This week's Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) News and Views e-newsletter includes additional legislation signed into law of interest to counties, offers information about the Accelerate Illinois Broadband Infrastructure Planning Program, reports on $94 million in Capital Funding to revitalize public airports throughout Illinois, shares a registration link for NACo's 2022 Legislative Conference, provides links to ISACo resource pages and announces a new 'Hot Topics' tab on our website, includes upcoming National Association of Counties (NACo) webinar opportunities, spotlights ISACo corporate partner 2im Group and invites counties to join ISACo. 

Legislation Enacted into Law

Governor Pritzker signed additional legislation of interest to counties into law. These bills are included below:

Congressional Redistricting 

HB 1291 (Rep. Hernandez, D-Cicero/President Harmon, D-Oak Park) includes the new congressional map. The map can be viewed via this link. The bill was signed into law as P.A. 102-0670 with an effective date of November 23, 2021.

Health Care Right of Conscience Act

SB 1169 (President Harmon, D-Oak Park/Rep. Gabel, D-Evanston) is intended to prevent the Health Care Right of Conscience Act from being used to forestall certain COVID-19 prevention methods and requirements. The bill was signed into law as P.A. 102-0667 with an effective date of June 1, 2022. The General Assembly may revisit this issue in early 2022 when an immediate effective date can be inserted with a simple majority vote. 

Reimagining Electric Vehicles in Illinois Act

HB 1769 (Rep. Vella, D-Loves Park/Sen. Stadelman, D-Rockford) is an omnibus electric vehicle legislation known as the Reimagining Electric Vehicles in Illinois Act. The legislation provides for financial incentives and tax credits to eligible manufacturers of electric vehicles, electric vehicle component parts and electric vehicle power supply equipment. The bill was signed into law as P.A. 102-0669 with an effective date of November 16, 2021.

ISACo has updated our Public Acts Report for 2021: Legislation of Interest to Counties Approved in 2021. The update reflects actions taken during and following the Fall Veto Session. Click on the image to access the report.

Accelerate Illinois Initiative Announced

On December 1, 2021, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) Office of Broadband announced a new planning and capacity-building program to help Illinois communities leverage historic broadband infrastructure funding for community-driven broadband expansion. The Accelerate Illinois Broadband Infrastructure Planning Program will help local governments throughout Illinois receive expert support as they prepare to leverage new dollars that will be made available by the state as well as through the historic passage of the federal infrastructure program. 

The Illinois Office of Broadband is calling on local units of government – particularly cities, counties, and multi-county regions – to apply to receive expert support offered as part of an intensive 14-week community
engagement program designed to turn available public broadband funding into sustainable broadband access.

ISACo Executive Director Joe McCoy was quoted in a press release about the program:

“Extending broadband connectivity to all corners of Illinois is like constructing a superhighway to integrate our state’s communities and residents into an evolving global economy and dynamic learning hub,’ said Joe McCoy, Executive Director of the Illinois State Association of Counties. “Broadband expansion will break down existing barriers and help create opportunities for everyone. The Accelerate Illinois program will provide a roadmap to help counties and other communities utilize state and federal dollars to invest in digital equity. ISACo looks forward to working with the Pritzker administration to achieve this objective.”

The application process for the Accelerate Illinois Broadband Infrastructure Planning Program is open until December 30, 2021. Click on this link if your county is interested in applying for participation. This initial pilot initiative will be open to up to 12 communities.

Click on this link to view the full press release.

$94 Million in Capital Funding to Revitalize Public Airports Throughout Illinois

On December 1, 2021, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) announced $94 million has been awarded to improve public airports throughout the state through the bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital program. The $94 million unlocks $11.5 million in local contributions for a total investment of $105 million. 

The 96 projects selected for funding will help meet the needs of airports large and small in both urban and rural communities. Projects will include planning, construction, reconstruction, development and improvement of public airports to increase safety and efficiency. Communities also will benefit from increased aviation access, good-paying jobs during construction and long-term opportunities for workforce expansion.

A full list of recipients can be viewed by clicking on this link. 

Click on this link to view the full press release.

