Program Updates
- Vendor Updates
Updates Following 2025-26 Program Year Re-Opening, Winter Mentorship Registration, Program Releases MES Year-End Report Implementation Report
The IPA announces new information related to the Illinois Shines program. This announcement includes: Coming Up in Illinois Shines, Stakeholder Support, Program News, and Reference and Reminders. The full announcement is available here. Topics include the following: Coming up in Illinois Shines Stakeholder Support Program News Reference and Reminders Thank you!Illinois
- Vendor Updates
Reminders: Closure Date for 180-Day Prioritization Window for Public Schools Subcategory and Designee Renewal Deadline
As set forth in the Long-Term Plan and the Program Guidebook, the following items have December 1, 2025, deadlines: 180-Day Prioritization Window for Public Schools SubcategoriesAs stated in the Program Guidebook Section 1.E, Public Schools capacity is allocated by Group, tier, location, and project size subcategories. If any of the
- Vendor Updates
Updates Following 2025-26 Program Year Re-Opening
Following the Order on the 2024 Long-Term Plan Re-Opening, a brief Program pause occurred to undertake data and reporting updates, and to allocate capacity to waitlisted applications. The pause concluded on October 31, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. CPT. The Portal and Program website were updated to reflect the Order’s instruction
- Vendor Updates
MES Mid-Year Report Submissions, CDCS Scoring Cure Period, Public Schools Roundtable Update
The IPA announces new information related to the Illinois Shines program. This announcement includes: Coming Up in Illinois Shines, Stakeholder Support, Program News, and Reference and Reminders. The full announcement is available here. Topics include the following: Coming up in Illinois Shines Stakeholder Support Program News Reference and Reminders Thank you!Illinois
- Vendor Updates
Minimum Equity Standard Mid-Year Report Due
As set forth in the Long-Term Plan and the Program Guidebook, in Program Year 2025-26, at least 14% of the project workforce for each Approved Vendor and Designee participating in the Illinois Shines program must be composed of Equity Eligible Persons. The Minimum Equity Standard (“MES”) applies to all Approved
- Vendor Updates
Program Pause, Re-Open, and Capacity and Waitlist Updates, November REC Invoicing, Annual Report Next Steps
The IPA announces new information related to the Illinois Shines program. This announcement includes: Coming Up in Illinois Shines, Stakeholder Support, Program News, and Reference and Reminders. The full announcement is available here. Topics include the following: Coming up in Illinois Shines Stakeholder Support Program News Reference and Reminders Thank you!Illinois