95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
HB1570

 

Introduced 2/22/2007, by Rep. Wyvetter H. Younge

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act

    Creates the Community Self-Revitalization Act. Provides that a municipality, county, or any combination of municipalities and counties that are certified as an economically distressed community or communities by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, in order to receive the assistance as provided under this Act, may appoint a Board of Economic Advisors. Provides that the Board shall consist of 18 members of the community, appointed by the corporate authorities of the community, representing the perspective of 18 sectors vital to community redevelopment. Provides that the Board shall create a 3-year to 5-year revitalization plan for the community containing distinct, measurable objectives for revitalization. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may, subject to appropriation, make grants to communities to create a Board of Economic Advisors under the Act for the operational expenses of the Board. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall advise Boards of available funding and assist Boards in securing this funding. Effective immediately.


LRB095 10358 RCE 30573 b

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB1570 LRB095 10358 RCE 30573 b

1     AN ACT concerning community revitalization.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5 Community Self-Revitalization Act.
 
6     Section 5. Findings and purpose.
7     (a) The General Assembly finds that:
8         (1) There is a great need for economic revitalization
9     in many communities throughout this State.
10         (2) Each community has valuable resources at its
11     fingertips that can be tapped in the revitalization
12     process.
13         (3) With adequate support and assistance from the State
14     and other resources, each community can participate in and
15     shepherd its own economic renewal.
16         (4) Successful redevelopment plans are based on policy
17     that is responsive to the existing composition and
18     character of the economically distressed community and
19     that allows and compels the community to participate in the
20     redevelopment planning process.
21         (5) A successful redevelopment initiative creates and
22     maintains a capable and adaptable workforce, has access to
23     capital, has a sound fiscal base, has adequate

 

 

HB1570 - 2 - LRB095 10358 RCE 30573 b

1     infrastructure, has well-managed natural resources, and
2     has an attractive quality of life.
3     (b) It is the purpose of this legislation to provide a
4 mechanism for an economically distressed community to use in
5 its efforts to revitalize the community.
 
6     Section 10. Definitions. As used in this Section:
7     "Community" means a municipality or a county with respect
8 to the unincorporated areas of a county.
9     "Department" means the Department of Commerce and Economic
10 Opportunity.
11     "Economically distressed community" means (i) in the case
12 of a municipality with a population of 25,000 or more, the
13 municipality is certified by the Department as being in the
14 highest 10% of all municipalities of 25,000 or more in the
15 State in its average annual total unemployment rate for the
16 last completed calendar year and its poverty rate, pursuant to
17 the most recent U.S. census data available or (ii) in the case
18 of a municipality with a population of less than 25,000 or an
19 unincorporated area, a municipality or unincorporated area
20 that is located at least partly in a county that is certified
21 by the Department as being in the highest 10% of all counties
22 in its average annual total unemployment rate for the last
23 completed calendar year and its poverty rate, pursuant to the
24 most recent U.S. census data available.
 

 

 

HB1570 - 3 - LRB095 10358 RCE 30573 b

1     Section 15. Certification; Board of Economic Advisors.
2     (a) In order to receive the assistance as provided in this
3 Act, a community shall first, by ordinance passed by its
4 corporate authorities, request that the Department certify
5 that it is an economically distressed community. The community
6 must submit a certified copy of the ordinance to the
7 Department. After review of the ordinance, if the Department
8 determines that the community meets the requirements for
9 certification, the Department shall certify the community as an
10 economically distressed community.
11     (b) A community that is certified by the Department as an
12 economically distressed community may appoint a Board of
13 Economic Advisors to create and implement a revitalization plan
14 for the community. The Board shall consist of 18 members of the
15 community, appointed by the mayor or the presiding officer of
16 the county or jointly by the presiding officers of each
17 municipality and county that have joined to form a community
18 for the purposes of this Act. The Board members shall be
19 appointed from the 18 sectors vital to community redevelopment
20 as follows:
21         (1) A member representing households and families.
22         (2) A member representing religious organizations.
23         (3) A member representing educational institutions.
24         (4) A member representing daycare centers, care
25     centers for the handicapped, and care centers for the
26     disadvantaged.

