093_HB3045eng HB3045 Engrossed LRB093 04441 SJM 04493 b 1 AN ACT concerning community revitalization. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the 5 Community Self-Revitalization Act. 6 Section 5. Findings and purpose. 7 (a) The General Assembly finds that: 8 (1) There is a great need for economic 9 revitalization in many communities throughout this State. 10 (2) Each community has valuable resources at its 11 fingertips that can be tapped in the revitalization 12 process. 13 (3) With adequate support and assistance from the 14 State and other resources, each community can participate 15 in and shepherd its own economic renewal. 16 (4) Successful redevelopment plans are based on 17 policy that is responsive to the existing composition and 18 character of the economically distressed community and 19 that allows and compels the community to participate in 20 the redevelopment planning process. 21 (5) A successful redevelopment initiative creates 22 and maintains a capable and adaptable workforce, has 23 access to capital, has a sound fiscal base, has adequate 24 infrastructure, has well-managed natural resources, and 25 has an attractive quality of life. 26 (b) It is the purpose of this legislation to provide a 27 mechanism for an economically distressed community to use in 28 its efforts to revitalize the community. 29 Section 10. Definitions. As used in this Section: 30 "Community" means a municipality, a county with respect HB3045 Engrossed -2- LRB093 04441 SJM 04493 b 1 to the unincorporated areas of a county, and any combination 2 of municipalities and counties acting jointly. 3 "Department" means the Department of Commerce and 4 Community Affairs. 5 "Economically distressed community" means any community 6 that is certified by the Department as being in the highest 7 10% of all communities in the State in its rate of 8 unemployment, its poverty rate, and the rate of bankruptcy 9 petitions filed. 10 Section 15. Certification; Board of Economic Advisors. 11 (a) In order to receive the assistance as provided in 12 this Act, a community shall first, by ordinance passed by its 13 corporate authorities, request that the Department certify 14 that it is an economically distressed community. The 15 community must submit a certified copy of the ordinance to 16 the Department. After review of the ordinance, if the 17 Department determines that the community meets the 18 requirements for certification, the Department shall certify 19 the community as an economically distressed community. 20 (b) A community that is certified by the Department as 21 an economically distressed community may appoint a Board of 22 Economic Advisors to create and implement a revitalization 23 plan for the community. The Board shall consist of 12 members 24 of the community, appointed by the mayor or the presiding 25 officer of the county or jointly by the presiding officers of 26 each municipality and county that have joined to form a 27 community for the purposes of this Act. The Board members 28 shall be appointed from the 12 sectors vital to community 29 redevelopment as follows: 30 (1) A member representing households and families. 31 (2) A member representing religious organizations. 32 (3) A member representing educational institutions. 33 (4) A member representing daycare centers, care HB3045 Engrossed -3- LRB093 04441 SJM 04493 b 1 centers for the handicapped, and care centers for the 2 disadvantaged. 3 (5) A member representing community based 4 organizations such as neighborhood improvement 5 associations. 6 (6) A member representing federal and State 7 employment service systems, skill training centers, and 8 placement referrals. 9 (7) A member representing Masonic organizations, 10 fraternities, sororities, and social clubs. 11 (8) A member representing hospitals, nursing homes, 12 senior citizens, public health agencies, and funeral 13 homes. 14 (9) A member representing organized sports, parks, 15 parties, and games of chance. 16 (10) A member representing political parties, 17 clubs, and affiliations, and election related matters 18 concerning voter education and participation. 19 (11) A member representing the cultural aspects of 20 the community, including cultural events, lifestyles, 21 languages, music, visual and performing arts, and 22 literature. 23 (12) A member representing police and fire 24 protection agencies, prisons, weapons systems, and the 25 military industrial complex. 26 The Board shall meet initially within 30 days of its 27 appointment, shall select one member as chairperson at its 28 initial meeting, and shall thereafter meet at the call of the 29 chairperson. Members of the Board shall serve without 30 compensation but shall be reimbursed for their reasonable and 31 necessary expenses from funds available for that purpose. 