Rep. Patrick J. Verschoore

Filed: 3/17/2011

 

 


 

 


 
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1
AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 3414

2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 3414 by replacing
3everything after the enacting clause with the following:
 
4    "Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5Illinois Main Street Act.
 
6    Section 5. Legislative purpose. The General Assembly makes
7the following findings:
8        (1) The continued economic vitality of downtown and
9    neighborhood commercial districts in our municipalities is
10    essential to community preservation, social cohesion, and
11    economic growth.
12        (2) Municipalities need to maintain their local
13    economies so that business owners will be able to provide
14    goods and services to the community, to provide employment
15    opportunities, to avoid disinvestment and economic
16    dislocations, and to develop and sustain downtown and

 

 

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1    neighborhood commercial district revitalization programs
2    to address these problems.
 
3    Section 10. Definitions. As used in this Act:
4    "Department" means the Department of Commerce and Economic
5Opportunity.
6    "Director" means the Director of Commerce and Economic
7Opportunity.
8    "Program" means the Illinois Main Street Program.
 
9    Section 15. Illinois Main Street Program. The Illinois Main
10Street Program is created within the Department. In order to
11implement the Illinois Main Street Program, the Department
12shall do all of the following:
13        (1) Provide assistance to municipalities designated as
14    Main Street Communities, municipalities interested in
15    becoming designated through the program, and businesses,
16    property owners, organizations, and municipalities
17    undertaking a comprehensive downtown or neighborhood
18    commercial district revitalization initiative and
19    management strategy. Assistance may include, but is not
20    limited to, initial site evaluations and assessments,
21    training for local programs, training for local program
22    staff, site visits and assessments by technical
23    specialists, local program design assistance and
24    evaluation, and continued local program on-site

 

 

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1    assistance.
2        (2) To the extent funds are made available, provide
3    financial assistance to municipalities or local
4    organizations to assist in initial downtown or
5    neighborhood commercial district revitalization program
6    specialized training, specific project feasibility
7    studies, market studies, and design assistance.
8        (3) Operate the Illinois Main Street Program in
9    accordance with the plan developed by the Department.
10        (4) Consider other factors the Department deems
11    necessary for the implementation of this Act.
 
12    Section 20. Main Street Community designation.
13    (a) The Department shall adopt criteria for the designation
14of a Main Street Community. In establishing the criteria, the
15Department shall consider all of the following:
16        (1) The degree of interest and commitment to
17    comprehensive downtown or neighborhood commercial district
18    revitalization and, where applicable, historic
19    preservation by both the public and private sectors.
20        (2) The evidence of potential private sector
21    investment in the downtown or neighborhood commercial
22    district.
23        (3) Where applicable, a downtown or neighborhood
24    commercial district with sufficient historic fabric to
25    become a foundation for an enhanced community image.

 

 

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1        (4) The capacity of the organization to undertake a
2    comprehensive program and the financial commitment to
3    implement a long-term downtown or neighborhood commercial
4    district revitalization program that includes a commitment
5    to employ a professional program manager.
6        (5) The National Main Street Center's criteria for
7    designating official main street municipalities.
8        (6) Other factors the Department deems necessary for
9    the designation of a local program.
10    (b) Illinois Main Street shall designate local downtown or
11neighborhood commercial district revitalization programs and
12official local main street programs.
13    (c) The Department must approve all local downtown or
14neighborhood commercial district revitalization program
15boundaries. The boundaries of a local downtown or neighborhood
16commercial district revitalization program are typically
17defined using the pedestrian core of a traditional commercial
18district.
 
19    Section 25. Illinois Main Street Plan. The Department
20shall, in consultation with the Lieutenant Governor, develop a
21plan for the Illinois Main Street Program. The plan shall
22describe:
23        (1) the objectives and strategies of the Illinois Main
24    Street Program;
25        (2) how the Illinois Main Street Program will be

 

 

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1    coordinated with existing federal, state, local, and
2    private sector business development and historic
3    preservation efforts;
4        (3) the means by which private investment will be
5    solicited and employed;
6        (4) the methods of selecting and providing assistance
7    to participating local programs; and
8        (5) a means to solicit private contributions for State
9    and local operations of the Illinois Main Street Program.
 
10    Section 30. Role of the Lieutenant Governor. The Lieutenant
11Governor shall be the Ambassador of the Illinois Main Street
12Program. The Department shall advise and consult with the
13Lieutenant Governor on the activities of the Illinois Main
14Street Program. The Lieutenant Governor, with the assistance of
15the Department, shall promote and encourage the success of the
16Illinois Main Street Program.
 
17    Section 35. Illinois Main Street Fund. The Illinois Main
18Street Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury.
19All receipts from private contributions, federal funds,
20legislative appropriations, and fees for services, if levied,
21must be deposited into the Fund. Subject to appropriation,
22expenditures from the Fund may be used only for the benefit of
23the Illinois Main Street Program.
 

 

 

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1    Section 40. The State Finance Act is amended by adding
2Section 5.786 as follows:
 
3    (30 ILCS 105/5.786 new)
4    Sec. 5.786. The Illinois Main Street Fund.
 
5    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
6becoming law.".