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Find similar grantsIllinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program NOFO is sponsored by Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). This program provides grants to community-based organizations to recruit, pre-screen, provide pre-apprenticeship skills training, and transition participants to U. S.
Department of Labor (USDOL) Registered Apprenticeship Programs in construction and the building trades.
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Please update your browser to the latest version of Internet Explorer , or use one of the following browsers (Windows XP users will need to use one of these, since Internet Explorer 9 and above are not supported in Windows XP): illinois works pre-apprenticeship nofo 2025 illinois works pre-apprenticeship nofo 2025 The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (the “Department” or “DCEO”) is issuing this Notice of Funding Opportunity (“NOFO”) to expand the Illinois Works Pre-apprenticeship Program.
The Illinois Works Pre- Apprenticeship Program is administered by the Department's Office of Illinois Works. The goal of the Illinois Works Act is to ensure that all Illinois residents have access to State capital projects and careers in the construction industry and building trades, as well as provide contracting and employment opportunities to historically underrepresented populations in the construction industry and the trades.
The Illinois Works Pre-apprenticeship NOFO and program is a critical component in the success of the Act, by increasing the number of qualified construction and building trades apprentices who are women, people of color, veterans or from otherwise underrepresented populations (as defined by the Illinois Works Jobs Program Act) and preparing them to enter full apprenticeship programs on their way to careers in construction and the building trades.
This NOFO is focused, although not exclusively, on awarding grants in geographic areas where the Office of Illinois Works does not presently have pre-apprenticeship programs and to increase the representation of underrepresented groups that presently are not served or are underserved by existing programs including individuals of Asian descent, Veterans, and Women, among others.
This NOFO is open to all Economic Development Regions, but the following regions and counties are strongly encouraged to apply: Central Region (Region 1) - Sangamon County North Central Region (Region 3) – Peoria County, McLean County Northeast Region (Region 4) – DeKalb County, DuPage County, Kane County, Kankakee County, Kendall County, McHenry County, Suburban Cook County, Will County Northwest Region (Region 6) – LaSalle County, Rock Island County, Whiteside County Southeast Region (Region 7) – Marion County, Lawrence County Southern Region (Region 8) – Jackson County View the geographic boundaries of these Economic Development Regions The Illinois Works Pre-apprenticeship Program provides grants to community-based organizations (including an accredited public college or university) or coalitions throughout the State that will recruit, prescreen, provide pre-apprenticeship skills training, and transition participants to U.S. Department of Labor (US DOL) Registered Apprenticeship Programs.
Successful grantees are expected to provide pathways and manage the transition from the pre-apprenticeship program to a full apprenticeship program in construction and the building trades. This NOFO will use the definitions established in the Illinois Works Jobs Program Act, including the definitions for "community-based organizations" and "underrepresented populations."
It will also use the State of Illinois definition for a pre-apprenticeship program which appears in the Illinois Career Pathways Dictionary . Besides the following definitions and frameworks, additional information and resources are included in the Appendix of this NOFO.
Community-based organization : The Illinois Works Act establishes that "community-based organization" means a nonprofit organization, including an accredited public college or university, selected by the Department to participate in the Illinois Works Pre-apprenticeship Program.
To qualify as a "communitybased organization", the organization must demonstrate the following: the ability to effectively serve diverse and underrepresented populations, including by providing employment services to such populations; knowledge of the construction and building trades; the ability to recruit, prescreen, and provide pre-apprenticeship training to prepare workers for employment in construction and the building trades; and a plan to provide the following: preparatory classes; workplace readiness skills, such as resume preparation and interviewing techniques; strategies for overcoming barriers to entry and completion of an apprenticeship program; and any prerequisites for acceptance into an apprenticeship program.
This grant program is utilizing state funding appropriated by the Illinois General Assembly under Public Act 103-1006 . Total amount of funding expected to be awarded through this NOFO is up to $12,000,000. Awards will range from $150,000 to $550,000.
The Department expects to make up to 25 awards through this NOFO. Anticipated start date for awards is January 1, 2026 . The period of performance is expected to be January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026.
The Department will offer an award that provides average funding of $11,000 per participant. Applicants must submit a project narrative that describes in detail how the award will be executed.
The project narrative should include enough information for DCEO to understand the scope of the project, the budget, including a detailed breakdown of the costs associated with each budget line and any additional necessary detail to enable DCEO to manage the grant agreement activity against planned project performa nce. The Project Narrative must include evidence of capacity, quality and need as defined in Section E. 1.
Due date for application materials is Monday, September 5, 2025 by 5:00pm CST. For detailed information about the funding opportunity and instruction on how to apply, see the full NOFO, as well as required documents, linked under NOFO Ma terials. Notice of Intent to Apply The Department requests that applicants submit a Notice of Intent to Apply by Friday, August 8th at 5pm (CST).
The Notice of Intent to Apply should be a one page document that includes the name of the lead applicant and the regions served. Submitting the Notice of Intent to Apply is optional and will assist the Department in planning the merit review of applications. These letters will help the Department determine merit reviewer needs.
Applications are due by September 5, 2025 at 5:00pm CST . For comments, feedback, or questions email the Office of Illinois Works at CEO. ILWorks@illinois.
gov .
Performance-Based Model Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship NOFO NOFO Supplement Template Conflict of Interest Disclosure Attachment I - Proposed Work Plan Attachment II - Participant Demographics and Outcome Summary Attachment III - Sample Curriculum and Proposed Curriculum Attachment IV - Staffing Plan 360-Degree Focus on Equity Executive Order #3: Action Agenda for Workforce Development and Job Creation Illinois Career Pathways Dictionary Illinois Department of Labor, 2021 State Construction Minority and Female Building Trades Annual Report Illinois Essential Employability Skills Framework Illinois Works Pre-apprenticeship Program 2025 Grantee Manual Illinois Workforce Innovation Board, Apprenticeship Illinois Committee Quarterly Report June 2021 The Essentials of a High-Quality Pre-apprenticeship Program, Jobs for the Future, 2019 United States Department of Labor, Training and Employment Notice 13-12 United States Department of Labor, Discover Apprenticeship: Earn While You Earn Today U.S. Dept of Labor, Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database System (RAPIDS) Resources for Competitive Applications Grant Accountability and Transparency Act Illinois Career Pathways Dictionary Illinois Works Pre-apprenticeship Program 2022 Grantee Manual Regional and Local Workforce Plans State of Illinois WIOA ePolicy Portal State of Illinois WIOA Unified State Plan U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Talent Pipeline Management Initiative U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Employment and Training, Office of Apprenticeship WIOA Regional/Local Plans by Economic Development Region Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 Resources on National Best Practices for Pre-Apprenticeship and Apprenticeship Programs 2020 Construction ApprenticeshipGuidebook (Seattle) Broadening the ApprenticeshipPipeline (National Skills Coalition) Construction Pre-ApprenticeshipPrograms (Aspen Institute) Construction Pre-Apprenticeship Programs: Results from a National Survey (Aspen Institute) Illinois Tollway ConstructionWorksBrochure Illinois Tollway ConstructionWorksOnline Application Portal Illinois Tollway ConstructionWorksWebsite Key Capacities of ConstructionPre-Apprenticeship Programs (Aspen Institute) Pre-Apprenticeships: Building StrongApprentices (Workforce GPS) Seattle PACT Pre-ApprenticeshipConstruction Training YOUTHBUILD Construction Plus Framework Resources on National Best Practices for Equity Pre-Apprenticeship and Apprenticeship Programs The Roadmap for Racial Equity (National Skills Coalition) Principles for a High-Quality Pre-Apprenticeship: A Model to Advance Equity (Center for Law and Social Policy CLASP) Collaborative Solutions for Increasing Diversity of Apprenticeship Participants (Workforce GPS) Closing the Divide: Making Illinois a Leader in Equitable Apprenticeships (Young Invincibles) Growing Equity and Diversity Through Apprenticeship: Business Perspectives (JFF Center for Apprenticeship and Work-based Learning) Principles for Equity in Apprenticeship (Center on Wisconsin Strategy) Flowchart of Equitable Apprenticeship Models (Young Invincibles and Chicago Jobs Council)
According to the current listing, eligibility includes: Community-based organizations (including accredited public colleges or universities) or coalitions in Illinois that will recruit, pre-screen, provide pre-apprenticeship skills training, and transition participants to US…. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
The current listing shows up to $12,000,000 total; awards range from $150,000 to $550,000, averaging $11,000 per participant. Verify award ceilings, matching requirements, and allowable costs in the official notice.
Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program NOFO is funded by Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
This opportunity targets applicants in Illinois. If your organization operates elsewhere, check the official notice for location requirements.
Start from the official opportunity page linked in this listing — it carries the sponsor's submission instructions.
Illinois SBIR/STTR Matching Grant Program is a grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) that funds Illinois companies that have received federal SBIR or STTR awards by providing state-level matching grants from $1 to $250,000. The program is designed to extend and amplify the impact of federal innovation funding for Illinois-based small businesses. Applicants must be pre-qualified through GATA before applying, and must submit a Uniform Grant Application along with required supplemental documents. Applications are accepted through June 30, 2026 at 5:00pm. Contact CEO.SBIR@illinois.gov for program inquiries.
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