20 ILCS 655/ Illinois Enterprise Zone Act.

(20 ILCS 655/1) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 601)

Sec. 1. This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Illinois Enterprise Zone Act".

(Source: P.A. 82-1019.)

(20 ILCS 655/2) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 602)

Sec. 2. The General Assembly finds and declares that the health, safety and welfare of the people of this State are dependent upon a healthy economy and vibrant communities; that the continual encouragement, development, growth and expansion of the private sector within the State requires a cooperative and continuous partnership between government and the private sector; and that there are certain depressed areas in this State that need the particular attention of government, business, labor and the citizens of Illinois to help attract private sector investment into these areas and directly aid the local community and its residents. Therefore, it is declared to be the purpose of this Act to explore ways and means of stimulating business and industrial growth and retention in depressed areas and stimulating neighborhood revitalization of depressed areas of the State by means of relaxed government controls and tax incentives in those areas.

(Source: P.A. 82-1019.)

(20 ILCS 655/3) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 603)

Sec. 3. Definitions. As used in this Act, the following words shall have the meanings ascribed to them, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) "Department" means the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

(b) "Enterprise Zone" means an area of the State certified by the Department as an Enterprise Zone pursuant to this Act.

(c) "Depressed Area" means an area in which pervasive poverty, unemployment and economic distress exist.

(d) "Designated Zone Organization" means an association or entity: (1) the members of which are substantially all residents of the Enterprise Zone; (2) the board of directors of which is elected by the members of the organization; (3) which satisfies the criteria set forth in Section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code; and (4) which exists primarily for the purpose of performing within such area or zone for the benefit of the residents and businesses thereof any of the functions set forth in Section 8 of this Act.

(e) "Agency" means each officer, board, commission and agency created by the Constitution, in the executive branch of State government, other than the State Board of Elections; each officer, department, board, commission, agency, institution, authority, university, body politic and corporate of the State; and each administrative unit or corporate outgrowth of the State government which is created by or pursuant to statute, other than units of local government and their officers, school districts and boards of election commissioners; each administrative unit or corporate outgrowth of the above and as may be created by executive order of the Governor. No entity shall be considered an "agency" for the purposes of this Act unless authorized by law to make rules or regulations.

(f) "Rule" means each agency statement of general applicability that implements, applies, interprets or prescribes law or policy, but does not include (i) statements concerning only the internal management of an agency and not affecting private rights or procedures available to persons or entities outside the agency, (ii) intra-agency memoranda, or (iii) the prescription of standardized forms.

(g) "Board" means the Enterprise Zone Board created in Section 5.2.1.

(h) "Local labor market area" means an economically integrated area within which individuals can reside and find employment within a reasonable distance or can readily change jobs without changing their place of residence.

(i) "Full-time equivalent job" means a job in which the new employee works for the recipient or for a corporation under contract to the recipient at a rate of at least 35 hours per week. A recipient who employs labor or services at a specific site or facility under contract with another may declare one full-time, permanent job for every 1,820 hours worked per year under that contract. Vacations, paid holidays, and sick time are included in this computation. Overtime is not considered a part of regular hours.

(j) "Full-time retained job" means any employee defined as having a full-time or full-time equivalent job preserved at a specific facility or site, the continuance of which is threatened by a specific and demonstrable threat, which shall be specified in the application for development assistance. A recipient who employs labor or services at a specific site or facility under contract with another may declare one retained employee per year for every 1,750 hours worked per year under that contract, even if different individuals perform on-site labor or services.

(Source: P.A. 102-108, eff. 1-1-22.)

(20 ILCS 655/4) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 604)

Sec. 4. Qualifications for enterprise zones.

(1) An area is qualified to become an enterprise zone which:

(a) is a contiguous area, provided that a zone area may exclude wholly surrounded territory within its boundaries;

(b) comprises a minimum of one-half square mile and not more than 14 square miles, or 20 square miles if the zone is located within the jurisdiction of 4 or more counties or municipalities, in total area, exclusive of lakes and waterways; however, in such cases where the enterprise zone is a joint effort of three or more units of government, or two or more units of government if situated in a township which is divided by a municipality of 1,000,000 or more inhabitants, and where the certification has been in effect at least one year, the total area shall comprise a minimum of one-half square mile and not more than 16 square miles in total area exclusive of lakes and waterways;

(c) (blank);

(d) (blank);

(e) is (1) entirely within a municipality or (2) entirely within the unincorporated areas of a county, except where reasonable need is established for such zone to cover portions of more than one municipality or county or (3) both comprises (i) all or part of a municipality and (ii) an unincorporated area of a county; and

(f) meets 3 or more of the following criteria:

(1) all or part of the local labor market area has had an annual average unemployment rate of at least 120% of the State's annual average unemployment rate for the most recent calendar year or the most recent fiscal year as reported by the Department of Employment Security;