Registration Open for NACo's 2022 Legislative Conference

The 2022 NACo Legislative Conference will be held in Washington, D.C. from February 12-16. The Conference brings together nearly 2,000 elected and appointed county officials to focus on federal policy issues that impact counties and their residents. Attendees have the opportunity to engage in second-to-none policy and educational sessions, interact with federal officials and participate in congressional briefings and meetings. 

ISACo will hold an event for Illinois attendees. More information will be announced at a later date.

Registration information is available via this link.

ISACo Resource Pages

County officials and staff can find several resource pages on ISACo's website Links to ISACo's resource pages are available below:

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

State and Local Fiscal and Recovery Funds

COVID Vaccination Resources

NACo has announced the following upcoming webinar opportunities:

ARPA Usage Series with Esri and NACo: Transportation and Transit

(Monday, December 6, 2021, 12:00-1:00pm CST)

This is an external webinar hosted by Esri. For technical assistance, please contact the webinar coordinator. 

Federal relief funding for the COVID-19 pandemic provides governments with an opportunity to invest in their communities and advance the use of technology. This new webinar series from the National Association of Counties (NACo) and Esri will answer questions and provide tips to help align your local priorities with funding opportunities to strengthen your technological investments.

Each webinar will highlight existing federal programs, provide examples of how other jurisdictions are using federal relief funding, and show how your investment in GIS can support your recovery initiatives.

Click on this link to register for this event.

ARPA Usage Series with Esri and NACo: Broadband

(Wednesday, December 8, 2021, 12:00-1:00pm CST)

This is an external webinar hosted by Esri. For technical assistance, please contact the webinar coordinator. 

Federal relief funding for the COVID-19 pandemic provides governments with an opportunity to invest in their communities and advance the use of technology. This new webinar series from the National Association of Counties (NACo) and Esri will answer questions and provide tips to help align your local priorities with funding opportunities to strengthen your technological investments.

Each webinar will highlight existing federal programs, provide examples of how other jurisdictions are using federal relief funding, and show how your investment in GIS can support your recovery initiatives.

Click on this link to register for this event.

NACo Tech Xchange Focus Group: A Technology Layman's Guide for Elected Officials

(Wednesday, December 8, 2021, 2:00-3:00pm CST)

Come be a part of further development of a series of Layman’s Guides for Elected Officials. These guides will contain an overview of the technology topical area along with a series of questions for elected officials and other non-technical county leaders to ask of their IT department or IT support. Potential answers along with challenges and opportunities will be included for each question. This first one is devoted to Cyber. While a draft is underway, we need additional county IT leadership input for a more robust and complete guide.

Learn more about the NACo Tech XChange here.

Click on this link to register for this event.

Virtual Convening: Connecting Vulnerable Household to the Child Tax Credit

(Friday, December 10, 2021, 1:00-2:00pm CST)

This is an external webinar hosted by the Center for Intergovernmental Partnerships at the National Academy of Public Administration. For assistance, contact the event coordinators. 

The Center for Intergovernmental Partnerships at the National Academy of Public Administration will hold a convening to discuss the Child Tax Credit on Friday, December 10, 2021, at 2:00 pm (ET) in collaboration with the National Association of Counties and the American Public Human Services Association. This discussion will feature representatives from state and local governments as well as nonprofits to discuss our collective progress in connecting vulnerable households with the expanded Child tax Credit. The convening aims to address what is working well, what challenges lie ahead, and what opportunities exist to increase enrollment among parents of the estimated 4 million children eligible for this benefit in 2022.

Click on this link to register for this event.

Corporate Sponsor Spotlight

This week's corporate partner spotlight highlights ISACo's partnership with 2im Group. 

2im Group, LLC is a multi-disciplined civil engineering and environmental services firm, specializing in water resource management. Their experience includes working with transportation agencies and private sector clients. 2im Group, LLC strives to recognize their clients’ priorities to ensure project success!

​The project scopes include: Phase I studies, reports, and investigations; Phase II detailed plans, specifications, and engineer’s cost estimates; and Phase III construction engineering services.

​2im Group was established in July 2005 and has a combined personnel experience of over 100 years. Major clients include the Illinois Tollway and the Illinois Department of Transportation.

More information about the services provided by 2im Group, LLC 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!