The Illinois Solar for All (ILSFA) program will begin offering an official designation to Small and Emerging Businesses in the 2026-2027 Program Year. The designation will provide prioritization in the Project Selection Process, early access to rolling submission windows, and the opportunity to deduct collateral from REC payments. To access these benefits, new and existing Small and Emerging Businesses must obtain a designation through the Illinois Shines Program.
Designation Timeline
Registration Opens with Illinois Shines: June 1, 2026. Processing time is projected at two to four weeks. Please note that additional time may be needed if cures are needed during the review process.
Approved Vendors seeking Small and Emerging Businesses designation that are interested in participating in the Residential Solar sub-program initial submission window are strongly encouraged to complete Small and Emerging Businesses registration through Illinois Shines as soon as registration opens on June 1st, 2026, to ensure a determination by the initial Residential Solar project submission window.
Eligibility and Registration Requirements
An Illinois Shines Approved Vendor qualifies as a Small and Emerging Business as defined under Section 1 56(b)(2) of the Illinois Power Agency Act (20 ILCS 3855/1 10), as amended by Public Act 102-0662.
To receive the Small and Emerging Business designation in both Illinois Shines and Illinois Solar for All, an Approved Vendor must demonstrate qualification as either a small business or an emerging business through the submission of supporting documentation with their application.
Qualification as a “Small” Business
Approved Vendors must demonstrate that the entity is independently owned and operated with gross revenue of less than $4 million in the previous calendar year.
Acceptable documentation may include:
- Business income tax returns from the previous year (e.g., IRS Forms 1120, 1120S, or 1065)
- A filed Schedule C from the previous year (Form 1040)
- Audited or reviewed financial reports prepared by an independent party
- Any other documentation providing evidence of revenue and ownership structure (accepted at the Program Administrator’s discretion)
Qualification as an “Emerging” Business
Approved Vendors must demonstrate that the entity has been authorized to do business in a U.S. state, district, or territory for less than three (3) years.
Acceptable documentation may include:
- Certification from a government agency authorizing the entity to conduct business, showing a date of issuance (e.g., Corporation/LLC File Detail Reports or LLC Annual Reports)
- An IRS Employer Identification Number (EIN) Issuance Letter with a date of issuance
- Any other documentation providing evidence of authorization to conduct business (accepted at the Program Administrator’s discretion)
For any questions regarding the Small and Emerging Business designation, please contact Jan Gudell, Associate Director for Illinois Solar for All, at Jan.Gudell@elevatenp.org.
Registration Information
The online registration form will be shared in a later announcement.