Section 20 ILCS 700/3520 - Manufacturing Extension Program(a) The Department may establish, subject to available appropriated funds, a program of statewide manufacturing extension centers serving the geographic needs of the State's manufacturers, whose mission is to assist small or medium-sized manufacturers with technological advancement, for continuous improvement of business practices for these firms to be better positioned to succeed against global competition.(b) The Department may provide grants or may provide cost share or reimbursements under this Section to support the operation of manufacturing extension deliverers, including organizations financed through a federal manufacturing extension partnership program. Manufacturing extension deliverers can include universities and colleges, regional or sectorial based organizations, technical societies, or other similar groups.(c) The Department may provide grant funds made available under this Act to support professional development and capacity building of the manufacturing extension system within the State as may be required for the administration, operations, research, analysis, promotion, or training of geographic based manufacturing extension centers.(d) In determining which applicants shall be awarded a grant, the Department shall conduct an evaluation of prior compliance with awards programs; the relationship of a proposed project to the State's future economic growth; the qualifications and expertise of organizations undertaking the effort; the applicant's understanding of the requirements and needs of the target groups served; the potential of the applicant's project to provide an economic benefit of the State; the methods engaged to measure and track performance; and the likelihood that the project has a potential for improving the competitiveness of small and mid-sized manufacturers. P.A. 91-476, eff. 8/11/1999.