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
Compare the geocoded point for a Chicago address with the boundary used to screen Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF). A match is a location signal; review the current program source for the boundary's role and remaining criteria.
Published criteria — confirm with SomerCor 504
- Property must be in an eligible TIF district with an open enrollment window
- Commercial or industrial building (1-4 story for commercial); determines cap tier
- Permanent building improvements only (HVAC, plumbing, electrical, roofing, fire suppression); operating expenses excluded
- Gross sales or net worth determines reimbursement tier (90%/60%/30% commercial; 50% flat industrial)
Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF) is screened against the TIF District boundary. A geocoded point that intersects that boundary is a location signal, not a determination — review the current program source for the boundary's role and any remaining criteria. A single address can fall inside several overlapping incentive boundaries at once.
Boundaries are precise and change over time, so whether a specific address falls inside a mapped zone always depends on that exact address. The fastest way to check is to run a free snapshot for the parcel you have in mind — mapped coverage is a location signal, not an eligibility determination.
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.
Range on file · $75K–$250K cap (property-type dependent); 30–90% reimbursement (commercial) / 50% (industrial)
Current published terms as of 2026-07-10
- +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
Application timing can change. Verify current availability and instructions with the administering agency before relying on this program.
Verify current status on the official source- 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
- Visit site ↗
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.