Section 540.40  Application Package

a)         Upon request, the Department will supply applicants with an application package.  Public notice of the availability of grants and the application due date will be published in the State recognized newspaper. Applications will be due no later than sixty days after the public notice.

b)         The Department will not accept an application addressing more than one proposal or category of grant activities as specified in Section 540.60 from any organization or institution.  Individual applications must be submitted for each proposal under each category.

c)         Applications will address the following items:

1)         Activities and Services – Each applicant must identify services and activities to be delivered which are designed to create jobs by fostering development of new products and services and the development of new businesses.

2)         Delivery Systems – The applicant must design delivery mechanisms, for example, individual case handling, referral services, seminars and conferences, special reports or periodicals, or group consulting, to carry out its services.

3)         Milestones and Program Results – The applicant must identify the anticipated success of each project in terms of economic results such as the number of new jobs created or retained, new business starts, new products commercialized, or number of businesses served.

4)         Staffing – Applicants may rely on full time staff, part time employees, on-call contracts, pro bono services, or community volunteers as necessary to conduct program activities, and may utilize graduate assistants or interns, other personnel of the applicant, or private contractors as needed.  Salaries paid to staff members of projects should be comparable with salaries established for similar positions within the institution. Applicants shall insure that all paid staff positions are limited to those essential to operate the program and shall not establish administrative or support positions for which the duties and functions are inconsistent with the delivery systems proposed.  Each project shall designate one individual, with directly related education and experience, as the project director or chief investigator, responsible for project management, internal quality control, financial and programmatic reports preparation, and other program delivery activities.

5)         Coordination – The applicant must describe cooperative working relationships which will be developed with other programs providing similar or related services and include letters of support.

6)         Budget – The applicant must submit a project budget by cost categories, as required in the Department's application package.

(Source:  Amended at 9 Ill. Reg. 15829, effective October 9, 1985)