# Unity Fleet Eligibility Analysis for OE3 Small Business Capital and Infrastructure Grant Program

## Grant Program Overview

The Office of Economic Equity and Empowerment (OE3) Small Business Capital and Infrastructure Grant Program is a $10 million initiative administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). The program aims to help small businesses achieve sustainable growth, improve efficiency, and create/retain jobs through capital improvements, with a focus on equity to uplift businesses owned by historically underrepresented groups and very small businesses.

## Key Eligibility Requirements

### Business Classification
Qualified entities include:
1. **Socially Economically Disadvantaged Individuals (SEDI) owned businesses** with a maximum of 25 full-time permanent employees
   - Includes businesses owned by historically underrepresented groups including people of color, women, people with disabilities, veterans, members of the LGBTQ community, and more
2. **Very Small Businesses (VSBs)** with less than 10 employees

### Project Eligibility
Capital resources can be used for eligible projects including:
- Planning
- Land and building acquisition
- Buildings, additions, or structures
- Site improvements
- Rolling stock
- Durable equipment

### Priority Considerations
Priority will be given to businesses located in Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Investment Areas, especially those with project proposals that focus on:
- Job creation
- Economic revitalization
- Increased community engagement

### Funding Parameters
- Grant amounts range from $10,000 to $245,000
- Competitive Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) process
- Application deadline: April 7, 2025 (today)

## Unity Fleet Eligibility Assessment

### Business Classification Eligibility

Based on the information provided about Unity Fleet:

1. **SEDI Status**: Unity Fleet was founded by Matthew Thomas Lamb. The company's status as a SEDI-owned business would depend on whether Mr. Lamb or other owners qualify as socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. This would need to be confirmed.

2. **Employee Count**: The exact number of current employees at Unity Fleet is not specified in the provided information. However, as a startup focused on EV charging infrastructure in rural Illinois, it's likely that Unity Fleet would fall under either the SEDI business category (max 25 employees) or the VSB category (less than 10 employees).

### Project Alignment

Unity Fleet's "The Link" EV Charging Network project aligns strongly with the eligible project categories:

1. **Infrastructure Development**: The development of EV charging hubs falls under "buildings, additions, or structures" and "site improvements" categories.

2. **Equipment Acquisition**: The charging equipment, solar panels, and other technology components would qualify under "durable equipment."

3. **Planning**: The design and planning phases for hub locations would qualify under the "planning" category.

### Geographic Alignment

Unity Fleet's focus on rural Illinois communities aligns with the program's priorities:

1. **Rural Focus**: Unity Fleet targets underserved rural communities in Illinois, including Decatur, Taylorville, Pana, Mattoon, and Effingham.

2. **CDFI Investment Areas**: Many rural communities in Illinois are designated as CDFI Investment Areas. A specific check of Unity Fleet's target locations against the CDFI Investment Area map would be needed to confirm this alignment.

### Strategic Alignment

Unity Fleet's mission and objectives align strongly with the grant program's goals:

1. **Job Creation**: Unity Fleet projects creating over 25 direct jobs in the first year, with 150+ positions by Year 5.

2. **Economic Revitalization**: The project aims to transform rural communities through clean energy infrastructure and economic opportunities.

3. **Community Engagement**: The ChainLink tokenization model enables community ownership and engagement in the infrastructure.

4. **Equity Focus**: Unity Fleet's Community Access Program provides discounted rates for underserved populations.

## Conclusion

Based on this analysis, Unity Fleet appears to be potentially eligible for the OE3 Small Business Capital and Infrastructure Grant Program, pending confirmation of:

1. SEDI status of ownership
2. Current employee count
3. Verification that target locations are within CDFI Investment Areas

The project shows strong alignment with the program's goals of supporting small businesses in achieving sustainable growth, improving efficiency, and creating jobs through capital improvements. The focus on rural communities and innovative infrastructure development positions Unity Fleet as a competitive applicant for this grant opportunity.

## Recommended Next Steps

1. Confirm SEDI status of Unity Fleet ownership
2. Document current employee count
3. Verify CDFI Investment Area status of target locations
4. Prepare detailed project description highlighting alignment with grant objectives
5. Develop comprehensive budget and timeline for implementation
6. Gather supporting documentation for application submission