SB2409 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
SB2409

Introduced 2/14/2008, by Sen. Deanna Demuzio

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act
30 ILCS 105/5.708 new

Creates the Downtown Revitalization Act. Creates the Illinois Main Street Program within the Office of the Lieutenant Governor to provide assistance to entities attempting to revitalize downtown and neighborhood commercial districts. Provides criteria. Creates the Illinois Main Street Advisory Council. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Illinois Main Street Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning economic development.

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

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Downtown Revitalization Act.

Section 5. Legislative purpose.

(a) The General Assembly makes the following findings:

(1) The continued economic vitality of downtown and neighborhood commercial districts in our municipalities is essential to community preservation, social cohesion, and economic growth.

(2) In recent years there has been a deterioration of downtown and neighborhood commercial districts in both rural and urban communities due to a shifting population base, changes in the marketplace, and greater competition from suburban shopping malls, discount centers, and business transacted through the Internet.

(3) This decline has eroded the ability of businesses and property owners to renovate and enhance their commercial and residential properties.

(4) Business owners in these districts need to maintain their local economies in order to provide goods and services to adjacent residents, to provide employment opportunities, to avoid disinvestment and economic dislocations, and to develop and sustain downtown and neighborhood commercial district revitalization programs to address these problems.

(b) It is the intent of the General Assembly to establish a program to:

(1) work in partnership with these organizations; and

(2) provide technical assistance and training to local governments, business organizations, downtown and neighborhood commercial district organizations, and business and property owners to accomplish community and economic revitalization and development of business districts.

Section 10. Definitions. As used in this Act:

"Area" means a geographic area within a municipality that is described by a closed perimeter boundary.

"Office" means the Office of the Lieutenant Governor.

"Program" means a not-for-profit organization under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) with the sole mission of revitalizing a downtown or neighborhood commercial district area that is designated by the Office.

"Qualified levels of participation" means a local downtown or neighborhood commercial district revitalization program that has been designated by Illinois Main Street and the Office of the Lieutenant Governor.

Section 15. The Office of the Lieutenant Governor. The Office of the Lieutenant Governor shall administer this Act.

Section 20. Illinois Main Street. The Illinois Main Street Program is created within the Office of the Illinois Lieutenant Governor. In order to implement the Illinois Main Street Program, the Office shall do all of the following:

(1) Provide technical assistance to businesses, property owners, organizations, and municipalities undertaking a comprehensive downtown or neighborhood commercial district revitalization initiative and management strategy. Technical assistance may include, but is not limited to, initial site evaluations and assessments, training for local programs, training for local program staff, site visits and assessments by technical specialists, local program design assistance and evaluation, and continued local program on-site assistance.

(2) To the extent funds are made available, provide financial assistance to municipalities or local organizations to assist in initial downtown or neighborhood commercial district revitalization program start-up costs, specialized training, specific project feasibility studies, market studies, and design assistance.

(3) Develop objective criteria for selecting recipients of assistance and provide for designation of local programs under Section 25 of this Act.

(4) Operate the Illinois Main Street Program in accordance with the plan developed by the Office in consultation with the Illinois Main Street Advisory Council created under Section 30 of this Act.

(5) Consider other factors the Office deems necessary for the implementation of this Act.

Section 25. Criteria.

(a) The Office shall adopt criteria for the designation of local downtown or neighborhood commercial district revitalization programs and official local main street programs. In establishing the criteria, the Office shall consider all of the following:

(1) The degree of interest and commitment to comprehensive downtown or neighborhood commercial district revitalization and, where applicable, historic preservation by both the public and private sectors.

(2) The evidence of potential private sector investment in the downtown or neighborhood commercial district.

(3) Where applicable, a downtown or neighborhood commercial district with sufficient historic fabric to become a foundation for an enhanced community image.

(4) The capacity of the organization to undertake a comprehensive program and the financial commitment to implement a long-term downtown or neighborhood commercial district revitalization program that includes a commitment to employ a professional program manager and maintain a sufficient operating budget.

(5) Illinois Main Street's existing downtown revitalization program's tier system.

(6) The National Main Street Center's criteria for designating official main street municipalities.

(7) Other factors the Office deems necessary for the designation of a local program.

(b) Illinois Main Street shall designate local downtown or neighborhood commercial district revitalization programs and official local main street programs.

(c) The Illinois Main Street Advisory Council must approve all local downtown or neighborhood commercial district revitalization program boundaries. The boundaries of a local downtown or neighborhood commercial district revitalization program are typically defined using the pedestrian core of a traditional commercial district.

Section 30. Illinois Main Street Advisory Council.

(a) The Illinois Main Street Advisory Council is created within the Office. The Advisory Council shall consist of the following members:

(1) The Lieutenant Governor, or his or her designee, who shall serve as chair.

(2) The Director of Historic Sites and Preservation or his or her designee.

(3) The Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity or the Director's designee.

(4) Six additional members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor who are:

(A) citizens of the State of Illinois, and

(B) interested in fostering downtown growth and revitalization.

(b) The Office of Lieutenant Governor shall develop a plan for the Illinois Main Street Program in consultation with the Illinois Main Street Advisory Council. The plan must describe:

(1) the objectives and strategies of the Illinois Main Street Program;

(2) how the Illinois Main Street Program will be coordinated with existing federal, state, local, and private sector business development and historic preservation efforts;

(3) the means by which private investment will be solicited and employed;

(4) the methods of selecting and providing assistance to participating local programs; and

(5) a means to solicit private contributions for State and local operations of the Illinois Main Street Program.

Section 35. Illinois Main Street Fund. The Illinois Main Street Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury. All receipts from private contributions, federal funds, legislative appropriations, and fees for services, if levied, must be deposited into the Fund. Subject to appropriation, expenditures from the Fund may be used only for the operation of the Illinois Main Street Program.

Section 40. The State Finance Act is amended by adding Section 5.708 as follows:

(30 ILCS 105/5.708 new)

Sec. 5.708. The Illinois Main Street Fund.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.