(2) designation will result in the development of substantial employment opportunities by creating or retaining a minimum aggregate of 1,000 full-time equivalent jobs due to an aggregate investment of $100,000,000 or more, and will help alleviate the effects of poverty and unemployment within the local labor market area;

(3) all or part of the local labor market area has a poverty rate of at least 20% according to American Community Survey; 35% or more of families with children in the area are living below 130% of the poverty line, according to the latest American Community Survey; or 20% or more households in the local labor market area receive food stamps or assistance under Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ("SNAP") according to the latest American Community Survey;

(4) an abandoned coal mine, a brownfield (as defined in Section 58.2 of the Environmental Protection Act), or an inactive nuclear-powered electrical generation facility where spent nuclear fuel is stored on-site is located in the proposed zone area, or all or a portion of the proposed zone was declared a federal disaster area in the 3 years preceding the date of application;

(5) the local labor market area contains a presence of large employers that have downsized over the years, the labor market area has experienced plant closures in the 5 years prior to the date of application affecting more than 50 workers, or the local labor market area has experienced State or federal facility closures in the 5 years prior to the date of application affecting more than 50 workers;

(6) based on data from Multiple Listing Service information or other suitable sources, the local labor market area contains a high floor vacancy rate of industrial or commercial properties, vacant or demolished commercial and industrial structures are prevalent in the local labor market area, or industrial structures in the local labor market area are not used because of age, deterioration, relocation of the former occupants, or cessation of operation;

(7) the applicant demonstrates a substantial plan for using the designation to improve the State and local government tax base, including income, sales, and property taxes, including a plan for disposal of publicly-owned real property by the methods described in Section 10 of this Act;

(8) significant public infrastructure is present in the local labor market area in addition to a plan for infrastructure development and improvement;

(9) high schools or community colleges located within the local labor market area are engaged in ACT Work Keys, Manufacturing Skills Standard Certification, or other industry-based credentials that prepare students for careers;

(10) (blank); or

(11) the applicant demonstrates a substantial plan for using the designation to encourage: (i) participation by businesses owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities, as those terms are defined in the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with Disabilities Act; and (ii) the hiring of minorities, women, and persons with disabilities.

As provided in Section 10-5.3 of the River Edge Redevelopment Zone Act, upon the expiration of the term of each River Edge Redevelopment Zone in existence on August 7, 2012 (the effective date of Public Act 97-905), that River Edge Redevelopment Zone will become available for its previous designee or a new applicant to compete for designation as an enterprise zone. No preference for designation will be given to the previous designee of the zone.

(2) Any criteria established by the Department or by law which utilize the rate of unemployment for a particular area shall provide that all persons who are not presently employed and have exhausted all unemployment benefits shall be considered unemployed, whether or not such persons are actively seeking employment.

(Source: P.A. 101-81, eff. 7-12-19; 102-108, eff. 1-1-22; 102-1125, eff. 2-3-23.)

(20 ILCS 655/4.1)

Sec. 4.1. Department recommendations.

(a) For all applications that qualify under Section 4 of this Act, the Department shall issue recommendations by assigning a score to each applicant. The scores will be determined by the Department, based on the extent to which an applicant meets the criteria points under subsection (f) of Section 4 of this Act. Scores will be determined using the following scoring system:

(1) Up to 50 points for the extent to which the applicant meets or exceeds the criteria in item (1) of subsection (f) of Section 4 of this Act, with points awarded according to the severity of the unemployment.

(2) Up to 50 points for the extent to which the applicant meets or exceeds the criteria in item (2) of subsection (f) of Section 4 of this Act, with points awarded in accordance with the number of jobs created and the aggregate amount of investment promised. The Department may award partial points on a pro rata basis under this paragraph (2) if the applicant demonstrates specific job creation and investment below the thresholds set forth in paragraph (2) of subsection (f) of Section 4.

(3) Up to 40 points for the extent to which the applicant meets or exceeds the criteria in item (3) of subsection (f) of Section 4 of this Act, with points awarded in accordance with the severity of the unemployment rate according to the latest American Community Survey.

(4) Up to 30 points for the extent to which the applicant meets or exceeds the criteria in item (4) of subsection (f) of Section 4 of this Act, with points awarded in accordance with the severity of the environmental impact of the abandoned coal mine, brownfield, or federal disaster area.

(5) Up to 50 points for the extent to which the applicant meets or exceeds the criteria in item (5) of subsection (f) of Section 4 of this Act, with points awarded in accordance with the severity of the applicable facility closures or downsizing.

(6) Up to 40 points for the extent to which the applicant meets or exceeds the criteria in item (6) of subsection (f) of Section 4 of this Act, with points awarded in accordance with the severity and extent of the high floor vacancy or deterioration.

