The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has announced the first grant recipients for the Regional Engagement for Adoption and Digital Equity (READY) program. $200,000 has been awarded to four regional entities to accelerate progress toward increasing access and utilization of high speed internet service across underserved regions of the state. $50,000 has been awarded to Eastern Illinois University in Charleston on behalf of the Southeast Region which includes Lawrence County and $50,000 to Southern Illinois University at Carbondale on behalf of the Southern Region.