1) The entity must be an Illinois resident. [505 ILCS 92/20(c)]

1. 2) Applicants must comply with all relevant State and federal laws and rules, including prevailing wage requirements, when applicable.
2. 3) To be eligible for a grant award, an applicant shall have an active GATA registration and be qualified on the GATA Grantee Portal and SAM.gov at the time the application is submitted.

3. 4) The entity must store, process, package, aggregate or distribute value-added agricultural products or plan to do so, and must be one of the following [505 ILCS 92/15(1)]:

   1. i) An Illinois farm with fewer than 50 employees [505 ILCS 92/15(1)(A)].
   2. ii) An Illinois cooperative with fewer than 50 employees [505 ILCS 92/15(1)(B)].
   3. iii) An Illinois slaughter and/or processing facility with fewer than 50 employees [505 ILCS 92/15(1)(C)]. Slaughter and/or processing facilities must be USDA or state licensed or be a custom exempt slaughter and/or processing facility.
   4. iv) An Illinois food business with fewer than 50 employees [505 ILCS 92/15(1)(D)].
   5. v) An Illinois food hub with fewer than 50 employees [505 ILCS 92/15(1)(E)].
   6. vi) An Illinois nonprofit organization [505 ILCS 92/15(1)(F)].
   7. vii) A unit of local government in Illinois [505 ILCS 92/15(1)(G)].
4. b) Eligible applicants include individuals, groups, partnerships, or collaborations [505 ILCS 92/15(1)].
5. c) Collaborative project applicants must identify which entity is the lead. Lead entities for collaborative project applicants will be responsible for all grant reporting requirements.

6. d) Restrictions:

   1. 1) An entity whose project is funded in a grant cycle is not eligible to apply for grant funding for that project in the next funding cycle, nor is any other person eligible to apply for grant funding for the same project in the next funding cycle. [505 ILCS 92/15(1)]
   2. 2) The immediate family or household member of any grant administrator may not apply.