This week's Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) News and Views e-newsletter includes an interview with ISACo Executive Director Joe McCoy on Comcast Newsmakers, shares information about how the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" will impact clean energy in Illinois, reports on a Notice of Funding Opportunity for grants supporting units of local government that would like to adopt SolarApp+ residential solar permitting software, provides a recap of the 2025 National Association of Counties (NACo) Annual Conference in Philadelphia, makes county officials and staff aware of a Notice of Funding Opportunity for the next round of Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grants by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), conveys an announcement from the Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) about a debarred contractor, invites county officials to submit legislative proposals, encourages county officials and staff to join an ISACo Policy Committee, shares links to NACo policy updates, links to articles ISACo staff is reading to stay informed, conveys information about grant funding for outdoor fitness courts in counties, highlights ISACo corporate partner the Illinois Public Reserves Investment Management Trust™ (IPRIME™) and invites counties to join ISACo.

ISACo Executive Director Interviewed on Comcast Newsmakers

In this Comcast Newsmakers segment, host Daniel Sieberg interviews ISACo Executive Director Joe McCoy about how Illinois’ wind and solar energy policies are impacting local governments. Director McCoy highlights concerns about the loss of local control in siting decisions and emphasizes the need to balance the state’s renewable energy goals with meaningful input from affected communities.

ISACo's efforts through our Wind and Solar Facility Task Force to address the loss of local control over siting wind and solar facilities have been getting attention as our work continues. Click on the image to view the video on ISACo's YouTube page.

Federal Policies Expected to Impact Illinois' Push for Clean Energy

According to reporting by the Chicago Tribune, President Donald J. Trump’s recently signed “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” significantly impacts clean energy efforts in Illinois by repealing key federal tax credits and incentives. Additional information is available via this link.

SolarApp+ Adoption and Implementation Grants
 
The Illinois Climate Bank has released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (available via this link) for grants supporting units of local government that would like to adopt SolarApp+ residential solar permitting software. The program will award up to nine grants of up to $30,000 each to Illinois municipalities to defray SolarApp+ implementation expenses. Applications (available via this link) may be submitted online and will be accepted on a rolling basis until available funding is expended. The Illinois Climate Bank has published an application guide (available via this link) and a Frequently Asked Questions document (available via this link) to assist applicants.

Recap of NACo's 2025 Annual Conference & Exposition

The 2025 NACo Annual Conference was held July 11–15 in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. ISACo, in partnership with the United Counties Council of Illinois (UCCI), hosted another successful Illinois Counties Dinner with 120 attendees on Friday, July 11.

Speakers included ISACo President Matt Prochaska, UCCI President David Meyer, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Nationwide Vice President of Retention and Sales, Suzanne Ricklin and ISACo Executive Director Joe McCoy. Attendees also heard from the two impressive candidates running for NACo 2nd Vice President.

During the NACo Annual Business Meeting on July 14, the Honorable J.D. Clark (Judge – Wise County, TX) was elected NACo President, succeeding the Honorable James Gore (Supervisor – Sonoma County, CA). ISACo congratulates President Clark and thanks Immediate Past President Gore for his outstanding service.

The race for NACo 2nd Vice President was joined by two distinguished candidates. The Honorable Bob Dixon, Presiding Commissioner from Green County, Missouri, and the Honorable Alisha Bell, Commissioner from Wayne County, Michigan. Alisha Bell was ultimately elected NACo 2nd Vice President, bringing her valuable experience and leadership to the NACo Executive Committee. ISACo congratulates both candidates and thanks them for their accessibility and desire to make NACo an even stronger organization.

Illinois attendees and ISACo staff took full advantage of the conference’s rich opportunities for networking, collaboration, and professional development through meetings, workshops, and NACo-hosted events.

We look forward to the next NACo Conference, which will be the Legislative Conference, in Washington, D.C. That conference is scheduled for February 21–24, 2026. ISACo will share registration details as they become available.

Pictures from the conference are available via this link.

A list of Illinois county officials and staff making a difference at the federal level through service on the NACo Board of Directors or various NACo committees is available via this link.

Open Space Land Acquisition and Development Grants
 
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) has released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (available via this link) for the next round of Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grants. OSLAD is a matching grant program that provides state-financed funding assistance to local government agencies for the acquisition and development of land for public parks and outdoor recreation areas. IDNR will provide funding to cover 90% of eligible projects located in qualified economically distressed communities. IDNR has released a list (available via this link) of communities that are considered economically distressed.
 
