Section 290.20  Purpose

a)         The Office of the State Fire Marshal and the Illinois Finance Authority shall jointly administer a program to provide zero-interest loans for the purchase of fire trucks by a fire department, fire protection district, or township fire department.  The Office shall determine loan awards based on equipment needs, financial need, and how recently the applicant has received a previous loan under this program, supplemented by recommendations from the Authority based on creditworthiness.  Loans for the purchase of fire trucks shall not exceed $250,000 in any single fiscal year to any fire department or fire protection district.

b)         Applicants must also have participated in the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) for a minimum of the previous two years.  Fire departments or fire stations that are for-profit entities, non-profit entities, associations and/or not-for-profit corporations (i.e., that are not governmental bodies) are not eligible to apply for a loan under this program.  Units of local government that do not operate fire departments are similarly not eligible (e.g., a municipality that contracts for fire suppression from another municipality or fire district).