Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity

What Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity does

The Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is the State of Illinois's primary economic development agency, operating under Governor JB Pritzker to administer programs serving businesses, individuals, and communities. It delivers services through regional offices in Chicago, Springfield, Marion, and Rockford, augmented by partner networks including the statewide Small Business Development Centers (SBDC), APEX Accelerators (formerly PTACs) for government contracting, SBDC International Trade Centers, and an over-100-partner Community Navigator program that targets minority, veteran, women-owned, and rural small businesses.

DCEO's program portfolio spans tax incentives (EDGE agreements, Enterprise Zone designations, Historic Preservation Tax Credit), capital programs (Advantage Illinois / SSBCI access-to-capital loans), large grant programs (Back to Business $250M and Business Interruption Grants $580M as COVID recovery vehicles), workforce development (Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship at $17M+, Early Childhood Education Apprenticeships, CTE grants), tourism marketing ('Meet in the Middle' campaign, Illinois Office of Tourism, Route 66 Centennial grants), and targeted industry initiatives (Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park, Illinois Film Office, Illinois Grocery Initiative, Illinois Pharmacy Support Program). No proprietary software products are sold; DCEO operates standard government IT for program administration.

The agency's economics are not commercial. DCEO is funded through Illinois state government appropriations and federal grants and does not generate revenue or earn margins; grants, loans, and incentives are disbursements rather than commercial transactions. The agency monetizes its mandate indirectly by improving state tax base, employment, and tourism spend (e.g., $48.5B in 2024 tourism spending; $703M in 2025 film production spending), but those outcomes accrue to Illinois rather than to DCEO. Named enterprise engagements include Rivian ($827M incentive package for R2 expansion), IBM (FutureNow Chicago at IQMP), Mars Snacking ($100M / 600 jobs), ADM ($103M Decatur modernization), and DMG MORI ($40.5M Goose Island facility).

Name

Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity

Legal name

Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity

Website

https://dceo.illinois.gov

Company type

Public

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

The Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is a state government agency that administers economic development programs—including grants, tax incentives, workforce training, and tourism marketing—to support business attraction and retention, small business growth, workforce development, and community economic vitality across Illinois.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Economic Development Services

NAICS

Administration of Economic Programs (926), Administration of General Economic Programs (92611), Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support (921)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

State/Provincial Labor, Employment Standards & Workforce Development Administration (BPAIABAN)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Business assistance programs
• Workforce development
• Tax incentive programs
• Small business grants

Headquarters

HQ city

Springfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Grants and incentive disbursements, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. State Appropriations: DCEO is funded through Illinois state government appropriations and federal grants to administer economic development programs statewide.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

DCEO administers a portfolio of economic development programs and services for the State of Illinois, including free confidential business guidance through the Business Information Center, Small Business Development Centers, and APEX Accelerators. The agency distributes grants and loans (Advantage Illinois, Back to Business, Business Interruption Grant, Pharmacy Support Program), administers tax incentive programs (EDGE, Enterprise Zones), funds workforce development (Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship), supports tourism promotion (Meet in the Middle), and coordinates corporate attraction and expansion projects (Rivian, Mars Snacking, DMG MORI, IBM).

Product overview

The Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is a state government agency that does not offer a unified software product but rather administers a broad portfolio of economic development programs, business assistance services, and grant initiatives. Core service programs include the Business Information Center providing free confidential business guidance, the Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) network offering counseling and training, the APEX Accelerator for government contracting assistance, and International Trade Centers for export support. Financial programs include Advantage Illinois (loan programs), Illinois Enterprise Zone tax incentives, and major grant programs such as Back to Business (B2B) COVID recovery grants and Business Interruption Grants (BIG). Recent economic development initiatives include support for major expansions by Rivian, Mars Snacking, DMG MORI, and IBM, as well as the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park. Workforce development programs include Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship and Early Childhood Education Apprenticeships. Tourism initiatives include the Meet in the Middle campaign and Route 66 Centennial grants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Illinois Office of Tourism: A division of DCEO focused on promoting tourism across Illinois, including the 'Meet in the Middle' campaign and Route 66 Centennial celebrations
• Illinois Film Office
• Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program
• Illinois Pharmacy Support Program
• Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP)

