Section 125.50  Eligible Project Costs

a)         Grant assistance may be obtained for the following items:

1)         Research or services relating to veterans' PTSD or TBI, including such things as contract payments to physicians or psychologists, laboratory researchers and/or laboratory fees, contract labor, job training, computer/software purchase/lease, and necessary office equipment and supplies.  The Department will consider, on a case-by-case basis, building lease arrangements when no government-owned facility is available and:

A)        State statute or local ordinance prohibits a unit of local government from entering into a rental agreement; or

B)        Other circumstances beyond the control of the unit of local government or non-governmental tax exempt organization prohibit other arrangements.

2)         Programs designed to prevent, eliminate or alleviate veterans' homelessness, including such things as renovation of existing shelters to better serve homeless veterans, expansion of existing shelters for homeless veterans, contract payment to counselors or caseworkers, training and education, employment assistance, and necessary supplies.

3)         Veterans' disability benefits, such as assistance in obtaining benefits, counseling, prosthetics, job training, accessibility of the home of a disabled veteran, and automobile modifications to accommodate the veteran's disability.  Veterans Service Organizations receiving funding pursuant to Section 25 of the Department of Veterans' Affairs Act [20 ILCS 2805/25] shall be ineligible for grant funding from this program for Veteran Service Officers during the same period of time covered by the Section 25 award, and Veterans Service Organizations that elect to accept a grant from this program for Veterans Service Officer funding are ineligible for Section 25 awards for the year covered by this program grant.

4)         Long-term veterans' care, including remodeling existing facilities, supplies, equipment, clothing, medicine, and all things necessary for the morale, welfare and recreation of the veterans being served. 

5)         Health insurance costs for veterans.

6)         Veteran employment and employment training.

b)         No assistance from this fund shall be used to supplant existing moneys that the Department currently expends for the purposes listed in subsection (a).  All grants that are to benefit the Illinois Veterans Homes shall be limited to 50% of the total expenditure made by the grantee on behalf of a Veterans Home.

c)         Project costs for which grant funding is sought cannot be incurred by the project applicant until after grant approval notification.  Costs incurred prior to Department approval are ineligible for grant assistance.

(Source:  Amended at 37 Ill. Reg. 12098, effective July 10, 2013)