(7) Up to 30 points for the extent to which the applicant meets or exceeds the criteria in item (7) of subsection (f) of Section 4 of this Act, with points awarded in accordance with the extent to which the application addresses a plan to improve the State and local government tax base, including a plan for disposal of publicly-owned real property.

(8) Up to 50 points for the extent to which the applicant meets or exceeds the criteria in item (8) of subsection (f) of Section 4 of this Act, with points awarded in accordance with the existence of significant public infrastructure.

(9) Up to 40 points for the extent to which the applicant meets or exceeds the criteria in item (9) of subsection (f) of Section 4 of this Act, with points awarded in accordance with the extent to which educational programs exist for career preparation.

(10) (Blank).

(11) Up to 40 points for the extent to which the applicant meets or exceeds the criteria in item (11) of subsection (f) of Section 4 of this Act.

(b) After assigning a score for each of the individual criteria using the point system as described in subsection (a), the Department shall then take the sum of the scores for each applicant and assign a final score. The Department shall then submit this information to the Board, as required in subsection (c) of Section 5.2, as its recommendation.

(Source: P.A. 102-108, eff. 1-1-22.)

(20 ILCS 655/5) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 605)

Sec. 5. Initiation of Enterprise Zones by Municipality or County. (a) No area may be designated as an enterprise zone except pursuant to an initiating ordinance adopted in accordance with this Section.

(b) A county or municipality may by ordinance designate an area within its jurisdiction as an enterprise zone, subject to the certification of the Department in accordance with this Act, if:

(i) the area is qualified in accordance with Section 4; and

(ii) the county or municipality has conducted at least one public hearing within the proposed zone area on the question of whether to create the zone, what local plans, tax incentives and other programs should be established in connection with the zone, and what the boundaries of the zone should be; public notice of such hearing shall be published in at least one newspaper of general circulation within the zone area, not more than 20 days nor less than 5 days before the hearing.

(c) An ordinance designating an area as an enterprise zone shall set forth:

(i) a precise description of the area comprising the zone, either in the form of a legal description or by reference to roadways, lakes and waterways, and township, county boundaries;

(ii) a finding that the zone area meets the qualifications of Section 4;

(iii) provisions for any tax incentives or reimbursement for taxes, which pursuant to state and federal law apply to business enterprises within the zone at the election of the designating county or municipality, and which are not applicable throughout the county or municipality;

(iv) a designation of the area as an enterprise zone, subject to the approval of the Department in accordance with this Act;

(v) the duration or term of the enterprise zone.

(d) This Section does not prohibit a municipality or county from extending additional tax incentives or reimbursement for business enterprises in Enterprise Zones or throughout their territory by separate ordinance.

(e) No county or municipality located within the Metro East Mass Transit District which adopts an ordinance designating an area within the District as an Enterprise Zone shall provide for any exemption, deduction, credit, refund or abatement of any taxes imposed by the Metro East Mass Transit District Board of Trustees under Section 5.01 of the "Local Mass Transit District Act", approved July 21, 1959, as amended.

(f) The Department shall encourage applications from all areas of the State and shall actively solicit applications from those counties with populations of less than 300,000.

(Source: P.A. 85-870.)

(20 ILCS 655/5.1) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 606)

Sec. 5.1. Application to Department.

(a) A county or municipality which has adopted an ordinance designating an area as an enterprise zone shall make written application to the Department to have such proposed enterprise zone certified by the Department as an Enterprise Zone. The application shall include:

(i) a certified copy of the ordinance designating the proposed zone;

(ii) a map of the proposed enterprise zone, showing existing streets and highways;

(iii) an analysis, and any appropriate supporting documents and statistics, demonstrating that the proposed zone area is qualified in accordance with Section 4;

(iv) a statement detailing any tax, grant, and other financial incentives or benefits, and any programs, to be provided by the municipality or county to business enterprises within the zone, other than those provided in the designating ordinance, which are not to be provided throughout the municipality or county;

(v) a statement setting forth the economic development and planning objectives for the zone;

(vi) a statement describing the functions, programs, and services to be performed by designated zone organizations within the zone;

(vii) an estimate of the economic impact of the zone, considering all of the tax incentives, financial benefits and programs contemplated, upon the revenues of the municipality or county;

(viii) a transcript of all public hearings on the zone;

(ix) in the case of a joint application, a statement detailing the need for a zone covering portions of more than one municipality or county and a description of the agreement between joint applicants; and

(x) such additional information as the Department by regulation may require.

(b) The Department may provide for provisional certification of substantially complete applications pending the receipt of any of the items identified in subsection (a) of this Section or any additional information requested by the Department.

(Source: P.A. 102-108, eff. 1-1-22.)

(20 ILCS 655/5.2) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 607)

Sec. 5.2. Department review of Enterprise Zone applications.

(a) All applications which are to be considered and acted upon by the Department during a calendar year must be received by the Department no later than December 31 of the preceding calendar 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.

Each enterprise zone application shall include a specific definition of the applicant's local labor market area.

