Public Act 0868 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB3930 Enrolled LRB102 24580 RJF 33814 b

Public Act 102-0868

AN ACT concerning State government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Illinois Home Grown Business Opportunity Act is amended by changing Section 15 and by adding Section 20 as follows:

(20 ILCS 725/15)

Sec. 15. Illinois Home Grown Business Opportunities.

(a) The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall develop an economic plan to assist businesses and municipalities located geographically close to bordering states.

(b) The plan shall take into account relevant economic data, including input from local economic development officials, and identify and develop specific strategies for utilizing the assets of those regions of the State located geographically close to bordering states, so that those regions may better compete economically with bordering states.

(c) The plan shall include the following:

(1) an assessment of the economic development practices of bordering states;

(2) a comparative assessment of the economic development practices of this State;

(3) recommendations for best practices with respect to economic development, business incentives, business attraction, and business retention for regions in Illinois that border at least one other state;

(4) identification of existing State services and resources that would assist businesses and municipalities in being more economically competitive with bordering states; and

(5) any other resource that may assist businesses and municipalities located geographically close to bordering states that the Department deems necessary and relevant under this Act; .

(6) notification to all small businesses and municipalities of funding opportunities that the State of Illinois and the federal government are offering to small businesses and municipalities; and

(7) notification to all small businesses and municipalities of new restrictions placed upon communities as it relates to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

(d) The information and resources collected and established by the Department under this Act shall be available to the public and posted on the Department's Internet website.

(Source: P.A. 100-1084, eff. 1-1-19.)

(20 ILCS 725/20 new)

Sec. 20. Border Community COVID-19 Mitigation Grant Program. The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall create the Border Community COVID-19 Mitigation Grant Program. Subject to appropriation, grants provided under this Section shall only be provided to businesses and municipalities located geographically close to bordering states. The Department shall adopt rules necessary for the implementation and administration of this Section.

Effective Date: 1/1/2023