Section 810.60  Applications

To receive grant funds, an eligible community must submit an application to the Department, using a form developed by the Department. [20 ILCS 735/10-20(e)]

a)         For applicants that are within an eligible area due to their proximity to a fossil fuel or nuclear plant or coal mine that has closed or significantly reduced operations in the past six years or anticipated closure or significantly reduced operations in the next six years, applications will be accepted in two phases as follows:

1)         Phase 1:

A)        The Department will publish a Phase 1 Notice of Funding Opportunity ("NOFO") with a Phase 1 application form and application for at least 30 days.

B)        The applicant must submit:

i)          A signed Uniform Grant Agreement;

ii)         A Conflict of Interest disclosure;

iii)        Mandatory disclosures; and

iv)        A statement detailing:

•           Name of local government or organizations, specifying primary applicant and any secondary applicants;

•           List of parcels that the qualifying physical plant or mine are located on, as well as property tax revenue collected for each of those parcels by each local government entity with jurisdiction in the most recent year available, and in the year six years prior; and

•           If the applicant is not the local government that hosts or has hosted the investor-owned electric generating plant, a resolution of support for the project from the local government or local governments that hosts or has hosted the investor-owned electric generating plant. [20 ILCS 735/10-20(f)]

C)        The Department will evaluate the submissions and notify applicants of its determination of eligibility and maximum funding amount for their application following the criteria described in Section 810.70(a). Applicants will be designated eligible if they submit a complete application and provide the factual information detailed in Section 810.60(a)(1)(B).

D)        The Phase 1 determination of eligibility may be appealed through the process afforded in the Department's Administrative Hearing Rules set forth at 56 Ill. Adm. Code 2605.

2)         Phase 2:  For primary applicants determined eligible following the Phase 1 publication period, the Department will provide a letter via e-mail containing a notification of eligibility, maximum funding amount, Phase 2 application form, and guidelines for supporting documentation.  Primary applicants shall submit an application which includes, but is not limited to, the following:

A)        A cover page including the name of primary applicant and any secondary applicants;

B)        A detailed project narrative including, but not limited to:

i)          A description of what the project will entail and which entity will be responsible for the administration and implementation of the project;

ii)         How the project will address the economic and social impacts of the closure and support economic development in the affected area;

iii)        The timeline for implementation;

iv)        A description of community involvement in planning and implementing the project;

v)         A uniform budget template; and

vi)        Any additional information and documentation that supports the applicant's project.

b)         Applicants that are units of local government that are taxing authorities for a nuclear plant that was decommissioned before January 1, 2021 may submit applications as outlined in this subsection, including, but not limited to, the following:  [20 ILCS 735/10-20(j)]

1)         A cover page including the name of applicant;

2)         A signed Uniform Grant application;

3)         A Conflict of Interest disclosure;

4)         Mandatory disclosures;

5)         A detailed project narrative including the scope of the project;

6)         A description of community input and consultation;

7)         A uniform budget template; and

8)         Any additional information and documentation that supports the applicant.