(a-5) The Department shall, no later than July 31, 2013, develop an application process for an enterprise zone application. The Department has emergency rulemaking authority for the purpose of application development only until 12 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly.

(b) Upon receipt of an application from a county or municipality the Department shall review the application to determine whether the designated area qualifies as an enterprise zone under Section 4 of this Act.

(c) No later than June 30, the Department shall notify all applicant municipalities and counties of the Department's determination of the qualification of their respective designated enterprise zone areas, and shall send qualifying applications, including the applicant's scores for each of the items set forth in subsection (a) of Section 4.1 and the applicant's final score under that Section, to the Board for the Board's consideration, along with supporting documentation of the basis for the Department's decision.

(d) If any such designated area is found to be qualified to be an enterprise zone by the Department under subsection (c) of this Section, the Department shall, no later than July 15, send a letter of notification to each member of the General Assembly whose legislative district or representative district contains all or part of the designated area and publish a notice in at least one newspaper of general circulation within the proposed zone area to notify the general public of the application and their opportunity to comment. Such notice shall include a description of the area and a brief summary of the application and shall indicate locations where the applicant has provided copies of the application for public inspection. The notice shall also indicate appropriate procedures for the filing of written comments from zone residents, business, civic and other organizations and property owners to the Department. The Department and the Board may consider written comments submitted pursuant to this Section or any other information regarding a pending enterprise zone application submitted after the deadline for enterprise zone application and received prior to the Board's decision on all pending applications.

(e) (Blank).

(f) (Blank).

(g) (Blank).

(h) (Blank).

(Source: P.A. 102-108, eff. 1-1-22.)

(20 ILCS 655/5.2.1)

Sec. 5.2.1. Enterprise Zone Board.

(a) An Enterprise Zone Board is hereby created within the Department.

(b) The Board shall consist of the following 5 members:

(1) the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, or his or her designee, who shall serve as chairperson;

(2) the Director of Revenue, or his or her designee; and

(3) three members appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate.

Board members shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

(c) Each member appointed under item (3) of subsection (b) shall have at least 5 years of experience in business, economic development, or site location. Of the members appointed under item (3) of subsection (b): one member shall reside in Cook County; one member shall reside in DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, or Will County; and one member shall reside in a county other than Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, or Will.

(d) Of the initial members appointed under item (3) of subsection (b): one member shall serve for a term of 2 years; one member shall serve for a term of 3 years; and one member shall serve for a term of 4 years. Thereafter, all members appointed under item (3) of subsection (b) shall serve for terms of 4 years. Members appointed under item (3) of subsection (b) may be reappointed. The Governor may remove a member appointed under item (3) of subsection (b) for incompetence, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.

(e) By September 30, 2015, and September 30 of each year thereafter, 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.

(f) 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.

(g) 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 4.

(Source: P.A. 97-905, eff. 8-7-12; 98-109, eff. 7-25-13.)

(20 ILCS 655/5.3) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 608)

Sec. 5.3. Certification of Enterprise Zones; effective date.

(a) Certification of Board-approved designated Enterprise Zones shall be made by the Department by certification of the designating ordinance. The Department shall promptly issue a certificate for each Enterprise Zone upon approval by the Board. The certificate shall be signed by the Director of the Department, shall make specific reference to the designating ordinance, which shall be attached thereto, and shall be filed in the office of the Secretary of State. A certified copy of the Enterprise Zone Certificate, or a duplicate original thereof, shall be recorded in the office of recorder of deeds of the county in which the Enterprise Zone lies.

(b) An Enterprise Zone certified prior to January 1, 2016 or on or after January 1, 2017 shall be effective on January 1 of the first calendar year after Department certification. An Enterprise Zone certified on or after January 1, 2016 and on or before December 31, 2016 shall be effective on the date of the Department's certification. The Department shall transmit a copy of the certification to the Department of Revenue, and to the designating municipality or county.

Upon certification of an Enterprise Zone, the terms and provisions of the designating ordinance shall be in effect, and may not be amended or repealed except in accordance with Section 5.4.

