SPRINGFIELD –– Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse
White announced today that agencies and businesses providing
basic skills instruction to adults and families throughout
Illinois will receive $7.6 million in literacy grants.
White made the announcement as a part of activities
highlighting September as Literacy Month. Using the theme ‘Adults
Can Go Back To School Too,’ White wants adults to see they are
the change agents not only for themselves, but for their children
as well.
"Our literacy programs in Illinois help adults and families
improve their reading, writing, math and English," said White.
"In addition, we have built partnerships with businesses to
provide skills training for prospective employees. By teaching
people the basic skills they need, we are helping them function
effectively as workers, parents and citizens in our communities."
The Secretary of State funds many different types of
literacy programs including adult volunteer programs, workplace
skills enhancement programs, making work pay programs, family
literacy programs and new chapters programs. Each program depends
on local support and partnerships to help identify students,
recruit volunteers and provide in-kind resources to stretch the
grant funding.
While all of the literacy programs help adults and families
improve their reading and basic skills, each is designed to help
people improve their lives in a different way. Through the making
work pay program, grant funding is provided to businesses to
train and hire prospective employees. In the new chapters
program, literacy and job skills instruction is provided through
domestic violence shelters to help women trying to escape abuse
gain economic independence.
"These literacy grants have proven to be a wonderful
investment for the state," said White. "The partnerships we have
created throughout the state have provided new opportunities for
thousands of people."
A list of agencies and businesses receiving literacy funds
is attached. For more information about the programs, contact
Secretary of State Jesse White’s Literacy Office at
217-785-6921.
FY2001 Literacy Grants
