Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity

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• Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic
  Opportunity
• University of Illinois Institute for Government
  Public Affairs

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• Illinois Bridging the Digital Divide Program

Rod R. Blagojevich Jack Lavin
Governor Director
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• Immediate Goal Increase access to technology,
  broadband and related training for people living
  in under-served communities.
• Ultimate Goal Strengthen communities, enable
  job opportunities, and support innovation and
  entrepreneurship in Illinois.

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• Public hospitals
• Libraries
• Park districts
• Senior citizen homes (new for FY09)
• State educational agencies
• Local educational agencies
• Institutions of higher education
• Public and private nonprofit or for-profit
  educational organizations
• Entities that received a Community Technology
  Center grant under the federal CTC Program.

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• Basic skills training needed to access and
  utilize computers and the Internet.
• Vocational skills training related to information
  technology occupations.
• Access to career information, employment
  opportunities, and related Internet job searches.
• Computerized instruction in basic literacy
  skills, GED preparation, and English as a second
  language instruction, including distance learning
  opportunities.
• Computer-based before and after school programs
  for academic enrichment and reinforcement.
• Computer skills training and support for
  entrepreneurs and small businesses and video
  conferencing.
• Access to assistive technology for disabled
  populations.
• Professional development opportunities related to
  technology for teachers.
• Promotion of home access to computers.

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• DCEO will give priority funding to organizations
  that operate and expand sustainable community
  technology centers.
• Organizational Structure Defined mission and
  vision
• Staffing Paid and professional
• Client Base Identified client base driven by a
  marketing campaign
• Training Program Proven curriculum leading to
  certifications
• Training Delivery Flexible delivery methods
  focused on the specific client needs
• Project Outcomes Provide pathways to
  employment and education opportunities

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• In order to sustain its on-going operations, a
  community technology center must have a clearly
  defined vision and mission that are integrated
  into a business plan that guides the centers
  operations. While the vision and mission
  statements are designed to guide the organization
  over a long period of time, the business plan
  will typically focus on a shorter period of time
  (typically three years).

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• CTCs must have an effective staffing plan driven
  by the objectives and programs identified in the
  business plan. The paid staff levels are
  typically determined by the mission critical
  skills required to support the on-going
  operations of the CTC.
• Volunteer staff levels are usually driven by
  programs and non-mission critical skills
  required.
• Best practice staffing plans include information
  on staff development plans. Staff development
  should include career planning, training on new
  technologies, customer service training and
  training on serving special populations.

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• The target client populations should be clearly
  defined and a marketing plan should be completed
  that effectively communicates the CTCs programs
  and resources available in the geographic
  community served.
• Regular outreach planning should be scheduled and
  coordinated with the CTCs business plan.
  Assessments should be conducted to measure the
  effectiveness of the marketing and determine any
  adjustments that need to be made.
• Best practice CTC marketing plans include a
  budget appropriate to the outcomes projected. A
  combination of media should be considered to
  accomplish a broad reach and establish name
  recognition.

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• The CTCs training programs should be clearly
  documented, including subjects covered, skills
  attained and certifications achieved.
• For programs funding under this Request for
  Applications, the curriculum should at least meet
  the standards set forth in the curriculum and
  advocated by the national CTC Network. See page
  33 of the RFA for more information.
• Multiple levels of training should be provided to
  allow individuals to progress beyond a basic
  level. These additional levels should be tied to
  the needs of the individual and the skills needed
  to advance academically and/or increase
  employment opportunities.

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• The training delivery should be provided in a
  variety of formats that increase access to all
  target populations including instructor-led,
  self-paced and online programs.
• Special consideration in training delivery should
  be given to account for individuals with
  disabilities, limited language skills,
  transportation issues, child care needs or other
  special circumstances.
• Training delivery should include up-front
  assessment of participant base skills to
  determine the appropriate training program
  needed. An individual training plan should be
  established for each participant and progress
  should be tracked over time.
• Any support services that may be required to
  assist the individual in successfully completing
  the training should also be identified.

