This week's Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) News and Views e-newsletter provides a revised timeline for the submission of Project and Expenditure Reports for the State and Local Coronavirus Fiscal Recovery Fund, includes links to both ISACo's 2021 State Mandates Report and Public Acts Report: Legislation of Interest to Counties Approved in 2021, offers updates on the 2021 October Veto Session and forthcoming 2022 Spring Legislative Session, reports on Governor Pritzker's announcement of the first $24 million in grants to support small businesses through the Back to Business Recovery program, conveys that October is Cyber Awareness Month, announces an upcoming National Association of Counties (NACo) webinar opportunity, spotlights ISACo corporate partner Comcast and invites Counties to join ISACo.
Revised Timeline for Submitting Project and Expenditure Reports for Fiscal Recovery Fund
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has announced a revised timeline for counties to submit their Project and Expenditure Reports for the State and Local Coronavirus Fiscal Recovery Fund (original deadline was October 31, 2021). Project and Expenditure Reports will now be due on January 31, 2022, and will cover the period between the award date and December 31, 2021.
Additional instructions will be provided at a later date, including updates to existing guidance as well as a user guide to assist recipients to gather and submit the information through Treasury’s Portal.
ISACo State Mandates Report for 2021
ISACo published our 2021 State Mandates Report listing new public acts that impose a new requirement or revenue loss on counties. The report is available by clicking on the image below.
State mandates reports for prior years are available on our ISACo Reports page.
ISACo Public Acts Report for 2021
In addition to our 2021 State Mandates Report, ISACo continues to update our Public Acts Report: Legislation of Interest to Counties Approved in 2021. This report is updated with relevant legislation approved and enacted during the current year. The report is available by clicking on the image below.
Public Acts reports for prior years are available on our ISACo Reports page.
October Veto Session; 2022 Spring Session Update
Per reports, ISACo understands that the 2021 Veto Session scheduled for October 19-21 and 26-28 will be shortened. Additional information will be shared as it becomes available.
Additionally, reports indicate the 2022 Spring Legislative Session may adjourn earlier that the usual May 31 date. Early adjournment would accommodate legislators campaigning ahead of the re-scheduled June primary election. This suggests that legislative activity will be light during the spring session. ISACo will share updated information should this become a definitive announcement.
Gov. Pritzker Announces First $24 Million in Back to Business Grants to Support Small Businesses
On September 30, 2021, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced the first grants have been awarded through the Back to Business (B2B) recovery program. To help businesses facing acute operational impacts due to COVID-19, 521 grants totaling more than $24 million have been provided to small businesses in 146 cities across the state. The first wave of funds provided through this program support an array of diverse businesses representing industries and geographies hardest hit by the pandemic, and with more than half of the grants provided to minority-owned businesses across Illinois.
Overall, the B2B program allocates $250 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars for small businesses experiencing COVID-19 losses, and grants will continue to be awarded on a rolling basis. The program will provide grants ranging in size from $5,000 to $150,000, commensurate with losses experienced. Eligible businesses are encouraged to apply before the October 13 deadline by visiting the DCEO website. The administration will continue to accept applications for B2B grants through October 13, 2021.
Click on this link to view the full press release.
October Proclaimed Cyber Awareness Month
Governor JB Pritzker is proclaiming the month of October as Cyber Awareness Month in Illinois to recognize the vital role cybersecurity plays in public safety and the importance of helping Illinoisans to be more aware to avoid cyber-attacks.
The full press release is available via this link.
Upcoming NACo Webinar
NACo has announced the following upcoming webinar opportunity:
Navigating Federal Funding Streams: Developing a Grant Management Strategy
(Monday, October 4, 2021, 1:00-2:00pm CST)
With so many funding streams available to counties, it is critical to develop a grant management strategy and plan to ensure that funding is maximized and duplication does not occur. This webinar will provide a funding overview and discuss how to look at the various federal funding streams and overview the first steps to take in developing a plan that maximizes federal investments.
Topics include:
- Maximizing federal funding
- Avoiding duplication
- Grant management
Click on this link to register for this event.
CORPORATE SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT
This week's corporate partner spotlight highlights ISACo's partnership with Comcast.
Comcast Corporation is a global media and technology company with three primary businesses: Comcast Cable, NBCUniversal, and Sky. Comcast Cable is one of the United States’ largest video, high-speed internet, and phone providers to residential customers under the Xfinity brand, and also provides these services to businesses. It also provides wireless and security and automation services to residential customers under the Xfinity brand. NBCUniversal is global and operates news, entertainment, and sports cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, television production operations, television station groups, Universal Pictures, and Universal Parks and Resorts. Sky is one of Europe’s leading media and entertainment companies, connecting customers to a broad range of video content through its pay television services. It also provides communications services, including residential high-speed internet, phone, and wireless services. Sky operates the Sky News broadcast network and sports and entertainment networks produce original content and has exclusive content rights.
With more than 6,000 local employees, Comcast’s Greater Chicago Region (https://chicago.comcast.com) serves customers in central and northern Illinois, including the Chicago area, northwest Indiana, and southwest Michigan.
More information about the services provided by Comcast 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 will 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.