|
| | HB3205 Engrossed | | LRB097 10493 HLH 50787 b |
|
|
1 | | AN ACT concerning State government.
|
2 | | Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
|
3 | | represented in the General Assembly:
|
4 | | Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the |
5 | | Illinois Main Street Act.
|
6 | | Section 5. Legislative purpose. The General Assembly makes |
7 | | the following findings: |
8 | | (1) The continued economic vitality of downtown and |
9 | | neighborhood commercial districts in our municipalities is |
10 | | essential to community preservation, social cohesion, and |
11 | | economic growth. |
12 | | (2) Municipalities need to maintain their local |
13 | | economies so that business owners will be able to provide |
14 | | goods and services to the community, to provide employment |
15 | | opportunities, to avoid disinvestment and economic |
16 | | dislocations, and to develop and sustain downtown and |
17 | | neighborhood commercial district revitalization programs |
18 | | to address these problems.
|
19 | | Section 10. Definitions. As used in this Act: |
20 | | "Department" means the Department of Commerce and Economic |
21 | | Opportunity. |
22 | | "Director" means the Director of Commerce and Economic |
|
| | HB3205 Engrossed | - 2 - | LRB097 10493 HLH 50787 b |
|
|
1 | | Opportunity. |
2 | | "Program" means the Illinois Main Street Program.
|
3 | | Section 15. Illinois Main Street Program. The Illinois Main |
4 | | Street Program is created within the Department. In order to |
5 | | implement the Illinois Main Street Program, the Department |
6 | | shall do all of the following: |
7 | | (1) Provide assistance to municipalities designated as |
8 | | Main Street Communities, municipalities interested in |
9 | | becoming designated through the program, and businesses, |
10 | | property owners, organizations, and municipalities |
11 | | undertaking a comprehensive downtown or neighborhood |
12 | | commercial district revitalization initiative and |
13 | | management strategy. Assistance may include, but is not |
14 | | limited to, initial site evaluations and assessments, |
15 | | training for local programs, training for local program |
16 | | staff, site visits and assessments by technical |
17 | | specialists, local program design assistance and |
18 | | evaluation, and continued local program on-site |
19 | | assistance. |
20 | | (2) To the extent funds are made available, provide |
21 | | financial assistance to municipalities or local |
22 | | organizations to assist in initial downtown or |
23 | | neighborhood commercial district revitalization program |
24 | | specialized training, specific project feasibility |
25 | | studies, market studies, and design assistance. |
|
| | HB3205 Engrossed | - 3 - | LRB097 10493 HLH 50787 b |
|
|
1 | | (3) Operate the Illinois Main Street Program in |
2 | | accordance with the plan developed by the Department. |
3 | | (4) Consider other factors the Department deems |
4 | | necessary for the implementation of this Act.
|
5 | | Section 20. Main Street Community designation. |
6 | | (a) The Department shall adopt criteria for the designation |
7 | | of a Main Street Community. In establishing the criteria, the |
8 | | Department shall consider all of the following: |
9 | | (1) The degree of interest and commitment to |
10 | | comprehensive downtown or neighborhood commercial district |
11 | | revitalization and, where applicable, historic |
12 | | preservation by both the public and private sectors. |
13 | | (2) The evidence of potential private sector |
14 | | investment in the downtown or neighborhood commercial |
15 | | district. |
16 | | (3) Where applicable, a downtown or neighborhood |
17 | | commercial district with sufficient historic fabric to |
18 | | become a foundation for an enhanced community image. |
19 | | (4) The capacity of the organization to undertake a |
20 | | comprehensive program and the financial commitment to |
21 | | implement a long-term downtown or neighborhood commercial |
22 | | district revitalization program that includes a commitment |
23 | | to employ a professional program manager. |
24 | | (5) The National Main Street Center's criteria for |
25 | | designating official main street municipalities. |
|
| | HB3205 Engrossed | - 4 - | LRB097 10493 HLH 50787 b |
|
|
1 | | (6) Other factors the Department deems necessary for |
2 | | the designation of a local program. |
3 | | (b) Illinois Main Street shall designate local downtown or |
4 | | neighborhood commercial district revitalization programs and |
5 | | official local main street programs. |
6 | | (c) The Department must approve all local downtown or |
7 | | neighborhood commercial district revitalization program |
8 | | boundaries. The boundaries of a local downtown or neighborhood |
9 | | commercial district revitalization program are typically |
10 | | defined using the pedestrian core of a traditional commercial |
11 | | district.
|
12 | | Section 25. Illinois Main Street Plan. The Department |
13 | | shall, in consultation with the Lieutenant Governor, develop a |
14 | | plan for the Illinois Main Street Program. The plan shall |
15 | | describe: |
16 | | (1) the objectives and strategies of the Illinois Main |
17 | | Street Program; |
18 | | (2) how the Illinois Main Street Program will be |
19 | | coordinated with existing federal, state, local, and |
20 | | private sector business development and historic |
21 | | preservation efforts; |
22 | | (3) the means by which private investment will be |
23 | | solicited and employed; |
24 | | (4) the methods of selecting and providing assistance |
25 | | to participating local programs; and |
|
| | HB3205 Engrossed | - 5 - | LRB097 10493 HLH 50787 b |
|
|
1 | | (5) a means to solicit private contributions for State |
2 | | and local operations of the Illinois Main Street Program.
|
3 | | Section 30. Role of the Lieutenant Governor. The Lieutenant |
4 | | Governor shall be the Ambassador of the Illinois Main Street |
5 | | Program. The Department shall advise and consult with the |
6 | | Lieutenant Governor on the activities of the Illinois Main |
7 | | Street Program. The Lieutenant Governor, with the assistance of |
8 | | the Department, shall promote and encourage the success of the |
9 | | Illinois Main Street Program.
|
10 | | Section 35. Illinois Main Street Fund. The Illinois Main |
11 | | Street Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury. |
12 | | All receipts from private contributions, federal funds, |
13 | | legislative appropriations, and fees for services, if levied, |
14 | | must be deposited into the Fund. Subject to appropriation, |
15 | | expenditures from the Fund may be used only for the benefit of |
16 | | the Illinois Main Street Program.
|
17 | | Section 40. The State Finance Act is amended by adding |
18 | | Section 5.786 as follows:
|
19 | | (30 ILCS 105/5.786 new) |
20 | | Sec. 5.786. The Illinois Main Street Fund.
|