Grant awards up to $1,725,000 are available for acquisition projects, and development projects are eligible for grants of up to $600,000 each. A total of $35 million is available statewide for this round of OSLAD grants. The deadline to apply is Tuesday, September 30, 2025, by 5:00 pm CST. More information about the OSLAD grant program can be found on IDNR’s website (available via this link).

Celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the United States

The U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, also known as the America250 Commission, is leading a nationwide effort to celebrate and commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States. This Commission was established by Congress to plan events, programs, and other initiatives that honor our nation’s history while inspiring civic engagement in the future. More information can be found at america250.org.

The Illinois America250 Commission is leading statewide efforts to ensure communities throughout Illinois are actively involved in celebrating the state’s contributions to the nation’s history. Through historical programs, community gatherings and civic projects, the Illinois America250 Commission encourages local governments, schools, libraries and community organizations to participate in the celebration of the 250th anniversary. More information about statewide programs, including a toolkit to assist with promoting programs and events, can be found at IL250.org.

The Illinois Municipal League developed a model resolution and graciously permitted ISACo to customize it and share it for consideration by county boards. The resolution is available via this link and can be adopted to affirm your county's commitment to this historic event.

To assist in planning, the Illinois America250 webpage (available via this link) provides information on how your county can become an Illinois America250 community. Individuals with questions or who wish to confirm their county's participation may contact the Illinois America250 Commission by email at IL250@ilhumanities.org.

The Illinois State Association of Counties looks forward to honoring our nation’s history and invites all Counties to participate in this historic celebration.

IDOL Announcement about Debarred Contractor

The Illinois Department of Labor has requested ISACo's assistance in communicating the Department's decision to debar a specific contractor for violations of the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act. Additional information is available via this link. 

ISACo Accepting Legislative Proposals for 2026 - INPUT REQUESTED!

Does your county have a problem in need of a legislative solution? If so, please e-mail it to Legislative Advocacy and Research Manager Nekya Hall at nhall@isacoil.org. Submitted proposals will be considered within ISACo's committee process. Proposals ultimately approved by the ISACo Board of Directors will be included within our 2026 Illinois County Action Program (ICAP).

Additionally, ISACo will be considering amendments to our County Platform for 2026. Please review the 2025 County Platform and send any suggestions for additions/changes to nhall@isacoil.org. Proposed changes will be considered by the Legislative Committee and Board of Directors.

Join ISACo's Policy Committees

ISACo policy committees shape the Association's legislative advocacy efforts. Meetings are held virtually and committees meet four times per year unless committee members desire to meet more frequently. Service on an ISACo Policy Committee is contingent upon the county being a member of ISACo or the applicant being a member of an affiliated association.

Policy Committee opportunities are as follows. Committees with links are already meeting, although there are openings on all policy committees.

• Agriculture and Rural Affairs Policy Committee
• Community, Economic and Workforce Development Policy Committee
• Environment, Energy and Land Use Policy Committee
• Public Health Policy Committee
• Justice and Public Safety Policy Committee
• Transportation Policy Committee
• Arts and Culture Policy Committee

Please click on the image below, complete the form and e-mail it to Legislative Advocacy and Research Manager Nekya Hall at nhall@isacoil.org. 

NACo Federal Policy Updates

Counties continue to navigate major shifts in federal policy and funding. NACo has published several timely updates and tools to help counties respond effectively:

The Big Shift: Local Costs Rise as Federal Support Shrinks

A new NACo analysis details how federal spending cuts are shifting key responsibilities—and costs—onto counties, particularly in housing, healthcare, and disaster response.
🔗 Read the report

Noncitizen Voting: Federal Action and County Impacts

Congress and the Administration are taking steps related to noncitizen voting. NACo explains what counties need to know about these efforts and potential implications.
🔗 Learn more

New Disaster Reform Task Force

NACo has launched an Intergovernmental Disaster Reform Task Force to strengthen local-federal collaboration in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.
🔗 Join the effort

American Rescue Plan Resource Hub

Need help managing ARPA funds? NACo’s hub offers updates, compliance tools, and best practices to support counties in effectively using this federal aid.
🔗 Access the hub

What We're Reading

Majority of States Issue AI Guidelines for Schools (Governing)

In the Wake of SNAP Cuts, Feeding Hungry Illinoisans Falls More Than Ever on Food Pantries (Chicago Tribune)

Bloomington Mayor Says Reassessing Sales Tax Sharing with McLean County Hinges on What's in it for the City (WGLT)

Comptroller Mendoza Won’t Run for Reelection, Opening Up Statewide Office (Capitol News Illinois)

Grant Funding Available for Outdoor Fitness Courts by National Fitness Campaign (NFC)

ISACo is excited to share an opportunity for county officials and staff to benefit their counties. County officials are invited to apply for an outdoor fitness court through ISACo's corporate sponsorship with National Fitness Campaign. 