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• Clearly defined outcomes should be established
  for each CTC program. These outcomes should be
  aligned with the vision, mission and business
  plan of the CTC. Outcomes should be developed
  from the input of the partners and other
  stakeholders in the community. The outcomes
  should also be mapped to the individual training
  plans established for participants.
• Outcomes should be tracked throughout the
  individuals participation in each CTC program
  and beyond. Tracking outcomes will assist in
  identifying the factors that impact success or
  failure of individual participants and provide
  input into program assessment.
• Partnerships with employers and educational
  institutions should be established to assist in
  collecting post-program outcome information.
  Collecting outcome information over time will
  assist the CTC in measuring the residual impact
  of the program training and assist in truly
  measuring the return on investment for the
  participant, funding source and other
  stakeholders.

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• The primary goal of the training must be the
  acquisition of computer-related competencies by
  residents of eligible low-income communities.
• DCEO will give priority funding to technology
  literacy programs that provide, at a minimum, the
  basic skills training outlined on page 5 of the
  RFA.
• Using common technology terminology and equipment
  
• Using a computer and productivity software to
  organize and create information
• Using a computer and communications software to
  access and transmit information
• Competitive proposals will provide pathways to
  education and employment opportunities.

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• DCEO supports the National Educational
  Technology Standards that outline what students
  (both youth and adults) should be able to do to
  learn effectively and live productively in an
  increasingly digital world.
• Creativity and Innovation
• Communication and Collaboration
• Research and Information Fluency
• Critical Thinking, Problem-Solving
  Decision-Making
• Digital Citizenship
• Technology Operations and Concepts

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• The Illinois workNet Portal is a free resource
  that provides career, education, and work support
  information for Illinois residents and
  businesses.
• Illinois workNet expands access to career
  resources and business services across the state.
  It gives people more options to connect to
  needed information and services.
• Digital divide grantees must agree to
  disseminate information and serve as public
  access points for the Illinois workNet Portal.

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• A Community Technology Center may not receive
  more than 75,000 in a single fiscal year through
  the Bridging the Digital Divide Program.
• It is anticipated that funding will be provided
  in July 2009.

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• Instructor Salaries
• Fringe Benefits
• Training Materials Supplies
• Contractual Training Costs
• Capacity Building Costs
• Computer Equipment
• Other Related Equipment
• Software
• One-time Contractual Services
• Administrative Indirect Costs (Limited to 10)

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• Document the specific goals and outcomes of the
  capacity building initiative.
• Describe the capacity building activities in
  detail (marketing campaigns, staff training,
  innovative community training projects etc.).
• Document how the capacity building activities
  will improve your organization and impact the
  community.

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• Grant applications are evaluated on a competitive
  basis.
• Applications are reviewed in three stages
• Stage 1 Initial Screening
• Stage 2 Qualitative Evaluation
• Stage 3 Site Visits / Interviews (at DCEOs
  Request)
• Based on the evaluation, applicants are selected
  to enter into negotiations with the DCEO for a
  grant.

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• Need of the Eligible Community (30)
• Quality of the Proposal (40)
• Partnership Community Support (20)
• Proposed Costs (10)

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• DCEO will provide priority funding to
  organizations that develop and implement
  partnerships that efficiently and effectively
  address the computer access and technology
  training needs of the community.

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• The strength and involvement of local partners
  that drive clients to the CTC.
• The strength of the partnerships with CTCs and
  other service providers in coordinating the
  delivery of technology access and training
  services for the community.
• The amount of private sector donations of
  equipment, cash, or in-kind services provided to
  the CTC.
• The level of volunteer support directly related
  to the operation of the CTC.

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• The 2009 Digital Divide application process may
  also include (at the Departments discretion)
  interviews and/or site visits of the CTC.
• The purpose of the site visit and/or interview
  is to assess the capacity of the applicant
  organization to deliver sustainable technology
  training programs.
• The site visit information may be used in
  developing the final funding recommendation.

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• Along with the qualitative criteria listed in
  the RFA, the DCEO Director may consider the
  following factors when making the final funding
  decisions
• The geographic distribution of grants throughout
  the State
• The applicants previous performance, and
• The interview/site visit report.
• It is anticipated that the funding
  decisions will be made by late May 2009.

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• The deadline for submitting a proposal is 500 PM
  on Friday January 16, 2009.
• Submit proposals to
• Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
• Attention John Barr
• 100 West Randolph, Ste. 3-400
• Chicago, IL 60601

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For More Information Contact

• John Barr
• Bureau of Technology and Industrial
  Competitiveness
• john.w.barr_at_illinois.gov
• 312-814-2259