July 15, 2022
www.ssmma.org
Cook County to Launch $300 Million Local Government Bridge Program
Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle recently announced that the Cook County Board of Commissioners will launch a $300 million emergency loan fund to help local municipalities and school districts in need of financial support due to delayed property tax bill installments.

This one-time program will operate with PNC Bank to offer interest-free loans to suburban districts so that they don’t have to take on short-term debt through a measure known as a “tax anticipation note."

Priority will be given to districts and communities in most need, which will be calculated based on the same metrics the county used to distribute out federal COVID-19 relief money, the district’s tax collection rate, school funding levels, and whether the district delivers vital services.

The program is set to begin in September, just months before the second installment of Cook County property tax bills are due to help towns, school districts, and other taxing bodies affected by the delay of yearly property tax bills.

Upcoming Meetings and Events


Click here to view SSMMA's 2022 meeting schedule.

Little Calumet Watershed Meeting- July 21 at 4:30pm

SSMMA Business Meeting- July 21 at 6:00pm
COVID-19 News

• SSMMA's COVID Vaccine Tracker shows that the current regional vaccination rate is 56.2%, compared to 68.9% statewide.

• As of July 15, Suburban Cook County's positivity rate reports as medium according to the CDC level.


• Find regional vaccination rates and vaccine clinics directly at ssmmacovid.org.
Community Vaccination Information
• CCDPH will host vaccination clinics on July 16 in Markham at Seasons Community Outreach Services from 10:00am-3:30pm. Children at least 6 months old are now eligible.

• Until July 15, Cook County Health will be offering a $100 Visa gift card to anyone age 6 months and older who gets a vaccine or booster shot at a participating Cook County Health hospital or health center. Appointments are required. Gift cards are available while supplies last.

• CCDPH offers a full calendar of vaccination clinics throughout suburban Cook County.

• Will County Health Department offers vaccination clinics for residents. Learn more.
Business & Residential Resources
• Governor Pritzker announces the Illinois Family Relief Plan to begin July 1. Learn more.

• Cook County Small Business Source program offers programs and opportunities to help businesses emerge from COVID-19 intact and positioned for growth.
• Governor Pritzker Announces $60 Million Competitive Grant Program for Early Childhood Construction in Illinois. Learn more.

• Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) offers a list of FY23 grant opportunities for eligible organizations. Learn more.

• Find a list of federal and DCEO grant opportunities here.

• Will County offers resources for residents and businesses impacted by the pandemic.
News from Community Partners
Grant Opportunity for Healthy Food Distribution to Suburban Cook County Communities
• Cook County Department of Public Health, in partnership with the Cook County Good Food Task Force and the Chicago Food Policy Action Council, is expanding access to healthy, locally sourced emergency meals to food insecure communities in suburban Cook County.

• Grants up to $25,000 are available for 5 suburban Cook County small/mid-sized farms, food businesses, food producers, or food cooperatives.

• Applications are due July 15. Learn more.
New National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Number Fully Launches July 16

• Beginning July 16, 2022, 9-8-8 will be the new three-digit dialing code connecting people to the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

• Modeled after 911, the new 9-8-8 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is designed to be a memorable and quick number that connects people to trained mental health professionals via text or telephone. Learn more.
• Nicor Gas will be hosting a job fair on August 6 at the Sauk Village municipal center from 9:00am-1:00pm.

• Join Nicor Gas to learn about great job opportunities, free energy resources and community assistance programs.

• All levels of experience are welcome!
• The Active Transportation Alliance and Illinois Public Health Institute are working in partnership with IDOT to host a 3-part webinar series to help communities apply for funding from the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program.

• This grant will provide $125 million in state and federal funding for walking, biking, and trail projects around the state.
EPA Announces Grant Opportunity for to Reduce PFA's Chemicals in Drinking Water
• The Environmental Protection Agency is inviting states and territories to apply for $1 billion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law grant funding. Small or disadvantaged communities are encouraged to apply.

• Interested applicants should submit a letter of intent by August 15.

Requests for Proposals
• SSMMA offers a list of RFPs from throughout the south suburban region directly on our website.

• Municipalities and organizations can send proposals here to have their RFPs publicly posted.
SPC News

Last Call to Participate in the July 19 Surplus Vehicle & Equipment Auction

  • Don't forget to participate in the July 19 Surplus Vehicle and Equipment Auction. Special thanks to Tinley Park, Steger, and the Village of Skokie for registering vehicles to sell at the event. The event begins at noon at America’s Auto Auction in Crestwood. America’s AA offers a wide variety of convenient services to prep your vehicles and garner the highest possible price, and as previously noted, prices for used cars are up 40% year-to-year due to chip shortages and high demand.

  • Please note that vehicles and equipment can be listed for disposal at the SPC auction right up to the morning of auction day. If you can’t make the July auction, the final live auction for the year will be held on Tuesday, October 18.

  • In addition, America’s Auto Auction hosts online sales on par with other government surplus Internet auctions. For questions or additional information, please contact staff or Berry Ellis, 312-371-5993 or berry.ellis@americasautoauction.com.

SPC Vehicle Program Update

  • Staff recently held discussions with Suburban Purchasing Cooperative (SPC) vehicle program vendors and was advised that the already bleak outlook for vehicle production is worsening. While some orders received in 2021 may still be scheduled for production, vehicle makers may either cancel the orders outright or decline to turn them over to be rescheduled. Additionally, most government vehicles that would normally be produced by Ford, Chevy and Dodge may not be produced for 2023 at all. Some industry analysts suggest that the best bet is to wait until 2024 as supply chain issues may not be fully resolved until then.

  • The SPC requested rollovers from General Motors on 2022 Chevrolet Tahoe Patrol Package (Contract #185) and Silverado Regular Cab 1500 Work Truck (Contract #186), but were informed that those vehicles will not be produced in 2022. In addition, the Chevrolet Bolt EV 5 Door Hatchback (Contract #175) may not be produced for government and commercial orders. Of the 600 SPC Ford Police Interceptor Utilities (Contract #204) currently on order with Currie Motors, approximately 200 have been built. Ford Super Duty Trucks that have been on order since July 2021 may be canceled by the manufacturer, who plans to release new specifications by the end of 2022 or early 2023.

  • There will be a limited production of 2023 Ford Transit Full Size Van, Passenger Wagon and E-Transit Vans (Contract #207), with the chance that 2022 orders may also be canceled in the government and commercial sectors. Staff will continue to stay on top of this issue and will send additional information as events warrant.

Click here for more information about the Suburban Purchasing Cooperative and to view the current SPC Catalog.
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