I've always recommended ATP for the CFI since they know how to get people through. If you can find a local FBO and CFI that does a fair amount of CFI's, then maybe, but initial CFI rides have a high failure rate and the last thing you want is to be the guy walking in unprepared. Go someplace that does a lot of CFI's.
If you can get a job without the II or MEI and don't want to spend the extra money right now, you can always save that for later. It's no big deal.