(505 ILCS 45/2b) (from Ch. 5, par. 242b)
Sec. 2b. The Cooperative Extension Service of the University of
Illinois may establish a Rural Transition Program to be operated in
cooperation with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to provide
assessments, career counseling, on-the-job training, tuition reimbursements,
classroom
training, financial management training, work experience opportunities,
job search skills, job placement, youth programs, and
support service to farmers and their families, agriculture-related
employees, other rural residents, and small rural businesses who are
being forced out of farming or other primary means of employment or
whose standard of living or employment has been
reduced because of prevailing economic conditions in the
agricultural or rural economy.
Eligible farmers and their families shall include those who can
demonstrate proof of financial stress, proof of foreclosure, proof of
bankruptcy, proof of inability to
secure needed capital, proof of voluntary foreclosure or proof of income
eligibility for assistance programs administered by the Department of Human
Services (acting as successor to the Department of
Public Aid under the Department of Human Services Act). Eligible
agriculture related employees shall mean tenant
farmers or other farm employees and employees of businesses related to
agricultural production who are facing displacement, unemployment or
underemployment due to a closure or reduction in operation of such business
or farm due to poor economic conditions that prevail in the agricultural or rural
economy. Other eligible rural residents shall include those residing in
rural areas whose employment or standard of living has been reduced due to
the poor economic conditions that prevail in the agricultural or rural economy.
Eligible small rural businesses shall include those existing or new
businesses established and operating in rural areas that lack access to other
sources of
services provided by this Section. In carrying
out the provisions of this Section,
the Cooperative
Extension Service may enter into agreements with the Department of Commerce
and Community Affairs, community colleges, vocational schools, and any
other State or local private or public agency or entity deemed necessary.
(Source: P.A. 99-27, eff. 1-1-16.)
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