 

 

HB1570 - 4 - LRB095 10358 RCE 30573 b

1         (5) A member representing community based
2     organizations such as neighborhood improvement
3     associations.
4         (6) A member representing federal and State employment
5     service systems, skill training centers, and placement
6     referrals.
7         (7) A member representing Masonic organizations,
8     fraternities, sororities, and social clubs.
9         (8) A member representing hospitals, nursing homes,
10     senior citizens, public health agencies, and funeral
11     homes.
12         (9) A member representing organized sports, parks,
13     parties, and games of chance.
14         (10) A member representing political parties, clubs,
15     and affiliations, and election related matters concerning
16     voter education and participation.
17         (11) A member representing the cultural aspects of the
18     community, including cultural events, lifestyles,
19     languages, music, visual and performing arts, and
20     literature.
21         (12) A member representing police and fire protection
22     agencies, prisons, weapons systems, and the military
23     industrial complex.
24         (13) A member representing local businesses.
25     The Board shall meet initially within 30 days of its
26 appointment, shall select one member as chairperson at its

 

 

HB1570 - 5 - LRB095 10358 RCE 30573 b

1 initial meeting, and shall thereafter meet at the call of the
2 chairperson. Members of the Board shall serve without
3 compensation but shall be reimbursed for their reasonable and
4 necessary expenses from funds available for that purpose.
5     (c) The Board shall create a 3-year to 5-year
6 revitalization plan for the community. The plan shall contain
7 distinct, measurable objectives for revitalization. The
8 objectives shall be used to guide ongoing implementation of the
9 plan and to measure progress during the 3-year to 5-year
10 period. The Board shall work in a dynamic manner defining goals
11 for the community based on the strengths and weaknesses of the
12 individual sectors of the community as presented by each member
13 of the Board. The Board shall meet periodically and revise the
14 plan in light of the input from each member of the Board
15 concerning his or her respective sector of expertise. The
16 process shall be a community driven revitalization process,
17 with community-specific data determining the direction and
18 scope of the revitalization.
 
19     Section 20. Action by the Board.
20     (a) Organize. The Board shall first assess the needs and
21 the resources of the community operating from the basic premise
22 that the family unit is the primary unit of community and that
23 the demand for goods and services from this residential sector
24 is the main source of recovery and growth for the redevelopment
25 of a community. The Board shall inventory community assets,

 

 

HB1570 - 6 - LRB095 10358 RCE 30573 b

1 including the condition of the family with respect to the role
2 of the family as workers, consumers, and investors. The Board
3 shall inventory the type and viability of businesses and
4 industries currently in the community. In compiling the
5 inventory, the Board shall rely on the input of each Board
6 member with respect to his or her expertise in a given sector
7 of the revitalization plan.
8     (b) Revitalize. In implementing the revitalization plan,
9 the Board shall focus on and build from existing resources in
10 the community, growing existing businesses rather than luring
11 business into the community from the outside. The Board shall
12 also focus on the residents themselves rather than jobs. The
13 Board shall promote investment in training residents in areas
14 that will lead to employment and in turn will bring revenue
15 into the community.
16     (c) Mobilize. The Board shall engage in the dynamic process
17 of community self-revitalization through a continuous
18 reassessment of the needs of the community in the
19 revitalization process. As each goal of the 3-year to 5-year
20 plan is achieved, the Board shall draw from the resources of
21 its members to establish new goals and implement new strategies
22 employing the lessons learned in the earlier stages of
23 revitalization.
24     (d) Advise. The Board shall Act as the liaison between the
25 community and the local, county, and State Government. The
26 Board shall make use of the resources of these governmental

 

 

HB1570 - 7 - LRB095 10358 RCE 30573 b

1 entities and shall provide counsel to each of these bodies with
2 respect to economic development.
3     The Board shall also act as a liaison between private
4 business entities located in the community and the community
5 itself. The Board shall offer advice and assistance to these
6 entities when requested and provide incentives and support,
7 both economic and otherwise, to facilitate expansion and
8 further investment in the community by the businesses.
9     The Board shall annually submit a report to the General
10 Assembly and the Governor summarizing the accomplishments of
11 the community concerning revitalization and the goals of the
12 community for future revitalization.
 
13     Section 25. Funding sources. Subject to appropriation, the
14 Department may make grants to communities that are certified as
15 economically distressed communities under this Act and that
16 create a Board of Economic Advisors under this Act for the
17 operational expenses of the Board. The procedures for grant
18 application shall be established by the Department by rule.
 
19     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
20 becoming law.