20 ILCS 605/605-400
2021 Illinois Compiled Statutes|Chapter 20 - EXECUTIVE BRANCH|20 ILCS 605/ - Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. (Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law)|Article 605 - Department Of Commerce And Economic Opportunity

 (was 20 ILCS 605/46.19c)Sec. 605-400. Office of Urban Assistance. The Department  shall  provide for, staff, and administer an  Office of Urban Assistance, which  shall plan and coordinate existing  State programs designed to aid and stimulate the economic growth of depressed  urban areas.  Among other duties assigned by the Department, the Office  shall have the following duties:(1) To coordinate the activities of the following     units and programs of the Department and all other present and future units and programs of the Department that impact depressed urban areas to the extent that they impact upon or concern urban economics:(A) Enterprise Zone Program.(B) Small Business Development Center Program.(C) Programs that assist in the development of     community infrastructure.(D) Illinois House Energy Assistance Program.(E) Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program.(F) Programs financed with Community Services Block     Grant funds.(G) Industrial Training Program.(H) Technology Transfer and Innovation Program.(I) Rental Rehabilitation Program.(J) Displaced Homemaker Program.(K) Programs under the federal Job Training     Partnership Act.The Office shall convene quarterly meetings of representatives who are  designated by the Department to represent the units and programs listed in  items (A) through (K).(2) To gather information concerning any State or federal  program that  is designed to revitalize or assist depressed urban areas in the State and  to provide this information to public and private entities upon request.(3) To promote and assist in developing urban inner city  industrial parks.(4) To promote economic parity and the autonomy of citizens of  this State  through promoting and assisting the development of urban inner city  small business development centers, urban youth unemployment projects, small  business  incubators, family resource centers, urban developments banks, self  managed  urban businesses, and plans for urban infrastructure projects over the next  25 years.(5) To recommend to the General Assembly and the Governor  economic policies for urban areas and planning models  that will result in the reconstruction of the economy of urban areas,  especially those urban areas where economically and socially disadvantaged  people live.(6) To make recommendations to the General Assembly and the  Governor on  the establishment of urban economic  policy in the areas of (i) housing, (ii) scientific  research, (iii) urban  youth unemployment, (iv) business incubators and family resource  centers in  urban inner cities, and (v) alternative energy resource  development, and the  need  thereof, in urban areas as part of the department's 5-year  plan for  economic development.(7) To make any rules and regulations necessary to carry out its  responsibilities under the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois.(8) To encourage new industrial enterprises to locate in urban  areas (i) through  educational promotions that point out the opportunities of any  such area as a  commercial and industrial field of opportunity and (ii) by the  solicitation of  industrial enterprises; and to do other acts that, in  the judgment  of the Office, are necessary and proper in fostering and promoting  the  industrial development and economic welfare of any urban area.  The  Office, however, shall have no power to require reports from or to regulate  any business.(9) To accept grants, loans, or appropriations from the  federal  government or the State, or any agency or instrumentality thereof, to be  used for the operating expenses of the Office or for any purposes of the  Office, including the making of direct loans or grants of those  funds for  public, private, experimental, or cooperative housing, scientific research,  urban inner city industrial parks, urban youth employment projects,  business incubators, urban infrastructure development, alternative energy  resource development, food deserts and community food plots, community facilities needed in urban areas, and  any other purpose related to the revitalization of urban areas.  (Source: P.A. 96-37, eff. 7-13-09.)