CHICAGO – Gov. Rod Blagojevich announced today the awarding of a more than $43,000 technology grant as part of his Opportunity Returns strategy for job creation in the Northern Stateline region. The Eliminate the Digital Divide program funds technology centers in low-income communities to provide technology skills training and access to computers and the Internet. This program provides the critical skills that employees will need to succeed in today’s high-tech workplace.
“One of the most important things I can do as Governor is to work to provide genuine economic opportunity to all people across Illinois. The technology divide represents a fundamental lack of opportunity and a real barrier to quality education and quality employment. By supporting grassroots programs like this one that address this inequality at the community level, we’re empowering people in underserved communities to pursue their academic goals and position themselves for better-paying jobs and more fulfilling careers. That is economic opportunity in its purest form,” Gov, Blagojevich said.
Comprehensive Community Solutions received more than $43,000 to expand its current technology training and Youth Build program, which offers basic computer skills and Internet access for the general public, advanced vocational skills training for disconnected youth leading to employment, and small business technology training and support. The agency is serving 300 at-risk youth (ages 16-24), residents, and small business owners in north and southwest Rockford. (Contact: Char Whittenberg at 815/963.6236)
“Gov. Blagojevich’s Opportunity Returns program is all about investing in the region’s greatest assets and giving them the capacity to act as engines of economic growth. Providing computer skills training and Internet access to students who would otherwise lack these crtical resources is an investment in the promise and potential of our area’s youth, and there’s no greater asset or key to our region’ s future than that,” Rockford Mayor Doug Scott said.
In addition to providing basic technology skills training, grant recipients can provide a variety of technology-related services, including:
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
Before- and after-school technology programs for students
Promotion of home access to computers
“The digital divide is still far too prevalent across this country, and here at home in Illinois as well. This grant to Comprehensive Community Solutions reflects Gov. Blagojevich’s priority of making sure all communities across Illinois have access to the educational resources that are most essential to competing for good-paying jobs and a better quality of life. With every project we support to narrow the digital divide, we continue to expand economic opportunity,” DCEO 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.