Products and services

• Business Information Center

Quantifiable outcome

• Illinois ranked #1 for workforce development in Midwest and #3 nationally
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• British Consulate ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 February 2026UK-Illinois Quantum Partnerships Mission bringing together Illinois delegates from University of Chicago, Intersect Illinois, and DCEO with UK institutions including National Quantum Computing Centre, University of Oxford, and Imperial College London to explore collaborative opportunities in quantum research, innovation, and business.
• Illinois Economic Development Corporation (formerly Intersect Illinois)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIllinois EDC is the state's economic development organization and a key partner of DCEO in business attraction efforts. Connects companies with its network of partners and provides essential data, site selection assistance, and guidance to ensure successful business operations.
• Illinois Retail Merchants AssociationcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner in administering the Illinois Pharmacy Support Program alongside DCEO. The program distributes nearly $25 million annually to 434 independent pharmacies across the state through the Prescription Drug Affordability Act.
• mHUBcoreTechnology or IntegrationIllinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP) partnered with mHUB to host its On-Ramp program, allowing quantum technology companies to access specialized labs and the Chicago innovation ecosystem while permanent park facilities are under construction. The 128-acre park will include four quantum labs at mHUB.
• University of ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipates in UK-Illinois Quantum Partnerships Mission and co-hosts reception with Polsky Center at Booth School of Business. Key research partner in Illinois quantum ecosystem.
• City Colleges of ChicagocoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWorkforce development partnership with DMG MORI to support talent pipelines in advanced manufacturing for the company's new R&D facility in Chicago's Goose Island industrial corridor.
• Illinois Retail Merchants AssociationsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCo-administrator with DCEO of the Illinois Pharmacy Support Program providing funding to independent pharmacies at risk of closure in rural and low-income communities.
• Joliet Junior CollegesupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerExpanded Early Childhood Education Apprenticeship Program through partnership with Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet's Head Start program, with $194,270 grant to serve 55 apprentices and 40 pre-apprentices.
• HIRE360 in JolietsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerReceived $465,000 as part of over $17 million in state funding to 39 program recipients to expand the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program.
• Lewis University in RomeovillesupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerReceived $550,000 as part of over $17 million in state funding to expand the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program for construction and building trades.
• Heartland Community CollegesupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerReceived $5 million career and technical education grant to support workforce development initiatives for Rivian's R2 production expansion at the Normal, Illinois facility.
• Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT)supportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvided $11.5 million infrastructure grant to support Rivian's manufacturing expansion at the Normal, Illinois facility.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz): California's state-level economic development agency. Performs a directly analogous role to DCEO—business attraction, workforce development, incentives, and permitting assistance—but operates in a different state with a different industry mix (tech-heavy).
• Texas Governor's Office of Economic Development: Texas's principal state economic development office. Comparable in mission (business attraction, incentives, workforce) but operating in a much lower-tax, faster-growing state that competes head-to-head with Illinois for major corporate relocations.
• Empire State Development (ESD): New York's state economic development umbrella organization. Comparable scope (incentives, business attraction, community development) and operates in another large, economically diverse state with similar urban-vs-regional dynamics to Illinois.
• JobsOhio: Ohio's private-sector economic development corporation. Performs the same core functions as DCEO (site selection, incentives, workforce partnerships) but is a privately governed nonprofit rather than a state agency, providing a useful structural comparison.
• Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC): Indiana's public-private economic development organization. Directly comparable mission and Midwest geography, and a frequent direct competitor for the same corporate relocations (e.g., EV manufacturing) that DCEO pursues.
• Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC): Michigan's public-private economic development arm. Highly comparable in focus on advanced manufacturing and EV/automotive attraction, and competes directly with Illinois for the same industrial tenants.
• Georgia Department of Economic Development: Georgia's state economic development agency. Comparable scope and especially active in competing for the same film/TV production and logistics-anchored corporate projects that DCEO targets.
• North Carolina Department of Commerce: North Carolina's state economic development division. Comparable mission across business attraction, workforce, and community development; particularly active in life sciences and advanced manufacturing, areas where DCEO is also investing.
• Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED): Pennsylvania's state economic development umbrella agency. Comparable function and industrial legacy (manufacturing diversification, workforce, community development) and competes with Illinois for Northeast/Midwest corporate relocations.
• Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development: Tennessee's state economic development agency. Comparable mission and one of the most aggressive competing states for EV/manufacturing relocations; useful benchmark for incentive economics and workforce programming effectiveness.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/IllinoisDCEO
• Facebookfacebook.com/illinoisdceo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/illinoisdceo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments17 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity