‘Eliminate the Digital Divide’ Grants Will Prepare Workers for Better Jobs

CHICAGO – Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today announced the awarding of more than $245,000 in innovative technology grants through his Opportunity Returns program that will allow hundreds of Southwest region residents to receive critical training in technology literacy.  The grant program, known as Eliminate the Digital Divide, provides funding to local community technology centers in low-income communities to provide technology skills training and access to computers and the Internet.  Since technology literacy today is a necessity to competing for and succeeding in well-paying jobs, this program teaches essential skills to people whom often lack access to important educational opportunities that will help prepare them for a 21st Century job.

“Expanding access to the Internet and technology goes hand-in-hand with giving children and working people all across Illinois the chance to learn more and get ahead.  The grants we're announcing today will give dedicated local organization in Alton, East St. Louis and Lovejoy the opportunity to help hundreds of people do better in school or in their jobs,” Gov. Blagojevich said.    

The more than $245,000 in grant funding will go to seven community technology centers across the Southwest region.   Those grant recipients are:

Grantee Name/Contact                                                        Location                Amount

Opportunities Industrialization Center of the Midwest      East St. Louis                $38,555
Renee Richardson-Harris (314) 771-7755

Christian Activity Center, Inc.                                            East St. Louis            $34,000

       
Sarah Lohman (618) 874-5615 x202

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville                           East St. Louis                $40,000
Don Baden (618) 650-3644

Campus of Learners/Family Self-Sufficiency Program       East St. Louis                $32,000
Louella Hawkins (618) 646-7396

Challenge Unlimited, Inc.                                                     Alton                              $32,000
Jeffrey Allsman (618) 465-0044 x133

Brooklyn Unit School District 188                                      Lovejoy                          $33,147
Raelynn Parks (618) 271-1028 x150

Alton Community Unit School Dist. #11                        Alton                        $35,516        
Kristie Baumgartner (618) 474-2500        

“In today’s world, technology literacy is essential to succeeding academically and professionally.  Increasing access to this fundamental education will strengthen the caliber of our future workforce and expand opportunity to more people in our community.  Gov. Blagojevich continues to deliver the resources that are so essential to fulfilling the great promise of our communities,” said State Senator James Clayborne (D-East St. Louis).

“Without proficiency in basic computer skills, our workers will not be prepared to meet the demands of the 21st Century economy.  Thanks to these grants from Gov. Blagojevich, hundreds of local residents will have easy access to these vital skills and, in turn, higher-quality job opportunities,” said State Senator William Haine (D-Alton).  
 
“Gov. Blagojevich and I believe that education is the cornerstone of economic opportunity.  The Eliminate the Digital Divide program is providing low-income residents in our community with an education in technology literacy that is absolutely essential in today’s society.  This program is a tremendous community resource that acts as a critical building block to a brighter economic future in East St. Louis,” State Representative Wyvetter Younge (D-East St. Louis) said.

In addition to providing basic skills training needed to access and utilize computers and the Internet, a variety of technology access activities can be provided by the grant recipient including:

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 options;  

Professional development opportunities related to technology for teachers;

Computer based before and after school programs for academic enrichment and reinforcement; and

Promotion of home access to computers.

“Education is the fundamental building block to creating a highly-skilled workforce and a more robust regional economy in which businesses have all the resources they need to thrive.  Gov. Blagojevich’s program is opening doors to a vast number of career paths, expanding individual economic opportunity, and strengthening the economic portfolio of the entire region,” Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Director Jack Lavin said.                  

Gov. Blagojevich’s Opportunity Returns regional economic development strategy is the most aggressive, comprehensive approach to creating jobs in Illinois’ history.  Since a one-size-fits-all approach to economic development just doesn’t work, the Governor has divided the state into 10 regions – each with a regional team that is empowered and expected to rapidly respond to opportunities and challenges.  Opportunity Returns is about tangible, specific actions to make each region more accessible, more marketable, more entrepreneurial and more attractive to businesses.  It is about upgrading the skills of the local workforce, increasing the access to capital, opening new markets, improving infrastructure, and creating and retaining jobs.  Opportunity Returns is about successfully partnering with companies and communities, both large and small, to help all of Illinois reach its economic potential.