Finish Line Grant
Aurora’s Finish Line Grant program offers gap financing solutions to help commercial businesses and property owners complete essential property rehabilitation and improvement projects, ensuring that our local commercial spaces continue to thrive.

Program Eligibility

Program eligibility for the Finish Line Grant is limited to commercial and/or mixed-use property owners and tenants. Businesses applying for the grant must have fewer than 50 employees.

Eligible costs for build-out or rehabilitation include, but are not limited to:

  • Building materials
  • Purchase of equipment, such as shelving, racks, commercial seating
  • Commercial kitchen equipment specified in the application
  • Interior and exterior lighting fixtures
  • Utility service upgrades, HVAC, electrical, and plumbing upgrades
  • Labor costs paid at Prevailing Wage rates
  • Repair or rehabilitation of the building exterior
  • Building code improvements
  • External signage
  • Tenant improvements to meet various code requirements (i.e., ICC, NFPA, Illinois Accessibility Code)

Get Your Project to the Finish Line: Apply Online

Application Process

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, subject to the availability of funding.

Online Application Submittal: Prepare your application and submit digital copies of all required documentation through our online Finish Line Grant Application Portal. (Portal de aplicaciones en español)

Print Application Submittal: Download, complete, and email a digital copy of your application, along with digital copies of all required documentation, to the program manager. Download Application in English. (Descargar aplicación en español.)

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Office: (630) 256-3183
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Review Process

All applications submissions are reviewed in their entirety by the Alliance Foundation Finish Line Grant committee. Given the open application period, the Grant and Loan Committee will work to award decisions within 60 days of receipt of fully completed applications. Award notifications will be delivered by email to the business email contact provided on the application. Award recipients will also receive a notification phone call from an Alliance Foundation staff member. 

Grant Awards

The monetary value of each grant is determined by the overall project cost. Awards may cover up to 30% of qualified expenses up to a maximum grant amount of $50,000; $75,000 for restaurants. The total costs of the project must exceed $10,000, with all labor involved in the project compensated according to Prevailing Wage standards set by the Illinois and Federal Departments of Labor.

Get Your Project to the Finish Line: Apply Online