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| 1 | AN ACT concerning State government. | ||||||
| 2 | Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, | ||||||
| 3 | represented in the General Assembly: | ||||||
| 4 | Section 5. The Department of Commerce and Economic | ||||||
| 5 | Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois | ||||||
| 6 | is amended by adding Section 605-1058 as follows: | ||||||
| 7 | (20 ILCS 605/605-1058 new) | ||||||
| 8 | Sec. 605-1058. Flagship cultural district. | ||||||
| 9 | (a) As used in this Section, "flagship cultural district" | ||||||
| 10 | means a geographic area in a municipality with a population | ||||||
| 11 | greater than 500,000 that is certified under this Section as | ||||||
| 12 | an area in which the arts, entertainment, history, and culture | ||||||
| 13 | are provided. | ||||||
| 14 | (b) Municipalities or organizations working on behalf of a | ||||||
| 15 | certified flagship cultural district should seek to: | ||||||
| 16 | (1) promote the State and the flagship cultural | ||||||
| 17 | district's host municipality as a flagship world hub for | ||||||
| 18 | arts, entertainment, history, and culture; | ||||||
| 19 | (2) encourage economic development and support | ||||||
| 20 | entrepreneurship in the certified geographic area and | ||||||
| 21 | community, particularly in the fields of arts, | ||||||
| 22 | entertainment, and culture and supporting industries; | ||||||
| 23 | (3) encourage the preservation and development of | ||||||
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| 1 | historic and culturally significant structures, | ||||||
| 2 | traditions, and languages; | ||||||
| 3 | (4) foster local cultural development and education; | ||||||
| 4 | (5) provide a focal point for celebrating and | ||||||
| 5 | strengthening the unique cultural identity of the State | ||||||
| 6 | and the flagship cultural district's host municipality; | ||||||
| 7 | (6) promote growth and opportunity without generating | ||||||
| 8 | displacement or expanding inequality; and | ||||||
| 9 | (7) promote tourism and further enhance the State and | ||||||
| 10 | the flagship cultural district's host municipality's place | ||||||
| 11 | as a global destination. | ||||||
| 12 | (c) The Department shall establish criteria and guidelines | ||||||
| 13 | for designation of a flagship cultural district by rule in | ||||||
| 14 | accordance with qualifying criteria outlined in subsection | ||||||
| 15 | (d). In executing its powers and duties under this Section, | ||||||
| 16 | the Department shall: | ||||||
| 17 | (1) establish an application system by which a | ||||||
| 18 | 501(c)(3) organization may apply for certification as a | ||||||
| 19 | flagship cultural district; | ||||||
| 20 | (2) provide technical assistance for a flagship | ||||||
| 21 | cultural district by collaborating with all relevant | ||||||
| 22 | offices and grantees of the Department to help them | ||||||
| 23 | identify and achieve their goals for cultural | ||||||
| 24 | preservation, including, but not limited to, promotional | ||||||
| 25 | support of the flagship cultural district and support for | ||||||
| 26 | small businesses looking to access resources; and | ||||||
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| 1 | (3) collaborate with other State agencies, units of | ||||||
| 2 | local government, community organizations, and private | ||||||
| 3 | entities to maximize the benefits of the flagship cultural | ||||||
| 4 | district. | ||||||
| 5 | (d) A geographic area in a municipality with a population | ||||||
| 6 | greater than 500,000 may be certified as a flagship cultural | ||||||
| 7 | district by applying to the Department for certification. | ||||||
| 8 | Certification as a flagship cultural district shall be for a | ||||||
| 9 | period of 10 years, after which the district may renew | ||||||
| 10 | certification every 5 years. Any applicant for certification | ||||||
| 11 | on behalf of a geographic area shall be a 501(c)(3) | ||||||
| 12 | organization. The applying entity is responsible for complying | ||||||
| 13 | with reporting requirements under subsection (f). The | ||||||
| 14 | Department shall develop criteria to assess whether an | ||||||
| 15 | applicant qualifies for certification under this Section. That | ||||||
| 16 | criteria must include a demonstration that the applicant and | ||||||
| 17 | the community that they can provide: | ||||||
| 18 | (1) a unified and inclusive approach to creating | ||||||
| 19 | cultural engagement opportunities within its designated | ||||||
| 20 | geographic area; and | ||||||
| 21 | (2) strong community support for the flagship cultural | ||||||
| 22 | district designation through participation by community | ||||||
| 23 | organizations and state, regional, and municipal | ||||||
| 24 | government agencies or officials. | ||||||
| 25 | (e) No later than September 30, 2026, the Department shall | ||||||
| 26 | award one flagship cultural district. | ||||||
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| 1 | (f) Within 12 months after being designated a flagship | ||||||
| 2 | cultural district, the flagship cultural district shall submit | ||||||
| 3 | a report to the Department detailing its current programs and | ||||||
| 4 | goals for the next 4 years of its designation. For each year | ||||||
| 5 | thereafter that the district remains a flagship cultural | ||||||
| 6 | district, it shall submit a report to the Department on the | ||||||
| 7 | status of the programs and future developments of the | ||||||
| 8 | district. Any flagship cultural district that fails to file a | ||||||
| 9 | report for 2 consecutive years shall lose its status as a | ||||||
| 10 | flagship cultural district. | ||||||
| 11 | Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon | ||||||
| 12 | becoming law. | ||||||