(c) With the exception of Enterprise Zones scheduled to expire before December 31, 2018, an Enterprise Zone designated before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly shall be in effect for 30 calendar years, or for a lesser number of years specified in the certified designating ordinance. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Enterprise Zone in existence on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly that has a term of 20 calendar years may be extended for an additional 10 calendar years upon amendment of the designating ordinance by the designating municipality or county and submission of the ordinance to the Department. The amended ordinance must be properly recorded in the Office of Recorder of Deeds of each county in which the Enterprise Zone lies. Each Enterprise Zone in existence on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly that is scheduled to expire before July 1, 2016 may have its termination date extended until July 1, 2016 upon amendment of the designating ordinance by the designating municipality or county extending the termination date to July 1, 2016 and submission of the ordinance to the Department. The amended ordinance must be properly recorded in the Office of Recorder of Deeds of each county in which the Enterprise Zone lies. An Enterprise Zone designated on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly shall be in effect for a term of 15 calendar years, or for a lesser number of years specified in the certified designating ordinance. An enterprise zone designated on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly shall be subject to review by the Board after 13 years for an additional 10-year designation beginning on the expiration date of the enterprise zone. During the review process, the Board shall consider the costs incurred by the State and units of local government as a result of tax benefits received by the enterprise zone as well as whether the Zone has substantially implemented the plans and achieved the goals set forth in its original application, including satisfaction of the investment and job creation or retention information provided by the Applicant with respect to paragraph (f) of subsection (1) of Section 4 of the Act. Enterprise Zones shall terminate at midnight of December 31 of the final calendar year of the certified term, except as provided in Section 5.4.

(d) Except for Enterprise Zones authorized under subsection (f), Zones that become available for designation pursuant to Section 10-5.3 of the River Edge Redevelopment Zone Act, or those designated pursuant to another statutory authority providing for the creation of Enterprise Zones, no more than a total of 97 Enterprise Zones may be certified by the Department and in existence in any calendar year. In any calendar year, the Department may not certify more than 3 Zones located within the same municipality. The Department may not certify more than a total of 18 Enterprise Zones located within the same county (whether within municipalities or within unincorporated territory). Beginning in calendar year 2021 and for any year in which there are at least 4 Zones available for designation, at least 25% of Zones available for designation in a given calendar year must be awarded to Zones located in counties with populations of less than 300,000 unless there are no applicants from such locations for that calendar year.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if (i) the county board of any county in which a current military base is located, in part or in whole, or in which a military base that has been closed within 20 years of the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1998 is located, in part or in whole, adopts a designating ordinance in accordance with Section 5 of this Act to designate the military base in that county as an enterprise zone and (ii) the property otherwise meets the qualifications for an enterprise zone as prescribed in Section 4 of this Act, then the Department may certify the designating ordinance or ordinances, as the case may be.

(f) Applications for Enterprise Zones that are scheduled to expire in 2016, including Enterprise Zones that have been extended until 2016 by this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly, shall be submitted to the Department no later than 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.

For Enterprise Zones that are scheduled to expire on or after January 1, 2017 and prior to January 1, 2024, 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. For Enterprise Zones that are scheduled to expire on or after January 1, 2024, an application process shall begin 5 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.

Each Enterprise Zone that reapplies for certification but does not receive a new certification shall expire on its scheduled termination date.

(Source: P.A. 102-108, eff. 1-1-22.)

(20 ILCS 655/5.4) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 609)

Sec. 5.4. Amendment and decertification of Enterprise Zones.

(a) The terms of a certified enterprise zone designating ordinance may be amended to

(i) alter the boundaries of the Enterprise Zone, or

(ii) expand, limit or repeal tax incentives or benefits provided in the ordinance, or

(iii) alter the termination date of the zone, or

(iv) make technical corrections in the enterprise zone designating ordinance; but such amendment shall not be effective unless the Department issues an amended certificate for the Enterprise Zone, approving the amended designating ordinance. Upon the adoption of any ordinance amending or repealing the terms of a certified enterprise zone designating ordinance, the municipality or county shall promptly file with the Department an application for approval thereof, containing substantially the same information as required for an application under Section 5.1 insofar as material to the proposed changes. The municipality or county must hold a public hearing on the proposed changes as specified in Section 5 and, if the amendment is to effectuate the limitation of tax abatements under Section 5.4.1, then the public notice of the hearing shall state that property that is in both the enterprise zone and a redevelopment project area may not receive tax abatements unless within 60 days after the adoption of the amendment to the designating ordinance the municipality has determined that eligibility for tax abatements has been established,

(v) include an area within another municipality or county as part of the designated enterprise zone provided the requirements of Section 4 are complied with, or

(vi) effectuate the limitation of tax abatements under Section 5.4.1.

(b) The Department shall approve or disapprove a proposed amendment to a certified enterprise zone within 90 days of its receipt of the application from the municipality or county. The Department may not approve changes in a Zone which are not in conformity with this Act, as now or hereafter amended, or with other applicable laws. If the Department issues an amended certificate for an Enterprise Zone, the amended certificate, together with the amended zone designating ordinance, shall be filed, recorded and transmitted as provided in Section 5.3.

(c) An Enterprise Zone may be decertified by joint action of the Department and the designating county or municipality in accordance with this Section. The designating county or municipality shall conduct at least one public hearing within the zone prior to its adoption of an ordinance of de-designation. The mayor of the designating municipality or the chairman of the county board of the designating county shall execute a joint decertification agreement with the Department. A decertification of an Enterprise Zone shall not become effective until at least 6 months after the execution of the decertification agreement, which shall be filed in the office of the Secretary of State.

