This week's Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) News and Views e-newsletter links to a letter sent by ISACo to the Governor and Legislative Leaders regarding SAFE-T Act issues, shares information about watershed grants, announces grant opportunities intended to assist residential property owners with lead abatement and mitigation projects, makes counties aware of a tourism grant opportunity, includes a financial market update from ISACo corporate partner PMA-iPrime, provides a link to register for the 2023 National Association of Counties (NACo) Legislative Conference and links to upcoming NACo webinars, highlights corporate partner Burke Warren and invites counties to join ISACo.

ISACo Advocates for SAFE-T Act Changes

As you are likely aware, the General Assembly is working to draft a trailer bill for the SAFE-T Act. This legislation is expected to be considered during the fall Veto Session (November 15-17 and November 29-December 1).

On Monday, October 24, ISACo Executive Director Joe McCoy sent a letter to Governor Pritzker and the four Legislative Leaders identifying issues in need of rectification prior to the January 1, 2023, effective date for provisions included within the SAFE-T Act. The issues identified within the letter are the result of feedback from ISACo's SAFE-T Act working group as well as a general call for input issued in our October 3 News and Views e-newsletter.

ISACo encourages counties to contact their legislators to raise these issues and/or any other issues for which there may be a concern.

We have created a resource page with information about the SAFE-T Act that includes a compilation of media stories and other resources about the Act. Please feel welcome to contact ISACo at info@isacoil.org with any questions.

IEPA Watershed Grants

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) is offering $4.5 million in funding through two Section 319(h) Grant Program Notice of Funding Opportunities to address non-point source pollution. The grants will fund watershed-based planning projects and watershed-based plan implementation projects to prevent, eliminate or reduce water quality impairments to Illinois’ surface and groundwater resources. Applications are due by 12:00 pm (CST) on December 7, 2022.

Application information is available via this link.

Lead Prevention Week Grant Announcement

As part of Lead Prevention week, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) highlighted $12 million in grant opportunities to local municipalities and community groups to help residential property owners with lead abatement and mitigation projects. IDPH is currently accepting applications through November 18.

Additional information is available via this link.

Travel and Tourism Grant Funding Announced

On October 27, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced nearly $3 million in funding to support local tourism promotional efforts across the state through the Illinois Travel and Tourism Grant Program.

Through a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) entities can apply for grants of up to $100,000 for promotional funds. Applications will be accepted until December 12, 2022. 

Additional information is available via this link.

PMA-iPrime Treasury Rate Update

ISACo corporate partner PMA-iPrime is sharing an FAQ on Treasury investments and rates. The information is available via this link.

Registration Open for NACo Legislative Conference

The National Association of Counties (NACo) Legislative Conference will be held from February 11-14, 2023, in Washington, D.C. The conference brings together nearly 2,000 elected and appointed county officials to focus on federal policy issues that impact counties and our residents.

Attendees have the opportunity to engage in second-to-none policy sessions, meet the members of the 118th Congress and interact with federal agency officials.

This is a one-of-a-kind advocacy opportunity to strengthen our intergovernmental partnerships for years to come.

Registration information is available via this link.

Upcoming NACo Webinars

NACo has announced the following upcoming webinar opportunities. ISACo is a proud partner with NACo and encourages counties to participate in NACo membership and activities.

Optimizing County Electronic Health Records for Game-Changing Workforce Satisfaction

(Monday October 31, 2022, 1:00pm-2:00pm CDT)

Electronic Health Records (EHRs) is some of the most-frequently-used technology in large and small county behavioral health, human services and public health departments. EHRs have evolved from being a basic repository of health data and billing information to serving as a foundational launching point for integrated, coordinated healthcare. Join this webinar to learn how county providers can optimize the capabilities of their EHRs to help recruit and retain high quality clinical, financial and operations staff to support overall workforce improvements. County leaders will also explore the evolution of EHRs, what they may look like in the future and the potential implications for the county workforce.

Click on this link to register for this event.

EPA’s Proposed Designation of PFAS as Hazardous under CERCLA

(Thursday November 3, 2022, 11:30am-12:30pm CDT)

On September 6, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a proposed rule to designate two types of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as hazardous under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), better known as Superfund. Designating PFAS as hazardous under CERCLA poses multiple implications for counties, cities and other local entities, particularly around the reporting and cleanup on these substances. EPA is accepting comments on the proposed rule through November 7, 2022. 
 
Join the National Association of Counties, the National League of Cities, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the American Water Works Association and the Solid Waste Association of Northern America for a deep dive into the consequences of this rule for local governments. 

Click on this link to register for this event.

FFI Data-Sharing Technology for Behavioral Health and Justice Learning Series: Cordata

(Thursday, November 3, 2022, 1:00pm-2:00pm CDT)

Join NACo and the Familiar Faces Initiative (FFI) for a series of webinars highlighting new technologies that share and integrate data across local behavioral health, health and justice systems. Cross-system data-sharing enables jurisdictions to identify their familiar faces—residents who are cycling through jail, emergency departments, homeless shelters or other crisis services at a high frequency—and better coordinate care to improve outcomes for the highest-needs residents.

Cordata connects communities and healthcare organizations to better serve at-risk populations – physically, mentally and socially.

Click on this link to register for this event.

Building Resilient Economies in Coal Communities National Launch Event

(Thursday, November 3, 2022, 2:00pm-3:00pm CDT)

Join NACo and federal agency partners for the national launch of the Building Resilient Economies in Coal Communities Community of Practice Initiative (BRECC). Through the support of the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) and the American Rescue Plan funding, BRECC will provide a knowledge-sharing and peer-learning community of practice to empower local leaders and other champions to develop new ideas, approaches and fundable projects as coal communities seek to retool local and regional economies.

Click on this link to register for the event.

What is Broadband? A Foundational Review for Counties

(Thursday, November 3, 2022, 2:00pm-4:00pm CDT)

What is fiber technology? What is satellite broadband technology? Which technology is most appropriate for my community? Join this first webinar in the Broadband Boot Camp for Counties series to learn about the various technological solutions available for broadband deployment, and engage in a discussion on best practices for assessing technological solutions in your community.

This Boot Camp webinar series is provided free of charge. Registration is reserved exclusively for NACo members. To learn more about a NACo membership, please click here. To register for Broadband Boot Camp for Counties Part One or Three, click here.

Click on this link to register for the event. 

Corporate Partner Spotlight

This week's corporate partner spotlight highlights ISACo's partnership with Burke Warren, a full-service law firm with expertise where law, business, and government intersect including:

• Public Finance: Burke Warren acts as bond counsel, underwriter’s counsel, disclosure counsel, issuer’s counsel, bank counsel, special pension disclosure counsel and borrower’s counsel in public finance transactions for State, County and Municipal governmental units.
• Government Representation: Burke Warren’s broad experience includes general counsel representation, eminent domain litigation, environmental contamination, land use entitlements and development incentives, real estate transactions and employment disputes.

Learn more about Burke Warren and firm partners Ray Fricke, Matt Norton, and Karen Mack by clicking on the links.

Click on this link to learn more about the benefits and opportunities available through ISACo's Corporate Partner Program.

Become an ISACo Member!