To enhance state-level adult education and employment policy, in 2007 the Joyce Foundation began the Shifting Gears (SG) initiative to assist six states (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin) to integrate adult education, workforce development and postsecondary education policies and improve job opportunities for low-skilled workers. With funding from Joyce and with leadership from the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) and the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), Illinois' SG initiative connects multiple state training and retraining programs, P-20 education, and workforce development. Bridge programs are a centerpiece of Illinois' SG effort, and build upon the definition of bridge programs that focuses on enhancing transition to college for adults with limited skills, including three core elements of contextualized instruction, career development, and transition services (ICCB, 2009). Findings from the evaluation of Illinois' SG pilot sites, conducted by the Office of Community College Research and Leadership, show that adult bridge programs offer preparatory courses intended to help students transition to postsecondary education, job-related specific training, and employment (Bragg, Harmon, Kirby, & Kim, 2009). Initial results of this evaluation of bridge programs funded by Shifting Gears showed higher completion of the bridge program by students in the developmental education bridge than the adult education bridge programs. However, students in developmental bridges had graduated from high school and possessed stronger academic preparation than their adult bridge counterparts. Two bridge programs are profiled in this brief. (Contains 1 footnote.)