(d) An Enterprise Zone may be decertified for cause by the Department in accordance with this Section. Prior to decertification: (1) the Department shall notify the chief elected official of the designating county or municipality in writing of the specific deficiencies which provide cause for decertification; (2) the Department shall place the designating county or municipality on probationary status for at least 6 months during which time corrective action may be achieved in the enterprise zone by the designating county or municipality; and, (3) the Department shall conduct at least one public hearing within the zone. If such corrective action is not achieved during the probationary period, the Department shall issue an amended certificate signed by the Director of the Department decertifying the enterprise zone, which certificate shall be filed in the office of the Secretary of State. A certified copy of the amended enterprise zone certificate, or a duplicate original thereof, shall be recorded in the office of recorder of the county in which the enterprise zone lies, and shall be provided to the chief elected official of the designating county or municipality. Decertification of an Enterprise Zone shall not become effective until 60 days after the date of filing.

(d-1) The Department shall provisionally decertify any Enterprise Zone that fails to file a report or fails to report any capital investment, job creation or retention, or State tax expenditures for 3 consecutive calendar years. Prior to provisional decertification: (1) the Department shall notify the chief elected official of the designating county or municipality in writing of the specific deficiencies which provide cause for decertification; (2) the Department shall place the designating county or municipality on probationary status for at least 6 months during which time corrective action may be achieved in the Enterprise Zone by the designating county or municipality; and (3) the Department shall conduct at least one public hearing within the Zone. If such corrective action is not achieved during the probationary period, the Department shall issue an amended certificate signed by the Director of the Department provisionally decertifying the Enterprise Zone as of the scheduled termination date of the then-current designation. If the provisionally-decertified Zone was approved and designated after the 102nd General Assembly and has been in existence for less than 15 years, such Zone shall not be eligible for an additional 10-year designation after the expiration date of the original Zone set forth in subsection (c) of Section 5.3. Further, if such corrective action is not achieved during the probationary period provided for in this Section, following such probationary period the Zone becomes available for a different area to compete for designation.

(e) In the event of a decertification, provisional decertification, or an amendment reducing the length of the term or the area of an Enterprise Zone or the adoption of an ordinance reducing or eliminating tax benefits in an Enterprise Zone, all benefits previously extended within the Zone pursuant to this Act or pursuant to any other Illinois law providing benefits specifically to or within Enterprise Zones shall remain in effect for the original stated term of the Enterprise Zone, with respect to business enterprises within the Zone on the effective date of such decertification, provisional decertification, or amendment, and with respect to individuals participating in urban homestead programs under this Act.

(f) Except as otherwise provided in Section 5.4.1, with respect to business enterprises (or expansions thereof) which are proposed or under development within a Zone at the time of a decertification or an amendment reducing the length of the term of the Zone, or excluding from the Zone area the site of the proposed enterprise, or an ordinance reducing or eliminating tax benefits in a Zone, such business enterprise shall be entitled to the benefits previously applicable within the Zone for the original stated term of the Zone, if the business enterprise establishes:

(i) that the proposed business enterprise or expansion has been committed to be located within the Zone;

(ii) that substantial and binding financial obligations have been made towards the development of such enterprise; and

(iii) that such commitments have been made in reasonable reliance on the benefits and programs which were to have been applicable to the enterprise by reason of the Zone, including in the case of a reduction in term of a zone, the original length of the term.

In declaratory judgment actions under this paragraph, the Department and the designating municipality or county shall be necessary parties defendant.

(Source: P.A. 102-108, eff. 1-1-22.)

(20 ILCS 655/5.4.1)

Sec. 5.4.1. Adoption of Tax Increment Financing.

(a) If (i) a redevelopment project area is, will be, or has been created by a municipality under Division 74.4 of the Illinois Municipal Code, (ii) the redevelopment project area contains property that is located in an enterprise zone, (iii) the municipality adopts an amendment to the enterprise zone designating ordinance pursuant to Section 5.4 of this Act specifically concerning the abatement of taxes on property located within a redevelopment project area created pursuant to Division 74.4 of the Illinois Municipal Code, and (iv) the Department certifies the ordinance amendment, then the property that is located in both the enterprise zone and the redevelopment project area shall not be eligible for the abatement of taxes under Section 18-170 of the Property Tax Code.

No business enterprise or expansion or individual, however, that has constructed a new improvement or renovated or rehabilitated an existing improvement and has received an abatement on the improvement under Section 18-170 of the Property Tax Code shall be denied any benefit previously extended within the zone pursuant to this Act or pursuant to any other Illinois law providing benefits specifically to or within enterprise zones. Moreover, if the business enterprise or individual presents evidence to the municipality within 30 days after the adoption by the municipality of an amendment to the designating ordinance the sufficiency of which shall be determined by findings of the corporate authorities made within 30 days of the receipt of such evidence by the municipality, that before the date of the notice of the public hearing provided by the municipality regarding the amendment to the designating ordinance (i) the business enterprise or expansion or individual was committed to locate within the enterprise zone, (ii) substantial and binding financial obligations were made towards the development of the enterprise, and (iii) those commitments were made in reasonable reliance on the benefits and programs that were applicable to the enterprise or individual by reason of the enterprise zone, then the enterprise or expansion or individual shall not be denied any benefit previously extended within the zone pursuant to this Act or pursuant to any other Illinois law providing benefits specifically to or within enterprise zones.

