The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), through its Office of Employment & Training (OET), has issued a funding opportunity to support Local Workforce Innovation Areas (LWIAs) in the rollout of IWDS 2.0, the upgraded Illinois Workforce Development System. This grant program aims to build regional training capacity by funding local staff to serve as trainers who will deliver instruction to career planners on the customer-centered service delivery model and the use of IWDS 2.0, in alignment with Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) requirements.
The initiative supports a statewide shift to a consistent, participant-focused workforce system for WIOA Title I programs, including Adult, Dislocated Worker, and Youth services. The system is being designed to streamline case management, enhance data collection and reporting, and improve service delivery. Through a train-the-trainer model, DCEO will fund 12 grants to support approximately 15–20 regional trainers. Each trainer will work at approximately 25% FTE and deliver in-person and online training to career planners within their assigned regions.
Grantees will be responsible for selecting qualified trainers who have experience in WIOA policy, effective case management, and facilitation skills. Trainers will complete 32 hours of preparation and training before beginning regional instruction, with a peak workload anticipated in Q2 and Q3 of 2026. Grants will fund costs including trainer salaries, travel, training materials, venue rentals, and outreach. Administrative costs should be limited to 10% or less of direct costs.
Eligible applicants include current LWIA grantees of WIOA Title I funds who are registered in Illinois’ GATA portal and meet federal and state eligibility requirements. Applicants must submit a uniform application, budget, conflict of interest disclosure, and a detailed program narrative. Evaluation will be based on capacity, trainer qualifications, project quality, and budget alignment.
Applications must be submitted electronically by 5:00 PM Central Time on October 6, 2025. Awards will range from $50,000 to $500,000, with the total program funding capped at $2 million. The grant period runs from October 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027, and may include allowable pre-award costs starting July 1, 2025. Technical assistance is available through a Zoom session scheduled for September 9, 2025, at 10:00 AM.
Focus on trainer qualifications and detailed budget alignment. Use state templates and limit administrative costs to 10%.
