Job Seeker Services
Because we are federally funded, all of our services are free of charge.
- Have lost your job and have received or are receiving unemployment benefits, OR
- Meeting household income requirements or receiving public assistance such as food stamps or cash assistance OR
- A number of other factors that would be determined once you connect with our team.
No, the workNet DuPage Career Center is not the Unemployment Office. For information about IDES and unemployment benefits, please visit the IDES website.
We are federally funded through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), and the funds are administered locally by the DuPage County Workforce Development Division.
Training Grants
To apply for a WIOA training grant you must first be determined eligible. Please fill out this form to get started.
Not necessarily. After your Intake appointment, if you are determined to be eligible, you will meet with a Career Counselor who will work with you to develop the best employment and career options for your situation. This may or may not include money for training.
If you are eligible for a training grant, we will pay for the cost of your training up to a cap of $10,000.
If the cost of your training program is more than the cap, you will be required to cover the additional cost with another source of funding or financial aid. If you plan to use your own money for this, you will need to provide evidence that you have such funds. If you need to apply for further financial aid, you should fill out a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).
No. WIOA is a particular federal program which serves job seekers and businesses in order to develop the local workforce.
If you are receiving unemployment benefits, you will continue receiving them while you are in school.
We pay the training institution directly, and this is the only way we are able make payment.
This is a federal grant program, therefore you do not have to pay it back.
If you pay for classes out of your own pocket, we will not be able to reimburse you, since we can only pay the training institution directly. Do not begin classes if you need a WIOA training grant to pay for your training – please wait to speak with your Career Counselor to see if you are eligible for the training grant. Again, we cannot reimburse you for any payments you make to any training institution.
Training Programs
We can only fund training at institutions who have been approved as WIOA training providers.  Search for WIOA-approved training programs
You can begin attending training classes at the earliest start date after you have been approved for a training grant. You should wait to speak with your Career Counselor before registering for any classes.
