Section 520.230  Application Procedures

a)           Application Deadline.  Applications shall be submitted to the Department by December 31 for designation prior to September 30 of the following year. Any application received after December 31 of any calendar year shall be held by the Department for consideration and action during the following calendar year. [20 ILCS 655/5.2(a)]

b)         All applications for Enterprise Zones that expire on or before December 31, 2016, including the extension provided for in Section 520.315(b)(3), shall be submitted to the Department by December 31, 2014.  At that time, the zone becomes available for either the previously designated area or a different area to compete for designation.  No preference for designation as a zone will be given to the previously designated area. [20 ILCS 655/5.3(f)]

c)         For Enterprise Zones that are scheduled to expire on or after January 1, 2017, an application process shall begin 2 years prior to the year in which the zone expires. At that time, the zone becomes available for either the previously designated area or a different area to compete for designation.  No preference for designation as a zone will be given to the previously designated area. [20 ILCS 655/5.3(f)]

d)         All applications filed by December 31 of the preceding calendar year and deemed qualified by the Department shall be approved or denied by the Board. If such application is not approved by September 30, the application shall be considered denied. If an application is denied, the Board shall inform the applicant of the specific reasons for the denial. [20 ILCS 655/5.2.1(e)]

e)         A majority of the Board will determine whether an application is approved or denied. The Board is not, at any time, required to designate an Enterprise Zone. [20 ILCS 655/5.2.1(f)]

f)         In determining which designated areas shall be approved and certified as Enterprise Zones, the Board shall give preference to the extent to which the area meets the criteria set forth in Section 520.210. [20 ILCS 655/5.2.1(g)]

g)         Each Enterprise Zone that reapplies for certification but does not receive a new certification shall expire on its scheduled termination date. [20 ILCS 655/5.3(f)]

(Source:  Amended at 38 Ill. Reg. 457, effective December 20, 2013)