(b) This Section applies to all property located within both a redevelopment project area adopted under Division 74.4 of the Illinois Municipal Code and an enterprise zone even if the redevelopment project area or the enterprise zone was adopted before the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1997.

(c) After July 1, 1997, if (i) a redevelopment project area is created by a municipality under Division 74.4 of the Illinois Municipal Code and (ii) the redevelopment project area contains property that is located in an enterprise zone, the municipality must adopt an amendment to the certified enterprise zone designating ordinance under Section 5.4 that property that is located in both the enterprise zone and the redevelopment project area shall not be eligible for any abatement of taxes under Section 18-170 of the Property Tax Code for new improvements or the renovation or rehabilitation of existing improvements.

(d) In declaratory judgment actions under this Section, the Department and the designating municipality shall be necessary parties defendant.

(Source: P.A. 90-258, eff. 7-30-97.)

(20 ILCS 655/5.5) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 609.1)

Sec. 5.5. High Impact Business.

(a) In order to respond to unique opportunities to assist in the encouragement, development, growth, and expansion of the private sector through large scale investment and development projects, the Department is authorized to receive and approve applications for the designation of "High Impact Businesses" in Illinois, for an initial term of 20 years with an option for renewal for a term not to exceed 20 years, subject to the following conditions:

(1) such applications may be submitted at any time during the year;

(2) such business is not located, at the time of designation, in an enterprise zone designated pursuant to this Act, except for grocery stores, as defined in the Grocery Initiative Act;

(3) the business intends to do, commits to do, or is one or more of the following:

(A) the business intends to make a minimum investment of $12,000,000 which will be placed in service in qualified property and intends to create 500 full-time equivalent jobs at a designated location in Illinois or intends to make a minimum investment of $30,000,000 which will be placed in service in qualified property and intends to retain 1,500 full-time retained jobs at a designated location in Illinois. The terms "placed in service" and "qualified property" have the same meanings as described in subsection (h) of Section 201 of the Illinois Income Tax Act; or

(B) the business intends to establish a new electric generating facility at a designated location in Illinois. "New electric generating facility", for purposes of this Section, means a newly constructed electric generation plant or a newly constructed generation capacity expansion at an existing electric generation plant, including the transmission lines and associated equipment that transfers electricity from points of supply to points of delivery, and for which such new foundation construction commenced not sooner than July 1, 2001. Such facility shall be designed to provide baseload electric generation and shall operate on a continuous basis throughout the year; and (i) shall have an aggregate rated generating capacity of at least 1,000 megawatts for all new units at one site if it uses natural gas as its primary fuel and foundation construction of the facility is commenced on or before December 31, 2004, or shall have an aggregate rated generating capacity of at least 400 megawatts for all new units at one site if it uses coal or gases derived from coal as its primary fuel and shall support the creation of at least 150 new Illinois coal mining jobs, or (ii) shall be funded through a federal Department of Energy grant before December 31, 2010 and shall support the creation of Illinois coal mining jobs, or (iii) shall use coal gasification or integrated gasification-combined cycle units that generate electricity or chemicals, or both, and shall support the creation of Illinois coal mining jobs. The term "placed in service" has the same meaning as described in subsection (h) of Section 201 of the Illinois Income Tax Act; or

(B-5) the business intends to establish a new gasification facility at a designated location in Illinois. As used in this Section, "new gasification facility" means a newly constructed coal gasification facility that generates chemical feedstocks or transportation fuels derived from coal (which may include, but are not limited to, methane, methanol, and nitrogen fertilizer), that supports the creation or retention of Illinois coal mining jobs, and that qualifies for financial assistance from the Department before December 31, 2010. A new gasification facility does not include a pilot project located within Jefferson County or within a county adjacent to Jefferson County for synthetic natural gas from coal; or

(C) the business intends to establish production operations at a new coal mine, re-establish production operations at a closed coal mine, or expand production at an existing coal mine at a designated location in Illinois not sooner than July 1, 2001; provided that the production operations result in the creation of 150 new Illinois coal mining jobs as described in subdivision (a)(3)(B) of this Section, and further provided that the coal extracted from such mine is utilized as the predominant source for a new electric generating facility. The term "placed in service" has the same meaning as described in subsection (h) of Section 201 of the Illinois Income Tax Act; or

