Business Financing Programs Guide

The NWILED's 2026 Business Financing Programs Guide details local, state, and federal programs.
English-language version
Spanish-language version

Pooled Retirement Plan Program

NWILED has teamed up with Citizens State Bank in promoting and marketing their Pooled Retirement Plan program specifically designed with very small, family-owned businesses and farms in mind to offer low-cost investment benefits to their employees.

Program Flyer

C-PACE Programs

Renovating or constructing buildings for a clean energy economy is expensive, and now these clean energy projects will become more affordable for local businesses after the Illinois Finance Authority PACE Program was established by the Jo Daviess County Board on August 8, 2023, the City of Galena on August 14, 2023, and the City of Mount Carroll on 1/24/2024.

Commercial property assessed clean energy (C-PACE) programs allow businesses to pay off clean energy projects on a long-term basis through voluntarily requested special assessments tied to the property. C-PACE programs aim to spur investment in renewable energy systems and resilient building design. Any privately-owned commercial, industrial, non-residential agricultural, or multi-family (of 5 or more units) property or any property owned by a not-for-profit can take advantage of these new C-PACE programs in connection with the renovations of an existing buildings and new construction, in each case up to 25% of the value of the property.

For more information on the IFA and the IFA PACE Program, including the program's one page application, visit www.il-fa.com. Program contact is Brad Fletcher (bfletcher@il-fa.com).

Grant & Incentive Resources

• Grants.gov

• Blackhawk Hills Regional Council
• Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
• Landmarks Illinois
• Small Business Development Center at Sauk Valley Community College

Data: 2017-2022

• Carroll
• Jo Daviess

Workforce Resources

Business Employment Skills Team, Inc. (BEST, Inc.) is a non-profit agency that administers federally-funded programs such as Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA) in Bureau, Carroll, Jo Daviess, LaSalle, Lee, Ogle, Putnam and Whiteside counties. With offices in Oglesby, Ottawa, Dixon, Princeton, Sterling, Oregon, Galena and Mt. Carroll, its focus is assisting adults and youth gain meaningful employment through training, job search assistance and work experience.
Reach them at BEST, Inc.

Small Business Resources

The Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Sauk Valley Community College supports hundreds of businesses, through providing free counseling services and valued assistance to launch dreams, secure financing, and increase profitability.

The Illinois Department of Commerce Office of Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Technology – ‘Starting a Business in Illinois" Spanish-language guide.