Among the priorities unveiled by the Recovery Act, stimulus funding is meant to create more than 3.5 million jobs over the next two years, and invest in the cities impacted by the economic crisis. In Illinois, more than $10 billion in stimulus federal funds for projects ranging from services for older individuals who are blind to grants preventing violence against women have been awarded to nonprofits and units of government. Obtaining stimulus funding is not an easy undertaking, but have fruitful ending.

The federal government and states have been building "Recovery" websites to serve as clearinghouses for information about how funds are being allocated and the opportunities that are available to potential grantees. The federal government's site, www.recovery.gov, is a portal into all of the federal agency grant announcements, plus it provides a link to the state's recovery websites. One can register with the federal agency websites to receive updated announcements of their stimulus funding programs.

The State of Illinois' Recovery website, www.illinois.gov/recovery/ provides an entry point for links to some state agency recovery websites. For example, the state website links the viewer to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity's website, www2.illinoisbiz.biz/econ/.

Stimulus dollars are meant to spur the creation of jobs. The added amount of money is positioned to flow through existing channels; the same mechanisms where funds are usually funneled through to be accessed by grantees. A short burst of intensive activity that is being tracked closely by the www.recovery.gov website to encourage an unprecedented level of transparency, oversight, and accountability.

Illinois ResourceNet has been actively involved in petitioning for stimulus funds by providing technical assistance to working collaboratives, units of local government and nonprofits in Illinois.

Accessing Stimulus Funs Indirectly

Subcontracting opportunities being created locally are additional streams through which groups may access stimulus funds. For example, the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) is making over $100,000 million available to local governments in Illinois (some directly through formula grants, some through the State of Illinois) to support the development and implementation of energy conservation plans. These plans can be varied in their approaches. The US Department of Energy encourages local governments to make these community efforts, not just city government projects. Funds can be used to subcontract training, energy conservation programs, and other activities that nonprofits might be able to deliver.

Nonprofits with "green" projects that they would like to see integrated into these municipal plans should consider contacting their local planning offices about this effort. For more information on the EECGB, go to: http://www.eecbg.energy.gov/

The www.recovery.gov website also lists subcontracts made possible by stimulus funds. FedBizOpps.gov is the site recommended by the Recovery website to access all the solicitations, contract awards, subcontracting opportunities, surplus property sales and foreign business opportunities.

Beyond locating requests for proposals, groups should also consider finding and partnering with grantees who have received funding and need assistance with accomplishing the proposed project goals as a means to access federal funds.

The Recovery website provides the most updated and detailed information about the kinds of projects stimulus funds are intended to support, where the money has been distributed, and the opportunities that are still available.

Illinois ResourceNet: A Funding Access Initiative (IRN) is a university-based resource working to connect Illinois nonprofits and units of local government with the information and resources necessary to gain access to available federal funding opportunities. IRN offers a multi-faceted approach to grant development that incorporates an interactive website and hands-on technical assistance focused on designing high caliber proposals, and connecting with a diverse group of partners to meet proposed project goals. IRN's technical assistance services help facilitate the federal funding application process by assessing an organization's needs, providing access to resources, and helping review, refine and submit high quality proposals. The demand-driven training workshops focus on skill and grant development. The topics range in concentration from understanding federal budgets to learning how to collaborate and partner for grant development. Online workshops and face to face trainings are designed to cater to the needs of the groups that seek IRN's capacity building services. For more information about IRN, please visit the website at www.illinoisresource.net.

- Irene Tostado - Illinois ResourceNet Communications & Outreach Coordinator

University of Illinois at Chicago will offer a new online e-Government certificate program this fall designed to train public administrators in the management, policies, uses and implications of new government technologies. As a result of e-Government initiatives enacted by the Obama administration, technology management, particularly in e-Government solutions, has been identified by local, state and federal governments as an important management skill. Training provided by this new certificate program correlates with the administration's e-Government goals of making Government more transparent, accountable and collaborative with the public. Furthermore, expertise in this growing area is becoming necessary for public administrators to advance in the workplace and make successful career transitions.

A wide array of public administrators can benefit from the e-Government certificate. Individuals with technical backgrounds will gain project management and policy knowledge. Individuals with management backgrounds will obtain an overview of the various technologies and their applications in government. The certificate is ideal for any public administrator interested in the strategic development, implementation and management of technology in the public sector.

The e-Government certificate is offered by the Department of Public Administration of the UIC College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs. The faculty members teaching in the e-Government online certificate program are respected authors, researchers and consultants. Their relevant research and field experience has provided them with the knowledge needed to teach the most up-to-date information on e-Government and technological advancements.

The e-Government certificate program allows for students to build their own certificate by completing any three of the five courses offered, for a total of 12 credit hours. The certificate program may be completed in as few as three semesters. Credits earned in the certificate program may be transferred towards the fulfillment of UIC's Master of Public Administration degree. Applications are now being accepted for the fall 2009 semester. The application deadline for fall 2009 is August 1, 2009.

For additional information on UIC's e-Government certificate program, please contact Katie Weinstein by phone at (312) 355-0423 or e-mail egov@uic.edu. For information online, please visit http://www.egovernment.uic.edu. The Web site has details regarding faculty, course structure, requirements and admissions.

UIC is committed to training professionals in a wide range of public service disciplines and addressing the challenges and opportunities facing all great cities of the 21st century. e-Government is one of many areas in which UIC offers a unique learning opportunity. Learn more about UIC's Great Cities Commitment at http://www.uic.edu/index.html/greatcities.shtml.

- Katie Weinstein - University of Illinois at Chicago