Invest in Illinois Overview

Invest in Illinois is a suite of programs offered by the Illinois State Treasurer’s Office, designed to expand access to affordable financing and strengthen communities across the state. The initiative includes two core types of support:

• Linked Deposit Programs — Ag Invest, Business Invest, and Community Invest — which provide below-market, impact-investment deposits to Illinois financial institutions so they can offer low-interest loans to qualified borrowers.
• Loan Guarantee Programs — Business Loan Guarantee and Finally Home — which help banks reduce risk and extend credit to small businesses, first-time homebuyers, and borrowers who may not otherwise qualify for traditional financing.

Together, these deposit and guarantee programs empower Illinois lenders to offer affordable, accessible loans that drive local economic growth, support small business expansion, strengthen agriculture, and foster resilient communities. By supplying state investment capital at reduced interest rates—or backing loans with state guarantees—Invest in Illinois makes it possible for banks and credit unions to serve borrowers who are often underserved or face high borrowing costs.

Win-Win for Illinois

The Illinois Treasurer’s Office is uniquely positioned to both generate investment earnings and stimulate economic opportunity. Through strategic investments in underserved rural, suburban, and urban communities, the office aims to strengthen local economies, create and sustain jobs, encourage business development, and promote long-term prosperity across Illinois.

Linked Deposit Programs

The linked deposit components of Invest in Illinois — including Ag Invest, Business Invest (CUP and SCALE UP), and Community Invest Opportunity Illinois — place below-market deposits with participating financial institutions. In turn, these institutions provide low-interest loans to eligible borrowers, directed by the Treasurer’s Office.

Through community development linked deposits, everyone benefits:

• The Treasurer’s Office earns a return on invested state funds.
• Participating financial institutions earn interest on the loans they make.
• Qualified borrowers gain access to reduced-cost loans for personal needs, business expansion, or agricultural improvement.

Together, these programs broaden access to capital and support local economic development throughout Illinois.

Ag Invest

For over four decades, the Treasurer’s Office has strengthened Illinois’ agricultural community through the Ag Invest program. In partnership with approved financial institutions, AG Invest provides below-market rate loans to qualified farmers, agri-business and agriculture professionals to help them start, expand, or add value to their farm operations.

Loans funds can be used for a variety of purposes, including purchasing farm equipment, land, covering construction-related expenses, financing operating costs, or investing in sustainable and conventional farming practices.

The Ag Invest program is the nation’s largest agriculture impact investment deposit program. Since its inception in1983, Ag Invest has loaned more than $5 billion in annual and long-term loans, fostering growth and stability across the state’s farming communities.

Business Invest

Many businesses in underserved communities face limited access to financial capital. Greater access to low-cost financing can help these businesses expand their operations, make improvements, and hire more workers—strengthening local economies in the process.

Business Invest is a business-focused investment program designed to bridge this gap. Through Business Invest, the Treasurer’s Office partners with approved financial institutions to provide low-cost loans to businesses in underserved communities. This approach helps stimulate business growth and economic activity while earning a competitive return for the State.

One example is Business Invest – Community Uplift Program (“CUP”). Through CUP, the Treasurer’s Office works with community banks, local credit unions, and savings and loan institutions, to provide impact investment deposits that support below-market rate loans to businesses in Illinois. By making it more affordable for financial institutions to lend, Business Invest helps companies grow and create jobs in underserved communities while still delivering a competitive return for the State.

Another initiative, the Business Invest – Sub-Contractor Accelerator Loan Engine Program (SCALE UP Program), provides vital economic support to small, diverse businesses. Through partnerships with approved financial institutions, SCALE UP expands access to capital for diverse (MWVD) small construction companies in the state of Illinois that hold contracts with government entities or major real estate developers.

Community Invest

In communities throughout Illinois, individuals, families, and local organizations can strengthen their financial futures—and spark economic growth —through access to low-cost loans.

Community Invest is a consumer-focused loan impact investment program. The program partners with approved financial institutions to provide low-costs loans to individuals and families in underserved communities while earning a competitive return for the State.

Through Community Invest—Opportunity Illinois, the Treasurer’s Office works with community banks, credit unions, and savings and loan institutions to provide below-market-rate loans. These include:

• Home mortgages
• Auto loans
• Student loans
• Personal loans

By making these loans more affordable, Community Invest creates economic opportunity and empowers communities across Illinois.

Business Loan Guarantee

Business Loan Guarantee Program — Empowering Small Businesses Across Illinois

The Invest in Illinois – Business Loan Guarantee Program helps small businesses gain access to the capital they need to grow, especially those in low-income communities with a poverty rate of 20% or higher.

Through partnerships with Participating Financial Institutions, the Program provides loan guarantees of up to 25%, helping businesses that may not qualify for traditional financing secure the funding they deserve. Lenders are eligible for up to $1,000,000 in guarantees.

Become an approved Participating Financial Institution and help local businesses thrive.

Finally Home

The Finally Home program helps Illinois residents purchase or refinance a home and helps prevent existing homes from going into foreclosure. The program is for residents who struggle to qualify for a conventional mortgage due to factors like bruised credit or a high debt-to-income ratio.

Since its start in 2002, it has guaranteed over $80 million in loans to more than 600 families.

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