Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) have awarded $7 million in grant funding to support innovation and entrepreneurship through the Tech Incubator Enhancement Grant (TIEG) Program.
Among the four grant recipients is Southern Illinois University Carbondale, which received over $1.5 million to develop a high-tech food processing and manufacturing incubator. The facility will be equipped with energy-efficient, future-proof kitchen equipment to support food entrepreneurs and startups, aiming to enhance operations and foster growth in the food processing and next-generation agriculture industries.
The TIEG Program is designed to modernize tech incubators across Illinois, fostering innovation, collaboration, and resilience in key growth sectors. The investment underscores the state’s commitment to building a stronger startup ecosystem statewide.
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