In response to stakeholder interest and the popularity of an Illinois Shines Financing Opportunities webinar held in April, the Illinois Power Agency will host an expanded educational webinar series on financial opportunities in December 2026. The three-part series, designed to support businesses participating in the IPA’s clean energy procurement programs, will spotlight preparations to access funding and several specific grant and loan opportunities. Attendees will meet and hear from a diverse range of expert presenters sharing valuable, updated opportunity information. Each event will be recorded, and registration for each webinar is required.
IPA Power Hour – Preparing Your Business to Access Funding
- Date: December 4, 2026
- Time: 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. CT
- Description: This webinar will share resources and opportunities to help small, emerging, and diverse businesses participating in Illinois’ clean energy economy identify and pursue funding opportunities. The webinar will feature presentations on financing resources, business development opportunities, training, and business advisory support with an emphasis on the Clean Energy Contractor Incubator Program (CECI). This webinar will not cover Illinois Shines or Illinois Solar for All processes or requirements.
- Presenters: Hector Tello, Membership and Business Development Manager, Hispanic American Construction Industry Association (HACIA) and Ricardo Magallon, Director of the Clean Energy Incubator Program, Innovation DuPage
- REGISTER NOW
IPA Power Hour – Funding Opportunities: Grants
- Date: December 11, 2026
- Time: 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. CT
- Description: This webinar will cover grant application support offered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). Speaker, Hilary Scott-Ogunrinde, Deputy Director of the Office of Energy and Business Utility at DCEO, will share information on DCEO’s Community Solar Energy Sovereignty Grant Program and Equitable Energy Future Grant Program. The webinar will also cover best practices for prospective grant applicants and introduce a new DCEO tool to help businesses identify funding opportunities. Attendees will leave with a better understanding of DCEO’s grant offerings, available application support, and how to pursue these opportunities.
- Presenters: Hilary Scott-Ogunrinde, Deputy Director of the Office of Energy and Business Utility at DCEO, Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO)
- REGISTER NOW
IPA Power Hour – Funding Opportunities: Loans
- Date: December 18, 2026
- Time: 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. CT
- Description: This webinar will highlight loan resources and financing opportunities available to small, emerging, and diverse businesses. This webinar will feature innovative financing tools that can help access the benefits of clean energy and energy efficiency. Rebeccah Sanders, Executive Director of the Clean Energy Jobs and Justice Fund (CEJJF), will share information on CEJJF’s accessible loan and grant opportunities for small and diverse clean energy businesses. Additionally, Francisco Galliano, Senior Vice President of the Illinois Finance Authority (IFA), will be discussing IFA’s State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI). This webinar will not cover Illinois Shines or Illinois Solar for All Program processes or requirements.
- Presenters: Rebeccah Sanders, Executive Director, Clean Energy Jobs and Justice Fund (CEJJF) and Francisco Galliano, Senior Vice President, Illinois Finance Authority (IFA)
- REGISTER NOW
Thank you!
Illinois Shines Program
[email protected]