State of Illinois
91st General Assembly
Legislation

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91_SB1972

 
                                              LRB9114580TAcsA

 1        AN ACT in relation to agricultural development.

 2        Be  it  enacted  by  the People of the State of Illinois,
 3    represented in the General Assembly:

 4        Section 1.  Short title. This Act may  be  cited  as  the
 5    Animal Agriculture Industry Development Program Act.

 6        Section  5.  Purpose.   The  purpose  of  this  Act is to
 7    authorize the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs to
 8    award grants which  encourage  and  stimulate  the  start-up,
 9    modernization, and expansion of animal agriculture operations
10    in the State of Illinois.

11        Section 10.  Definitions.  As used in this Act:
12        "Animal   agriculture   producer"  means  individuals  or
13    entities engaged in dairying or the  breeding,  feeding,  and
14    management of livestock.
15        "Department"   means   the  Department  of  Commerce  and
16    Community Affairs.
17        "Director" means the Director of Commerce  and  Community
18    Affairs.
19        "Professional  services"  means the services necessary to
20    assist  in  evaluating  the   start-up,   modernization,   or
21    expansion  of  an  Illinois animal agriculture operation by a
22    third  party.    "Professional   services"   includes   costs
23    associated  with  developing  a  business plan or feasibility
24    study.
25        "Program"   means   the   Animal   Agriculture   Industry
26    Development Program.

27        Section 15.  Grant Program.
28        (a)  The Department, in cooperation with  the  Department
29    of  Agriculture  and  subject  to  appropriated  funds, shall
 
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 1    establish a  short-term  pilot  Animal  Agriculture  Industry
 2    Development Program to assist animal agriculture producers in
 3    the  State of Illinois.  The Department shall award grants to
 4    assist in covering  the  cost  of  having  independent  third
 5    parties provide the professional services necessary to assist
 6    Program applicants in evaluating the start-up, modernization,
 7    or expansion of Illinois animal agriculture operations.
 8        (b)  The Department may award up to 50% of eligible costs
 9    to an applicant selected to receive a grant.
10        (c)  Applicants  shall be required to contribute at least
11    50% of the total project costs from sources  other  than  the
12    State of Illinois.
13        (d)  In  determining  which applicants shall be awarded a
14    grant, the Department shall consider the following criteria:
15             (1)  viability of the project;
16             (2)  impact of the project on the  State's  economic
17        growth;
18             (3)  qualifications and expertise of the independent
19        third party providing professional services;
20             (4)  capacity  of  the applicant to finance at least
21        50% of the total project cost from sources other than the
22        State of Illinois;
23             (5)  prior compliance with loan or grant  agreements
24        previously funded by the Department; and
25             (6)  funding availability.
26        (e)  The   following   types   of  services  provided  by
27    independent third  parties  are  not  eligible  for  funding:
28    building  design,  farmstead layout, manure storage planning,
29    nutrition consulting, retirement and investment planning, tax
30    planning  and  tax  return  preparation,   inter-generational
31    transfer   planning,   information   system   development  or
32    consulting,  loan  generation,   chattel   or   real   estate
33    appraisal,  crop  consulting,  nutrient  management planning,
34    herd  health  consulting,  and  the  cost  of  completing  an
 
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 1    application to the Program.
 2        (f)  The Director shall determine the level of the  grant
 3    award.
 4        (g)  The  Department  may  adopt,  amend,  or repeal such
 5    rules as are necessary for the administration of this Act.

 6        Section 20.  Repeal.  This Act is  repealed  on  July  1,
 7    2006.

 8        Section  99.  Effective date.  This Act takes effect upon
 9    becoming law.

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