Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF)
TIF-funded reimbursement grant for permanent building improvements to commercial and industrial properties. Open on a monthly TIF-by-TIF rollout schedule (July 1-30 and August 1-30 windows open for eligible districts in those months). Administered by SomerCor.
Check an Address — Free Snapshot
See whether a specific Chicago address sits inside the area that unlocks Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF), alongside every other incentive that touches that parcel.
Small businesses and property owners in eligible TIF districts. Tenants need a lease with at least 5 years remaining. Property type determines which cap applies: commercial (1-4 story multi-tenant or single-tenant) or industrial (single-tenant or multi-tenant). Gross sales or net worth determines the reimbursement percentage.
Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF) is tied to the TIF District geography — being inside that boundary is the first eligibility gate. A single address can fall inside several overlapping incentive areas at once.
Boundaries are precise and change over time, so exact eligibility always depends on the specific address. The fastest way to know is to run a free snapshot for the parcel you have in mind.
The rollout calendar is TIF-district-specific. Not every TIF district is open in the July or August window. Check the rollout calendar at chicago.gov/city/en/sites/small-business-improvement-fund/home/rollout-calendar.html for your specific district's enrollment month.
Typical range · $75K–$250K cap (property-type dependent); 30–90% reimbursement (commercial) / 50% (industrial)
- +Multi-tenant commercial: up to $75,000 per tenant
- +Single-tenant commercial: up to $150,000
- +Single-tenant industrial: up to $250,000
- +Multi-tenant industrial: up to $100,000 per tenant ($250,000 property max)
- +Reimbursement rate — commercial: 90% ($0-$3M gross sales/net worth), 60% ($3-$6M), 30% ($6-$9M)
- +Reimbursement rate — industrial: flat 50% regardless of size
- +Covers permanent improvements: HVAC, plumbing, electrical, roofing, fire suppression
- +Can combine with other TIF incentives
- 1Attend a mandatory SBIF orientation session (virtual, offered monthly)
- 2Check the SBIF rollout calendar for your TIF district's open enrollment month
- 3Submit application via SomerCor's Submittable portal during the open window
- 4Get pre-approved contractor bids for eligible improvements
- 5Complete improvements and submit invoices for reimbursement
Check the SBIF rollout calendar at chicago.gov/sbif for your TIF's enrollment month, then contact SomerCor at (312) 360-3384
- Completed SBIF application
- Proof of property ownership or lease (minimum 5 years remaining)
- Two contractor bids for proposed work
- Building permits
- W-9 form
- Certificate of insurance
- Business financial statements (to determine reimbursement tier)
This page is a starting point, not eligibility, legal, or tax advice. Verify current requirements, deadlines, and boundaries with the administering agency before applying or spending money — program rules and funding change over time.
- Confirm your TIF district's current application window — SomerCor
Application windows open by TIF district on a rotating calendar, and oversubscribed districts use a lottery. Confirm the current schedule with SomerCor before preparing materials.
- Applicant eligibility review (Stage 1) — SomerCor
A SomerCor coordinator requests site control, financial, and affidavit documents by applicant type before project review begins.
- Economic Disclosure Affidavit and DPD conditional commitment — City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development
Only the applicant or an authorized officer signs the disclosure affidavit. DPD issues the Conditional Commitment Letter; confirm approval with SomerCor before beginning work.
- Phone
- (312) 744-4190
- Web
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Last verified 2026-07-10
Tax Increment Financing captures growth in property tax revenue within designated districts and reinvests it into local improvements like infrastructure, streetscaping, and building rehabilitation. Chicago has 124 active TIF districts (Civic Federation, 2025).
Special Service Areas are localized taxing districts where businesses self-tax to fund enhanced services — streetscaping, marketing, security, facade improvements — within a defined commercial corridor. Chicago has 58 active SSAs citywide, each managed by a delegate service provider (a local chamber, EDO, or nonprofit).
The Neighborhood Opportunity Fund provides reimbursement grants for commercial and industrial projects in underinvested neighborhoods on Chicago's South, Southwest, and West Sides, funded by downtown development fees. Mayor Johnson announced 11 new awardees in May 2026 ($5.5M).
Properties in Chicago Landmark Districts may access local preservation incentives. The City designates landmarks via the Commission on Chicago Landmarks (62 districts per the 2025 Landmarks Ordinance); the related Class L property tax reduction is administered by the Cook County Assessor — see the separate Class L entry.