POSSIBLE GRANT PROGRAM PENDING
American Rescue Plan FUNDING UPDATE FOR TOWNSHIPS ACROSSS ILLINOIS
TOI Members:
I wanted to keep everyone updated on our recent participation and conversations with the National Association of Towns and Townships, Governor J.B. Pritzker’s Office the Department of Commerce and Economic Affairs and other program administrators.
The American Rescue Plan has announced that states will receive funding under this Act. The individual states will determine what amount of the received funding will be made available to local government for various projects related to loss from the pandemic. However, to be distributed, the funds require sufficient statutory (STATE) authority to legally distribute funding received under this federal program. Three states that operate under the township form of government (Ohio, Indian, Illinois and North Dakota) lacked the required statutory authority and are required to acquire the legal authority to distribute these federal funds.
Municipal and County government has already received funding under different requirements of the act. For local government (townships) to be included a state agency must be designated as the distributor of the funding and the process of auditing the funds for accountability.
The Township Official of Illinois (TOI) staff is currently working with Governor Pritzker's office, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), the Office of Management and Budget and others to provide the statutory authority and administrative structure for a successful program.
The next step is to set up the program legislatively to be finalized during the Fall VETO SESSION.
After the statutory authority for the program is finalized the rules to administer the program under the designated state agency will be finalized with the Illinois General Assembly and the application and award process can begin.
TOI intend to be involved with every part of this process to ensure that townships across Illinois understand how to apply for this funding and what the administrative responsibilities require after funding is awarded. Townships will be required to apply for funding and the amounts available and application criteria are currently being developed.
TOI will update our members via email distribution and our website as application details become available.
Please contact our office if you have any questions.
J. Crabtree
Executive Director
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