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Public Act 103-0889
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| SB0859 Enrolled | LRB103 03318 KTG 48324 b |
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AN ACT concerning State government.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, |
represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 5. The Department of Commerce and Economic |
Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois |
is amended by adding Section 605-1032 as follows:
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(20 ILCS 605/605-1032 new) |
Sec. 605-1032. Office of Economic Equity and Empowerment. |
(a) As used in this Section: |
"Eligible not-for-profit corporation" means a |
not-for-profit corporation, as defined in Section 101.80 of |
the General Not For Profit Corporation Act of 1986, that |
primarily serves minorities, women, veterans, or persons with |
a disability. |
"Office" means the Office of Economic Equity and |
Empowerment. |
(b) The Office of Economic Equity and Empowerment is |
hereby created within the Department. The Office shall assist |
minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, |
veteran-owned businesses, businesses owned by persons with |
disabilities, eligible not-for-profit corporations, and other |
underserved communities and constituencies through targeted |
programs, resources, and outreach and promotional activities. |
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The Office may engage in or conduct the following activities: |
(1) promoting and conducting outreach efforts to |
ensure access to State and federal funding opportunities, |
and assisting minority-owned businesses, women-owned |
businesses, veteran-owned businesses, businesses owned by |
persons with disabilities, eligible not-for-profit |
corporations, and other underserved communities and |
constituencies in applying for and receiving loan funds in |
the State; |
(2) providing and hosting workshops and public forums |
and engaging in outreach efforts for minority-owned |
businesses, women-owned businesses, veteran-owned |
businesses, businesses owned by persons with disabilities, |
and other underserved communities and constituencies to |
encourage participation in programs under the Business |
Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with |
Disabilities Act, and assisting those businesses in |
becoming designated under that Act and under similar |
certification programs; |
(3) providing and hosting workshops and public forums |
and engaging in outreach efforts that assist and educate |
minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, |
veteran-owned businesses, businesses owned by persons with |
disabilities, eligible not-for-profit corporations, and |
other underserved communities and constituencies on the |
process of applying for and becoming certified to apply |
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for State grant funds under the Grant Accountability and |
Transparency Act; |
(4) providing and hosting workshops and public forums |
and engaging in outreach efforts that assist and educate |
aspiring and existing minority-owned businesses, |
women-owned businesses, veteran-owned businesses, |
businesses owned by persons with disabilities, eligible |
not-for-profit corporations, and other underserved |
communities and constituencies with understanding concepts |
including, but not limited to, business formation and |
not-for-profit incorporation, business planning, capital |
access, and marketing a business or not-for-profit |
corporation; |
(5) administering programs established by the |
Department or the General Assembly to provide grants to |
minority-owned businesses, woman-owned businesses, |
veteran-owned businesses, businesses owned by persons with |
disabilities, eligible not-for-profit corporations, and |
other underserved communities and constituencies; |
(6) coordinating assistance for minority-owned |
businesses, woman-owned businesses, veteran-owned |
businesses, businesses owned by persons with disabilities, |
eligible not-for-profit corporations, and other |
underserved communities and constituencies with other |
State agencies; |
(7) providing staff, administration, and related |