This week's Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) News and Views e-newsletter informs about the new American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Capital Projects Fund guidance released by the U.S. Treasury Department, reports that Governor Pritzker signed the revised legislative maps into law, includes a link to ISACo's September 2021 County Quarterly Newsletter, announces upcoming National Association of Counties (NACo) webinar opportunities, spotlights ISACo corporate partner Christopher B. Burke Engineering and invites counties to join ISACo.
ARPA Capital Projects Fund Guidance
On Monday, September 20, 2021, the U.S. Treasury Department released new guidance for the $10 billion Capital Projects Fund authorized under ARPA. Over $253 million has been allocated to Illinois through the Capitol Projects Fund.
Governor Signs Revised State Legislative Maps into Law
On Friday, September 24, 2021, Governor JB Pritzker enacted into law the state legislative maps that were revised following availability of updated U.S. Census Bureau data. The new law is P.A. 102-0663 - linked here.
Republicans and a Latino civil rights group, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, have lawsuits pending in federal court in Chicago which seek to block implementation of the new maps.
The congressional district maps will reportedly be taken up by the General Assembly in October.
ISACo County Quarterly
ISACo published our September 2021 County Quarterly Newsletter. You can view the newsletter by clicking on the image below. If you are not on our mailing list and would like to receive the County Quarterly via standard mail, please send an e-mail to info@isacoil.org with your preferred mailing address.
An archive of previously published County Quarterly Newsletters is available via this link.
ISACo Accepting Legislative Proposals for 2022
Does your county have a problem in need of a legislative solution? If so, please e-mail it to ISACo at info@isacoil.org. Submitted proposals will be considered by the Legislative Committee. Proposals ultimately approved by the ISACo Board of Directors will be included within our 2022 Illinois County Action Program (ICAP).
Upcoming NACo Webinars
NACo has announced the following upcoming webinar opportunities:
Child Tax Credit Navigator Training
(Wednesday, September 29, 2021, 11:00am-12:00pm CST)
The White House and Treasury are partnering with Federal agencies, national organizations and community groups to train thousands of people across the country to serve as navigators who can walk families through the Code for America non-filer sign-up tool to enroll in the Child Tax Credit. NACo members are cordially invited to join an upcoming training hosted jointly by the White House, Department of the Treasury, and IGA Associations on Wednesday, September 29, from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm CST.
As part of a whole-of-government effort to drive enrollment in the Child Tax Credit (CTC), NACo is working with the Department of Treasury to train people to serve as Child Tax Credit navigators. To facilitate new enrollments, the White House and Treasury Department collaborated with a non-profit, Code for America, to create a non-filer sign-up tool that is easy to use on a mobile phone and available in Spanish.
Click on this link to register for this event.
Return to Work Amidst COVID-19
(Wednesday, September 29, 2021, 1:00-2:00pm CST)
Presented by NACo's Workforce Network, this webinar will discuss the challenges of having employees return to work and the responsibilities of county human resources professionals and administrators in the current environment. The discussion will include:
- Should employers mandating employee vaccinations pay for vaccines?
- If employers are requiring or encouraging employees to be vaccinated, what policies should they consider?
Click on this link to register for this event.
County Innovations to End Homelessness
(Thursday, September 30, 2021, 12:00-1:00pm CST)
The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the need to address homelessness at the local level. Community Solutions and counties in the Built for Zero movement are working to end homelessness – and proving that it is possible. Data-driven thinking and a system-wide approach can build a future where homelessness is rare overall and brief when it occurs. Half of the 89 communities that form part of the Built for Zero movement have achieved measurable reductions, and 14 have ended homelessness for a population by achieving a milestone known as functional zero. Join NACo, Community Solutions, and Built for Zero leaders that have achieved functional zero for a discussion on innovative approaches to measurably and equitably end homelessness.
Click on this link to register for this event.
Responding to Familiar Faces in Crisis Part 2: Engagement Challenges and Strategies
(Thursday, September 30, 2021, 1:00-2:30pm CST)
A Stepping Up Initiative webinar.
Hosted by The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center and the MacArthur Foundation Safety and Justice Challenge. This is an external webinar. For assistance with registration, please contact the event organizer.
This three-part series provides information on how to effectively serve and increase engagement with people who frequently cycle in and out of jails, emergency departments, homeless shelters, and other community-based settings.
Click on this link to register for this event.
2020 Census Redistricting Data and How to Find It
(Thursday, September 30, 2021, 2:00-3:00pm CST)
Census staff will demonstrate data.census.gov, the Bureau’s new enterprise data dissemination platform that includes data from the 2020 Census, American Community Survey, County Business Patterns, the Economic Census, and many other Census Bureau programs. Attendees will learn how to best leverage the features of this platform to access the data they need.
Click on this link to register for this event.
CORPORATE SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT
This week's corporate partner spotlight highlights ISACo's partnership with Christopher B. Burke Engineering.
Started in 1986, Christopher B. Burke Engineering, LTD. is a full-service consulting engineering and surveying firm specializing in civil, transportation/highway, municipal, traffic, water resources, environmental, structural and mechanical engineering. The company provides not only design services, but also planning, preliminary engineering, permitting, and construction observation. Christopher B. Burke Engineering, LTD. successfully completed the design, permitting and construction of numerous major transportation projects, flood control reservoirs, pump stations, embankments, water mains and water systems, storm sewers, and large open channels.
More information about the services provided by Christopher B. Burke Engineering, LTD. is available via this link.
Click on this link to learn more about the benefits and opportunities available through ISACo's Corporate Partner Program.
Become an ISACo Member!
Is your county a member of ISACo? If not, why not?
ISACo is a statewide association whose mission is to empower county officials to provide excellent service to their residents.
ISACo member counties are comprised of forward-thinking public servants who recognize that the challenges confronting county governments require new and innovative ideas, collaborative solutions and collective advocacy at the state and federal levels of government.
Members of the association benefit from education and training opportunities, peer-to-peer networking, shared resources and robust representation before policymakers at various levels of government. ISACo creates and connects county officials to these opportunities and successfully equips them to make counties ideal places to live, work and play.
If your county is interested in discussing membership in ISACo, please contact Executive Director Joe McCoy at (217) 679-3368 or jmccoy@isacoil.org. ISACo member counties are listed here. Thank you for your consideration.