SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) announced $9.3 million in Innovative Bridge and Transition (IBT) Grants to support initiatives that help Illinois residents transition more effectively into postsecondary education, job training, and high-demand careers. These grants, awarded to community colleges and partner organizations across the state, expand access to bridge programming, adult education pathways, wrap-around supports, and disability transition services designed to meet the needs of today’s learners and employers.
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“The Innovative Bridge and Transition Grant Program continues to be one of our most powerful tools for opening doors to education and career opportunities across Illinois,” said ICCB Executive Director Brian Durham. “These grants support a range of providers in building strong, seamless pathways that help learners gain the skills they need, connect with in-demand industries, and ultimately achieve long-term economic mobility.”
The IBT Grant Program supports projects that serve adults and youth who may face academic, linguistic, socioeconomic, or disability-related barriers to college and career entry. Through targeted instruction, advising, coordinated transition planning, and hands-on training, the program ensures students can successfully move from foundational learning into certificate, degree, and workforce programs.
A list of this year’s IBT grantees are below:
Grant Recipient | Award Amount |
Black Hawk College | $202,220.59 |
Carl Sandburg College | $148,000.00 |
City Colleges of Chicago | $262,500.00 |
College of Lake County | $235,541.62 |
Greater West Community Development Proj. | $210,369.60 |
Hana Center | $126,000.00 |
Heartland Community College | $253,766.10 |
Illinois Central College | $162,000.00 |
Illinois Valley Community College | $166,500.00 |
iMentor | $331,772.93 |
Jane Addams Resource Corp. | $310,500.00 |
John Wood Community College | $264,083.20 |
Kaskaskia College | $50,724.90 |
Lake Land College | $60,751.04 |
LEAP | $159,360.80 |
Lewis & Clark Community College | $158,312.00 |
Lincoln Land Community College | $300,000.00 |
Little Friends | $167,905.00 |
Love, Unity, and Values Institution | $250,047.00 |
McHenry County College | $320,433.30 |
Metropolitan Family Services | $298,800.00 |
Moraine Valley Community College | $240,000.00 |
Northern IL University | $199,807.94 |
Oakton College | $270,704.59 |
Parents Alliance Employment Project | $119,611.80 |
PODER | $350,000.00 |
Polish American Association | $202,500.00 |
Project VISION | $209,218.00 |
Pui Tak Center | $102,320.33 |
“Our grantees – spanning community colleges, community-based organizations, and higher-education partners - continue to innovate and collaborate to remove barriers and expand opportunity,” added Durham. “The IBT program helps ensure Illinois residents can take the next step toward meaningful education, training, and careers.”
The FY2026 grants will support a range of initiatives, including adult education bridge courses, high school-to-college transition programming, support for individuals with disabilities, career pathway expansion, student support services, and partnerships that connect learning to real employment opportunities. Overall, 13,000 participants are expected to be served in FY2026 through these projects.
About the Illinois Community College Board
The Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) is the state coordinating organization for the Illinois Community College System - the third largest in the country and the leading public workforce development trainer in the state. Illinois community colleges serve over 600,000 residents each year in credit, noncredit, and continuing education courses. Illinois is home to 45 colleges in 39 community college districts which provide high quality, accessible, cost-effective educational opportunities to the entire state.