National Fitness Campaign (NFC) and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois have announced $750,000 in new grant funding to communities and schools in the state of Illinois. This funding will be allocated to support counties across the state to join the growing National Fitness Campaign, building healthy infrastructure for smart communities and schools of the future. 

If you are not familiar with the Campaign, the program is designed to bring world-class healthy infrastructure to public spaces, along with consulting, funding and community programming support. 

Information about National Fitness Campaign (NFC) is available via this link. 

Grant application information is available via this link. 

Click on the photo below to watch a video about NFC!

Please contact Member Services and Communications Manager Tiffani Homer at thomer@isacoil.org if you have additional questions. 

Upcoming NACo Webinars

NACo has announced the following upcoming webinar opportunities. ISACo is a proud partner with NACo and encourages counties to participate in NACo membership and activities.      

Proactively Defend Your Collection Rate: How Automation Makes It Possible

(Tuesday, July 22, 2025, 1:00pm-2:00pm CST)

The path to payment is more complex than ever—and for county providers, that means that having a strong understanding of payer policies, claim prioritization and opportunities for automation is crucial.

By using automation and analytics to drive decision-making, county providers can have confidence in the actions they’re taking to facilitate cash flow and support the mission of the organizations they serve. Even in the midst of uncertainty. 

Join Leah Bezanson, Patient Revenue Supervisor at Minnesota Department of Human Services and Erica Gregory, SVP & GM, Revenue Cycle Management at Netsmart, for insights on how automation can help protect collection rates, enhance accuracy and improve data visibility.

Attendees can expect to gain an understanding of: 

•    Strategies for addressing large volumes of denials, especially as the move to privatized plans may be driving more denials and strenuous adjudication rules 
•    How to keep pace with the use of AI and automation among payers 
•    Real-world examples of a public sector organization using revenue cycle automation to accelerate cash and strengthen collection rates 
•    How supervisors and finance leaders can use automation to simplify the reimbursement process and support staff

Click on this link to register for the webinar. 

Legislative Landscape: Prescription Drug Costs & County Impacts

(Wednesday, July 23, 2025, 12:00pm-1:00pm CST)

There is significant legislative activity at both the federal and state levels focused on prescription drug costs. These developments have important implications for employer-sponsored health plans, including how counties administer their prescription drug benefits and broader healthcare offerings.

This webinar from NACo's Public Promise Insurance will provide an overview of the current legislative landscape and highlight key trends expected to shape county benefit plans in 2025 and beyond. Hear directly from Leanna Gassaway, Vice President of Government Affairs at CVS Health, on what's unfolding in Washington and what it means for your county.

What will be covered:

• Overview of the prescription drug benefit landscape
• 2025 legislative proposals and litigation at both the federal and local level
• Potential impact on health insurance coverage, including implications on cost for plan sponsors
• Opportunities for you to engage on this important issue

Click on this link to register for the webinar. 

Inside Washington: County Impacts from the White House & Congress

(Thursday, July 24, 2025, 2:30pm-3:30pm CST)

Join NACo’s Government Affairs team for week five of a biweekly series on key developments from the White House and Congress. Discussions will focus on policies and actions that directly impact counties — from federal funding and regulatory changes to intergovernmental partnerships. Tune in for an inside look at how these evolving federal dynamics may shape county priorities, responsibilities and operations.

Click on this link to register for the webinar.

Inside Washington: County Impacts from the White House & Congress

(Wednesday, August 6, 2025, 1:00pm-2:00pm CST)

Join the National Association of Counties (NACo) and C3 AI for a webinar on how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming county-level government services. Building on NACo’s successful Technology Information Forum, this session brings together AI experts and county leaders to explore real-world use cases, opportunities for pilots and proofs of concept, and practical tips to launch AI initiatives.

