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

CHICAGO – Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich announced today nearly $150,000 in technology grants to help prepare hundreds of people across Southern Illinois for the 21st Century economy.  These grants through the Eliminate the Digital Divide program fund technology centers in low-income communities to provide technology skills, training and access to computers and the Internet.  This program provides critical skills training that employees need to succeed in today's high-tech workplace.

“Expanding access to the Internet and technology goes hand-in-hand with giving children and working people all across Southern Illinois the chance to learn more and get ahead.  This investment will give dedicated local organizations the opportunity to help hundreds of people to do better in school or on their jobs so they can build better lives,” Gov. Blagojevich said.       

The nearly $150,000 in grant funding will go to five community technology centers across Southern Illinois.  Those grant recipients are:

Grantee Name/Contact	Location	Amount
Anna Bixby Women’s Center Barbara Wingo (618/252.8380)	Harrisburg	$14,471
Benton Public Library District Doris Heaton (618/438.7511)	Benton	$12,000
Illinois Migrant Council Eloy Salazar (312/663.1522)	Cobden	$40,000
Shawnee Community College Larry Choate (618/634.3200)	Vienna and Ullin	$34,448
Two Rivers Community Development Center  Kristy Tillman (618/734.4182)	Cairo	$47,580

 “These fine community organizations are dedicated to improving the lives of so many people, and these Eliminate the Digital Divide grants will help enhance the great work they do by making the Internet and other basic computer skills accessible to more people. Through programs like these, Gov. Blagojevich is making enormous strides at bridging our technology gap,” State Senator Gary Forby (D-Benton) said. 

“Technology literacy becomes more essential in our society every day.  Gov. Blagojevich understands that when we increase access to the Internet and to learning fundamental computer skills, we increase access to economic opportunity.  These grants are a tremendous resource for our communities,” State Representative Brandon Phelps (D-Harrisburg).

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.

“Educational programs like these are really the building blocks to creating a more highly skilled and diversified workforce that provide businesses with the essential resources they need to thrive.  Gov. Blagojevich’s innovative program is opening doors to a vast number of career paths, expanding individual economic opportunity and strengthening the economic portfolio of Southern Illinois,” 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.