32 (c) The Board shall create a 3-year to 5-year 33 revitalization plan for the community. The plan shall contain 34 distinct, measurable objectives for revitalization. The HB3045 Engrossed -4- LRB093 04441 SJM 04493 b 1 objectives shall be used to guide ongoing implementation of 2 the plan and to measure progress during the 3-year to 5-year 3 period. The Board shall work in a dynamic manner defining 4 goals for the community based on the strengths and weaknesses 5 of the individual sectors of the community as presented by 6 each member of the Board. The Board shall meet periodically 7 and revise the plan in light of the input from each member of 8 the Board concerning his or her respective sector of 9 expertise. The process shall be a community driven 10 revitalization process, with community-specific data 11 determining the direction and scope of the revitalization. 12 Section 20. Action by the Board. 13 (a) Organize. The Board shall first assess the needs and 14 the resources of the community operating from the basic 15 premise that the family unit is the primary unit of community 16 and that the demand for goods and services from this 17 residential sector is the main source of recovery and growth 18 for the redevelopment of a community. The Board shall 19 inventory community assets, including the condition of the 20 family with respect to the role of the family as workers, 21 consumers, and investors. The Board shall inventory the type 22 and viability of businesses and industries currently in the 23 community. In compiling the inventory, the Board shall rely 24 on the input of each Board member with respect to his or her 25 expertise in a given sector of the revitalization plan. 26 (b) Revitalize. In implementing the revitalization plan, 27 the Board shall focus on and build from existing resources in 28 the community, growing existing businesses rather than luring 29 business into the community from the outside. The Board shall 30 also focus on the residents themselves rather than jobs. The 31 Board shall promote investment in training residents in areas 32 that will lead to employment and in turn will bring revenue 33 into the community. HB3045 Engrossed -5- LRB093 04441 SJM 04493 b 1 (c) Mobilize. The Board shall engage in the dynamic 2 process of community self-revitalization through a continuous 3 reassessment of the needs of the community in the 4 revitalization process. As each goal of the 3-year to 5-year 5 plan is achieved, the Board shall draw from the resources of 6 its members to establish new goals and implement new 7 strategies employing the lessons learned in the earlier 8 stages of revitalization. 9 (d) Advise. The Board shall Act as the liaison between 10 the community and the local, county, and State Government. 11 The Board shall make use of the resources of these 12 governmental entities and shall provide counsel to each of 13 these bodies with respect to economic development. 14 The Board shall also act as a liaison between private 15 business entities located in the community and the community 16 itself. The Board shall offer advice and assistance to these 17 entities when requested and provide incentives and support, 18 both economic and otherwise, to facilitate expansion and 19 further investment in the community by the businesses. 20 The Board shall annually submit a report to the General 21 Assembly and the Governor summarizing the accomplishments of 22 the community concerning revitalization and the goals of the 23 community for future revitalization. 24 Section 25. Funding sources. 25 (a) Subject to appropriation, the Department shall make 26 grants to communities that are certified as economically 27 distressed communities under this Act and that create a Board 28 of Economic Advisors under this Act for the operational 29 expenses of the Board. The procedures for grant application 30 shall be established by the Department by rule. 31 (b) The Board, as a vital part of its function, shall 32 seek funding sources to enhance economic development. The 33 Board shall seek funding from the local, State, and federal HB3045 Engrossed -6- LRB093 04441 SJM 04493 b 1 government as well as from private funding sources, whether 2 in the form of grants, loans, or otherwise. The Department 3 shall advise the Boards of Economic Advisors created under 4 this Act of all available sources of funding for economic 5 development that it is aware of and shall assist the Boards 6 in securing this funding. 7 (c) To the extent that there is a gap in funding for 8 economic development, the Board shall recommend possible 9 solutions to be undertaken by the State in addressing this 10 issue to fill the funding gap. 11 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 12 becoming law.