Elevate America

Dollars for professional development are tight during economic downturns but that’s just the time when employees need a boost. Unemployment is high, but people need retraining to secure 21st century jobs. Enter Microsoft Elevate America, a public-private partnership with the State of Illinois to offer 50,000 free vouchers for online computer training.

Vouchers are for coursework for Microsoft Office business tools like Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and Access; or advanced technology courses like Windows server, SQL server and Visual Studio. The coursework is all online so it can be taken at the user’s convenience over the period of one year.

It’s free for any Illinoisan to receive a voucher. The vouchers are being distributed first-come, first-served until October 31, so time is limited.

The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is administering the program and distributing vouchers through multiple workforce networks. There are more than 200 locations statewide where an individual can obtain a voucher.

Visit http://www.illinoisworknet.com/vos_portal/residents/en/ElevateAmerica/Find_EA_Sites.htm to find the location nearest you.

Vouchers can also be obtained by phone or email by contacting the state’s partner Lumity, a nonprofit working to close the digital divide, by phone (312) 372-4872 x 119 or email at elevateamerica@lumity.org.

More information about Microsoft Elevate America in Illinois is online at www.IllinoisworkNet.com.