From automating property assessments to enhancing public safety investigations and improving constituent engagement, counties are already leveraging AI to modernize services, reduce costs, and deliver better outcomes for residents. This webinar will showcase how counties can responsibly implement AI to meet their missions faster, smarter, and more equitably.

Key topics include:

Property Appraisal Modernization: Discover how counties are using AI to streamline residential and commercial valuations by integrating data from MLS, GIS, and CAMA systems while ensuring compliance with IAAO standards.

Constituent Services Powered by Generative AI: Learn how counties can deploy multilingual AI chat tools to provide residents with timely and accurate answers on housing, healthcare, economic development, and more—backed by secure data and source citations.

Public Safety & Criminal Investigations: See how AI is helping county law enforcement unify data from records management, dispatch, and evidence systems to accelerate investigations and improve interagency collaboration.

Whether you're just starting out or scaling up, this session will offer insights and tools to help your county lead in AI-powered digital transformation.

Click on this link to register for the webinar.

Robert's Rules 102: Advancing Your Meeting Mastery for Effective Governance

(Tuesday, September 16, 2025, 1:00pm-2:00pm CST)

​​​​​​Robert’s Rules can help you run effective meetings. Don’t forget to attend “Roberts Rules 101 – Mastering the Basics” being held at the NACo Annual Conference in Philadelphia, Pa.Whether you're a newbie or an experienced leader, Robert's Rules 102 goes beyond the basics to equip you with the skills needed to orchestrate meetings that truly make an impact. Learn to minimize disruptions, establish proper procedures and apply Robert's Rules to real-life parliamentary examples.

Click on this link to register for the webinar. 

Enhancing Child Welfare: Best Practices for Measuring and Improving Outcomes

(Tuesday, September 23, 2025, 1:00pm-2:00pm CST)

​​​​​​Join NACo for an insightful webinar focusing on child welfare specifically designed for county governments. We will delve into evidence-based practices, informed funding decisions, cost efficiencies, and effective program management. Key areas of discussion will include out-of-home placements, prevention services, and reunification services.

During the webinar, NACo panel of county leaders will share the latest methodologies for outcomes monitoring and discuss the importance of translating these outcomes into actionable practices. Attendees will gain valuable insights into identifying service gaps, leveraging data for increased service utilization, and supporting fiscal efficiencies. This session will empower county executives and department leaders with strategies to measure outcomes effectively and implement best practices for continuous quality improvement. 

Key takeaways:
1.    Understanding the importance of outcomes monitoring
2.    Measuring and reporting best practices to enhance accountability and transparency
3.    Improving preventative and early intervention services
4.    Optimizing resource allocation and enhancing collaboration
5.    Implementing standardized assessments and continuous quality improvement initiatives

Click on this link to register for the webinar.

Unity in Uncertainty: Thriving Through Turbulence

(Tuesday, October 9, 2025, 2:00pm-3:00pm CST)

​​​​​​This training will focus on the current operating environment and emphasize core partnerships to identify opportunities and strengthen infrastructure security and resilience. Comprehensive partnerships and diverse perspectives can solidify and fortify operations during uncertain times. 

Click on this link to register for the webinar. 

CORPORATE PARTNER SPOTLIGHT  

 

Founded in 2019, the Illinois Public Reserves Investment Management Trust™ (IPRIME™) referred to as “the Fund” is an investment pool for Municipal Treasurers acting on behalf of counties, townships, cities, towns, villages, libraries, park districts, water supply districts, fire protection districts, sanitary districts, housing authorities and other subdivisions of the State of Illinois.

The IPRIME Investment Shares Series is rated AAAm by Standard & Poor’s.

The Investment Shares Series is comprised of money market instruments having a maximum remaining maturity of one year (except U.S. government obligations that may have remaining maturities of up to two years).

The primary objectives of the Investment Shares Series are to offer the highest possible investment yield, protect principal, preserve liquidity and maintain Standard & Poor’s highest local government investment pool rating of AAAm. In addition, the Fund offers access to PMA Financial Network, LLC’s Fixed Income and Deposit Programs. With the experience and expertise of PMA, the Investment Shares Series grants investors access to a powerful investment management team that functions with a high standard of vision, synergy, and quality.

Click here to visit their website.

Click here to learn more about the PMA-ISACo partnership.

Become an ISACo Member! 

Is your county a member of ISACo? If not, why not?