Investment Grant Request for Proposals (RFP)
Fiscal Year 2025 - Regional Core Enhancement Program Overview
The Greater Peoria Leadership Council invites applications for Investment Grants designed to create transformational change addressing challenges facing the regional core through strategic partnerships and sustained investment. Investment Grants support systemic transformation projects over 2-3 years that significantly increase economic activity, business attraction, and visitor engagement in the Greater Peoria Regional Core.

Total Available Funding: $334,000 (Year 1)
Encumbered Funding: $333,000 (Year 2), $333,000 (Year 3)
Number of Awards: 1-2 grants (approximately)
Application Deadline: November 1, 2025
Project Duration: 2-3 years with annual milestones
Application Frequency: Annually
Recipients Announced: December 2025 Investment Grant 

• Funding Range: $200,000 - $1,000,000 (total amount over 2-3 years)
• Average Annual Funding: $167,000/year (over 2-3 years)
• Focus: Transformational partnerships creating systemic change and significant economic impact
• Overhead Maximum: 10%
• Duration: 2-3 years with comprehensive outcome evaluation and sustainability planning

2025 Focus Area
All Investment Grant projects must align with the following Regional Core transformation priority:

Regional Core Business Attraction
Multi-organization partnerships for comprehensive business attraction initiatives including:

• Business Development: Strategic attraction of new businesses to the Regional Core through targeted recruitment, incentive packages, and comprehensive support services
• Infrastructure Improvement: Substantial improvements to support business operations, accessibility, transportation, technology, and public realm enhancements required for business attraction.
• Business Support Services: Creation or expansion of comprehensive support systems including incubation, technical assistance, financing, and ongoing business development resources.

Expected Outcomes: Measurable increases in business attraction, job creation, additional investment leverage, reduced vacancy rates, increased visitor activity, sustained economic growth, and regional partnerships in the Regional Core. Eligibility Requirements

Partnership Requirements (Mandatory)
Required Partnership Structure:

• Must involve collaboration between multiple (at least two) GPLC Partner Community Development Organizations (CDOs)
• Lead CDO serves as primary applicant and fiscal agent for all grant funds
• All participating CDOs must be GPLC Partners in good standing

Additional Partnership Opportunities:

• GPLC Partner CDOs may collaborate with additional 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) organizations
• GPLC Partner CDOs may collaborate with additional East Peoria or Peoria municipal departments/agencies
• GPLC Partner CDOs may collaborate with additional East Peoria or Peoria public schools/park districts
• All partnerships must demonstrate enhanced regional economic impact through collaboration

Lead Organization Requirements

• Current GPLC partnership MOU
• Demonstrated experience with transformational projects
• Capacity for managing complex, multi-year, multi-partner initiatives
• Financial stability and sophisticated project management capabilities

Partnership Capacity Requirements

• All Partner CDOs and additional partner organizations must demonstrate complementary strengths and resources
• Letters of commitment and role delineation with joint governance structure required
• Sustainability planning for partnership management
• Track record of collaborative work preferred but not required

Required Documentation
Lead Organization Documentation

• Current GPLC partnership MOU
• Audited financial statements or certified financial review for most recent fiscal year
• Three years of IRS Form 990s
• Current organizational chart with staff qualifications related to grant
• Board letter authorizing grant application and fiscal agent responsibilities

Multi-CDO Partners + Additional Partners Documentation

• Individual capacity statements from each Partner
• Letters of commitment from each Partner
• Document delineating roles, responsibilities, and resource contributions for all partners
• Joint governance structure for project oversight and decision-making

Financial Management (All Partner CDOs/Eligible Organizations)

• Current fiscal year budget (all partners)
• Audited financial statements or certified financial review for most recent fiscal year (all partners)
• Detailed 3-year project budget with year-by-year breakdown showing resource allocation among all partners using GPLC Investment Budget Template
• Sustainability funding plan for project continuation beyond grant period

Capacity Assessment

• Project staffing plan showing capacity for multi-year transformational project and partnership management (all partners)