ISACo News and Views Newsletter for July 28, 2020

July 28, 2020

ISACo News and Views

This Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) weekly News and Views e-newsletter includes a reminder to post Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL)-approved posters at workplaces, conveys information about a funding opportunity for COVID-19 contact tracing efforts, announces Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) investments in wastewater, stormwater and drinking water projects, shares the Illinois Department of Transportation's (IDOT) multi-year highway improvement plan, links to new Executive Orders signed by Governor JB Pritzker, invites county officials to participate in an Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) webinar about the Local CURE Program, includes a statement by National Association of Counties (NACo) Executive Director Matt Chase in response to U.S. Senate Republican introduction of legislation to assist with COVID-19 expenses, provides information about an upcoming NACo webinar opportunity, spotlights ISACo corporate partner Christopher B. Burke Engineering and invites counties to join ISACo.

ISACo 2020 Legislative Session Summary

2020 "Bills Approved by Both Chambers" Report

COVID-19 Resource Center Page

COUNTIES COUNT!

IDOL Required Workplace Posters for Employers

The Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) wants Illinois employers to be aware that they are required to prominently post IDOL-approved posters at their workplaces.

Additional information about this requirement, as well as links to the necessary posters can be found within the press release available via this link.

IDPH Announces a Notice of Funding Opportunity

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for public health organizations to assist with contact tracing efforts.

Through the NOFO, IDPH will award a grant to one organization in each of the nine regions outlined in Governor Pritzker’s COVID-19 resurgence mitigation plan, with Cook County and Chicago standing up their own contact tracing programs with community organizations. Each of these nine organizations will serve as coordinators in their region, awarding sub-grants to community-based organizations in their region who can most effectively conduct tracing, education and outreach in their communities.

Additional information on NOFO is available via this link.

Illinois EPA Invests Over $182 Million in Wastewater/Stormwater and Drinking Water Projects in Fourth Quarter of SFY20

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) announced that more than $182 million in State Revolving Fund (SRF) loans were issued to public and private utilities in the last quarter of State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2020 (April – June).

In accordance with Loan Rules, over $25 million of those loans qualify for principal forgiveness from the State of Illinois, providing additional benefits to the recipients. The low-interest loans are made possible through Illinois EPA’s SRF, which provides funding for wastewater, stormwater and drinking water projects. These loans bring the total funding for FY20 SRF loans to more than $429 million with over $48 million being forgiven by the State.

IEPA’s SRF includes two loan programs, the Water Pollution Control Loan Program (WPCLP) which funds both wastewater and storm water projects, and the Public Water Supply Loan Program (PWSLP) for drinking water projects. IEPA’s SRF receives federal capitalization funding annually, which is combined with state matching funds, interest earnings, repayment money and the sale of bonds, which form a source of financing for these infrastructure projects.

Additional information on the new loans and a complete list of FY20-4th quarter loan recipients is available via this link.

IDOT Releases Multi-Year Highway Improvement Plan

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has announced a $21.3 billion plan to improve Illinois roads and bridges over the next six years.

Based on current funding levels, the FY 2021-2026 Proposed Highway Improvement Program will improve 3,356 miles of roads and 8.4 million square feet of bridge deck. Of the total $21.3 billion included in the six-year program, $3.15 billion has been identified for the current fiscal year. The full plan is available via this link .

Governor Pritzker Signs Executive Orders

Reissuance of Previous Executive Orders

Executive Order (EO 2020-48 - available via this link) reissues most executive orders, extending a majority of the provisions through August 22, 2020. This includes EO 2020-30 (available via this link) , which prohibits residential evictions.

Executive Order Number 47

EO 2020-47 (available via this link) states that all public and non-public schools in Illinois serving pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students may open for in-person learning after the regular 2019-2020 school term. All schools must follow Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) health guidelines, including using personal protective equipment (PPE), temperature checks, hygienic practices, social distancing and limiting people to 50 or fewer in one space.

DCEO Offers Webinar on Local CURE Program

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) has announced the following webinar:

Local CURE Program Launch Webinar

(Wednesday, July 29, 2020 from 11 am – 12 pm CST)

Join DCEO to discuss the following agenda:

1. Local CURE Program introduction

2. Introduction of the Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity's administrative partner

3. Overview of the certification form

4. Walk through of next steps

Please use to following links to register for the webinar and to updates and information on the Local CURE Program.

Webinar Registration is available via this link.

Local CURE webpage: https://www2.illinois.gov/dceo/Pages/CURE.aspx

Senate Republicans Introduce HEALS Act

On Monday, July 27, 2020, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell introduced the Health, Economic Assistance, Liability, and Schools Act (HEALS) Act, the first step in negotiations for the next coronavirus (COVID-19) relief package.

A statement by National Association of Counties (NAC0) Executive Director Matt Chase is available via this link.

On Thursday, July 16, 2020, ISACo sent a letter to Illinois' Congressional Delegation requesting support for additional and flexible federal funding for local governments whose budgets have been hampered by the COVID-19 emergency response and associated economic slowdown.

The letter ( available via this link ) advocates that local governments be able to use the funds to offset lost revenues. A similar letter was addressed and sent to each member of Illinois' Congressional Delegation.

Upcoming NACo Webinar

The National Association of Counties (NACo) has announced the following upcoming webinar:

Counties and CARES: Leveraging Outside Help to Maximize Federal Funding Support

(Thursday, July 30, 2020 from 2 pm – 3pm CST)

The COVID-19 virus has touched every aspect of county services. As the federal and state government provide support, counties must now triage the use of those funds to meet existing and emerging needs of our communities and constituents. External partners, such as consultants with budget and emergency management expertise, can help counties leverage and maximize CARES Act resources, audit Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) spending and implement innovative approaches.

Join this webinar to hear from counties who are both direct and indirect recipients of CRF dollars from the U.S. Treasury, as well as NACo partners who can help counties in their COVID relief efforts.

Registration for the webinar is available via this link.

Corporate Partner Spotlight

This week's corporate partner spotlight highlights ISACo's partnership with Christoper 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, construction, 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.

The Key to ISACo's Success is YOU!

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. Thank you for your consideration.

News and Views is a service provided by ISACo for county officials and staff. Please feel welcome to share with interested parties. You can contact ISACo Executive Director Joe McCoy at jmccoy@isacoil.org or (217) 679-3368 if we can be of service. Thank you for your support of ISACo.