HB0798eng 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB0798 Engrossed LRB096 03879 RLJ 13913 b

AN ACT concerning economic development.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by adding Section 605-927 as follows:

(20 ILCS 605/605-927 new)

Sec. 605-927. Grants to local economic development organizations.

(a) Subject to appropriation, the Department must develop a program to make grants to local development organizations. Under this program, a county or municipality may apply to the Department for a grant to be awarded to a local development organization in that county or municipality for the purpose of fostering local or regional economic development. A local development organization is not eligible to receive grant moneys under this Section if it has publicly endorsed any political candidate or if it distributes political questionnaires. Organizations receiving funds under this Section may be required to submit to audits by the Department. Documents produced under the grant program are subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act.

(b) For purposes of this Section, "local development organization" means a private or public entity organized for the purpose of the economic development within a municipality, county, or region of the State.

(c) All grant awards under this Section are subject to appropriation and may be used for any of the following:

(1) expenses related to the start-up or expansion of a local development organization;

(2) local or regional economic development planning and related studies; and

(3) any other specific use authorized by the Department relating to the start-up or expansion of and economic planning by a local economic development organization.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January 1, 2010.