The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) has released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Internship & Workforce Upskilling Program for Small and Mid-sized Manufacturers (SMMs). This program is intended to address workforce attraction and retention challenges faced by small and mid-sized manufacturers in Illinois. The initiative seeks to create structured internship programs and establish a Learning Management System (LMS) to provide a centralized resource portal for workforce training. The program will assist manufacturers in developing internship systems and offer tools, training modules, and guidance to help recruit and upskill workers.

The total program funding available is $2,600,000, with an anticipated single award being granted. The grant is funded by the State of Illinois, and cost-sharing or matching is not required. The performance period will run from May 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027. Allowable costs must align with the program's scope and be justified in the application. Construction and capital costs are not eligible for funding.

Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations that serve as the U.S. Department of Commerce Manufacturing Extension Partnership Center for Illinois. To apply, organizations must be registered in the Illinois Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) Grantee Portal and meet specific verification requirements, including valid FEIN, SAM.gov registration, and compliance with state and federal exclusion lists. Entities that do not meet these criteria will be ineligible for funding.

Applications are due by March 24, 2025, at 5:00 PM CST. Required submission materials include a Uniform Grant Application, Uniform Budget, Conflict of Interest Disclosure, and Mandatory Disclosures, along with program-specific documents outlining project goals, experience, budget narrative, and expected impact. Applications must be submitted electronically via SmartSheet at the link provided in the NOFO.

Evaluation criteria will be based on Need (35 points), Capacity (30 points), and Quality (35 points), with a total possible score of 100 points. The merit review process will determine the highest-scoring applicant for funding. The program requires periodic performance and financial reporting, as well as compliance with federal and state auditing requirements.

For further inquiries, applicants can contact Emily Rhodes at the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity via email at emily.rhodes@illinois.gov or phone at 312-310-3967. Additional application and program details can be found on the DCEO website.