Workforce Solutions Program (formerly TIFWorks)
DPD reimbursement grant for employee training and onboarding costs. Created in 2002 as TIFWorks; expanded citywide February 1, 2026. Standard cap $250,000; up to $500,000 for extraordinary community impact. 100% reimbursement for small commercial businesses (gross sales ≤$1.5M/yr, 3-yr avg) or small industrial employers (≤40 FTE); 25–50% match required above those thresholds. Non-TIF businesses apply in quarterly windows (Q3 2026 window opened July 1, 2026). Businesses inside funded TIF districts may apply year-round.
Check an Address — Free Snapshot
Compare the geocoded point for a Chicago address with the boundary used to screen Workforce Solutions Program (formerly TIFWorks). A match is a location signal; review the current program source for the boundary's role and remaining criteria.
Published criteria — confirm with City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development
- Chicago employer (citywide since Feb 1, 2026; TIF-district businesses apply year-round, non-TIF quarterly)
- Commercial or industrial employer investing in employee training/onboarding
- 100% reimbursement up to $1.5M gross sales (commercial) or ≤40 FTE (industrial); 25–50% match above those thresholds
Workforce Solutions Program (formerly TIFWorks) is administered at the city level. Depending on the program, eligibility may depend on the specific location, property type, or business activity rather than a single drawn boundary.
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.
Range on file · Up to $250K (standard) / $500K (extraordinary impact); 100% or 25–50% match depending on business size
Current published terms as of 2026-07-10
- +Up to $250,000 reimbursement (standard); up to $500,000 for extraordinary community impact
- +100% reimbursement for commercial businesses with gross sales ≤$1.5M (3-yr avg)
- +100% reimbursement for industrial businesses with ≤40 FTE
- +25–50% match required for larger businesses above those thresholds
- +Covers employee training, onboarding, and upskilling costs
- +Citywide since Feb 1, 2026 (not TIF-restricted)
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- Training plan and curriculum
- Employee roster (showing FTE count for industrial applicants)
- Business financial statements (3-yr gross sales for commercial applicants)
- Invoices and proof of completed training
- W-9 and certificate of insurance
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 the current funding cycle and your TIF district — City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development
Funding runs in cycles tied to TIF districts. Confirm the current cycle and your district's eligibility before building a training plan.
- 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).
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.
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).