Section 830.40  Eligible Grant Applicants

A single organization may propose to deliver all required services, including Program Administrator and training provider elements, or may partner with other entities to provide certain elements of the Program.  However, the lead applicant organization alone must meet all the requirements in subsections (a)(1) through (a)(3) and must be able to serve, with assistance from partner organizations as necessary, at least one facility or institution described in subsection (b).

a)         To be eligible to receive a grant, at a minimum, applicants must demonstrate the following:

1)         Meet the definition of a community-based organization;

2)         Have an active GATA registration at the time the application is submitted and be qualified on the GATA Grantee Portal (https://grants.illinois.gov/portal/) by the time the application is reviewed by the Department;

3)         Be a regarded entity by the Internal Revenue Service [26 CFR 301.7701-3(b)(ii)] for federal income tax purposes; and

4)         Able to satisfy the required activities set forth in Section 830.50.

b)         The Department will award grants to serve eligible returning residents at DOC institutions and facilities approved by DOC and designated in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to offer the Program, based on available programming space, staffing, population, facility mission, and security concerns.

c)         The Program Administrator identified for each applicant must have:

1)         Strong capabilities, experience, and knowledge related to Program development and financial management;

2)         Cultural and language competency needed to be effective in the communities to be served;

3)         Knowledge and experience working with committed persons or justice-involved persons;

4)         Knowledge and experience in working with providers of clean energy jobs; and

5)         Awareness of clean energy and related sector trends and activities, workforce development best practices, regional workforce development needs, and community development.

d)         A Department of Corrections background check is required prior to being awarded a grant for the following program staff:

1)         The Program Administrator;

2)         All instructors or staff who will have regular interactions with committed persons or regular access to a Department of Corrections facility; and

3)         All staff who will regularly access a committed person's personal identifying information or other data elements.

e)         Program staff shall comply with all DOC facility procedures and protocols.  A grantee's grant agreement may be terminated if a grantee staff member, subrecipient, or contractor fails to comply with DOC facility procedures or is otherwise found to constitute a safety or security risk and the grantee does not adequately address the safety or security risk posed by that individual within a reasonable time frame.