The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is accepting FY27 applications for the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program, NOFO 2614-4323 / CSFA 420-30-2614. The program supports community-based organizations, including accredited public colleges and universities, and eligible coalitions that recruit, prescreen, train, support, and transition Illinois residents into U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship Programs in construction and the building trades.
DCEO estimates $12,000,000 in total program funding, anticipates 25 awards, and sets an award range of $150,000 to $550,000. The controlling NOFO states that no cost share or match is required. Indirect costs are allowed subject to the applicable rate rules, while applicants are encouraged to keep administrative costs at 10% or less of direct costs.
Applications must be submitted through the DCEO Smartsheet application form by October 2, 2026 at 5:00 PM CST. Applicants must be registered and prequalified through the Illinois GATA Grantee Portal and satisfy the program’s FEIN, SAM.gov, UEI, good-standing, exclusion, sanctions, and related eligibility controls. DCEO will hold a nonmandatory technical-assistance session on September 15, 2026 at 9:00 AM.
Priority consideration is directed toward geographic areas without existing Illinois Works pre-apprenticeship programs and toward increasing participation by underrepresented groups. The current NOFO specifically encourages applications serving Sangamon, Peoria, McLean, DeKalb, DuPage, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, McHenry, suburban Cook, Will, LaSalle, Rock Island, Whiteside, Marion, Lawrence, and Jackson Counties.
Required application materials include the Uniform Application and Budget, Proposed Work Plan, Participant Demographics and Outcomes Summary, Proposed Curriculum, Staffing Plan, key staff and instructor resumes and credentials, and MOUs or partnership agreements with key partners. The NOFO limits the web-form upload to 10 documents, so file combination may be necessary. Successful program design must address recruitment, participant intake, instruction, case management, wraparound and student supports, stipends, work-based learning, transition services, and placement into registered apprenticeship or related construction employment pathways.
Atlas Opportunity Score: 82/100. This is a strong Illinois workforce and education opportunity because it carries substantial state funding, no required match, statewide eligibility, and direct relevance to community colleges and community-based workforce organizations.
N9+ Fit: 0/100. The funding is for construction and building-trades pre-apprenticeship programming, participant supports, training, and transition services. The controlling materials do not establish a legitimate pathway for the Nonagon N9+ device and platform.
Direct Vendor Review: This is an applicant grant rather than a direct Dr. Miltie procurement. Dr. Miltie, LLC is not established as an eligible prime applicant under the published community-based nonprofit/public-college eligibility framework.
Official source: Illinois DCEO Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program.