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| Public Act 103-0889 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning State government. | ||||
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, | ||||
represented in the General Assembly: | ||||
Section 5. The Department of Commerce and Economic | ||||
Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois | ||||
is amended by adding Section 605-1032 as follows: | ||||
(20 ILCS 605/605-1032 new) | ||||
Sec. 605-1032. Office of Economic Equity and Empowerment. | ||||
(a) As used in this Section: | ||||
"Eligible not-for-profit corporation" means a | ||||
not-for-profit corporation, as defined in Section 101.80 of | ||||
the General Not For Profit Corporation Act of 1986, that | ||||
primarily serves minorities, women, veterans, or persons with | ||||
a disability. | ||||
"Office" means the Office of Economic Equity and | ||||
Empowerment. | ||||
(b) The Office of Economic Equity and Empowerment is | ||||
hereby created within the Department. The Office shall assist | ||||
minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, | ||||
veteran-owned businesses, businesses owned by persons with | ||||
disabilities, eligible not-for-profit corporations, and other | ||||
underserved communities and constituencies through targeted | ||||
programs, resources, and outreach and promotional activities. | ||||
The Office may engage in or conduct the following activities: | ||
(1) promoting and conducting outreach efforts to | ||
ensure access to State and federal funding opportunities, | ||
and assisting minority-owned businesses, women-owned | ||
businesses, veteran-owned businesses, businesses owned by | ||
persons with disabilities, eligible not-for-profit | ||
corporations, and other underserved communities and | ||
constituencies in applying for and receiving loan funds in | ||
the State; | ||
(2) providing and hosting workshops and public forums | ||
and engaging in outreach efforts for minority-owned | ||
businesses, women-owned businesses, veteran-owned | ||
businesses, businesses owned by persons with disabilities, | ||
and other underserved communities and constituencies to | ||
encourage participation in programs under the Business | ||
Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with | ||
Disabilities Act, and assisting those businesses in | ||
becoming designated under that Act and under similar | ||
certification programs; | ||
(3) providing and hosting workshops and public forums | ||
and engaging in outreach efforts that assist and educate | ||
minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, | ||
veteran-owned businesses, businesses owned by persons with | ||
disabilities, eligible not-for-profit corporations, and | ||
other underserved communities and constituencies on the | ||
process of applying for and becoming certified to apply | ||
for State grant funds under the Grant Accountability and | ||
Transparency Act; | ||
(4) providing and hosting workshops and public forums | ||
and engaging in outreach efforts that assist and educate | ||
aspiring and existing minority-owned businesses, | ||
women-owned businesses, veteran-owned businesses, | ||
businesses owned by persons with disabilities, eligible | ||
not-for-profit corporations, and other underserved | ||
communities and constituencies with understanding concepts | ||
including, but not limited to, business formation and | ||
not-for-profit incorporation, business planning, capital | ||
access, and marketing a business or not-for-profit | ||
corporation; | ||
(5) administering programs established by the | ||
Department or the General Assembly to provide grants to | ||
minority-owned businesses, woman-owned businesses, | ||
veteran-owned businesses, businesses owned by persons with | ||
disabilities, eligible not-for-profit corporations, and | ||
other underserved communities and constituencies; | ||
(6) coordinating assistance for minority-owned | ||
businesses, woman-owned businesses, veteran-owned | ||
businesses, businesses owned by persons with disabilities, | ||
eligible not-for-profit corporations, and other | ||
underserved communities and constituencies with other | ||
State agencies; | ||
(7) providing staff, administration, and related | ||
support required to administer this Section; and | ||
(8) establishing applications, notifications, | ||
contracts, and other forms and procedures, and adopting | ||
rules deemed necessary and appropriate. | ||
(c) The Office may use vendors or enter into contracts to | ||
carry out the purposes of this Section. | ||