(D) the business intends to construct new transmission facilities or upgrade existing transmission facilities at designated locations in Illinois, for which construction commenced not sooner than July 1, 2001. For the purposes of this Section, "transmission facilities" means transmission lines with a voltage rating of 115 kilovolts or above, including associated equipment, that transfer electricity from points of supply to points of delivery and that transmit a majority of the electricity generated by a new electric generating facility designated as a High Impact Business in accordance with this Section. The term "placed in service" has the same meaning as described in subsection (h) of Section 201 of the Illinois Income Tax Act; or

(E) the business intends to establish a new wind power facility at a designated location in Illinois. For purposes of this Section, "new wind power facility" means a newly constructed electric generation facility, a newly constructed expansion of an existing electric generation facility, or the replacement of an existing electric generation facility, including the demolition and removal of an electric generation facility irrespective of whether it will be replaced, placed in service or replaced on or after July 1, 2009, that generates electricity using wind energy devices, and such facility shall be deemed to include any permanent structures associated with the electric generation facility and all associated transmission lines, substations, and other equipment related to the generation of electricity from wind energy devices. For purposes of this Section, "wind energy device" means any device, with a nameplate capacity of at least 0.5 megawatts, that is used in the process of converting kinetic energy from the wind to generate electricity; or

(E-5) the business intends to establish a new utility-scale solar facility at a designated location in Illinois. For purposes of this Section, "new utility-scale solar power facility" means a newly constructed electric generation facility, or a newly constructed expansion of an existing electric generation facility, placed in service on or after July 1, 2021, that (i) generates electricity using photovoltaic cells and (ii) has a nameplate capacity that is greater than 5,000 kilowatts, and such facility shall be deemed to include all associated transmission lines, substations, energy storage facilities, and other equipment related to the generation and storage of electricity from photovoltaic cells; or

(F) the business commits to (i) make a minimum investment of $500,000,000, which will be placed in service in a qualified property, (ii) create 125 full-time equivalent jobs at a designated location in Illinois, (iii) establish a fertilizer plant at a designated location in Illinois that complies with the set-back standards as described in Table 1: Initial Isolation and Protective Action Distances in the 2012 Emergency Response Guidebook published by the United States Department of Transportation, (iv) pay a prevailing wage for employees at that location who are engaged in construction activities, and (v) secure an appropriate level of general liability insurance to protect against catastrophic failure of the fertilizer plant or any of its constituent systems; in addition, the business must agree to enter into a construction project labor agreement including provisions establishing wages, benefits, and other compensation for employees performing work under the project labor agreement at that location; for the purposes of this Section, "fertilizer plant" means a newly constructed or upgraded plant utilizing gas used in the production of anhydrous ammonia and downstream nitrogen fertilizer products for resale; for the purposes of this Section, "prevailing wage" means the hourly cash wages plus fringe benefits for training and apprenticeship programs approved by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training, health and welfare, insurance, vacations and pensions paid generally, in the locality in which the work is being performed, to employees engaged in work of a similar character on public works; this paragraph (F) applies only to businesses that submit an application to the Department within 60 days after July 25, 2013 (the effective date of Public Act 98-109); or

(G) the business intends to establish a new cultured cell material food production facility at a designated location in Illinois. As used in this paragraph (G):

"Cultured cell material food production facility" means a facility (i) at which cultured animal cell food is developed using animal cell culture technology, (ii) at which production processes occur that include the establishment of cell lines and cell banks, manufacturing controls, and all components and inputs, and (iii) that complies with all existing registrations, inspections, licensing, and approvals from all applicable and participating State and federal food agencies, including the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Public Health, and the United States Food and Drug Administration, to ensure that all food production is safe and lawful under provisions of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act related to the development, production, and storage of cultured animal cell food.

"New cultured cell material food production facility" means a newly constructed cultured cell material food production facility that is placed in service on or after June 7, 2023 (the effective date of Public Act 103-9) or a newly constructed expansion of an existing cultured cell material food production facility, in a controlled environment, when the improvements are placed in service on or after June 7, 2023 (the effective date of Public Act 103-9); or

(H) the business is an existing or planned grocery store, as that term is defined in Section 5 of the Grocery Initiative Act, and receives financial support under that Act within the 10 years before submitting its application under this Act; and

(4) no later than 90 days after an application is submitted, the Department shall notify the applicant of the Department's determination of the qualification of the proposed High Impact Business under this Section.

(b) Businesses designated as High Impact Businesses pursuant to subdivision (a)(3)(A) of this Section shall qualify for the credits and exemptions described in the following Acts: Section 9-222 and Section 9-222.1A of the Public Utilities Act, subsection (h) of Section 201 of the Illinois Income Tax Act, and Section 1d of the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act; provided that these credits and exemptions described in these Acts shall not be authorized until the minimum investments set forth in subdivision (a)(3)(A) of this Section have been placed in service in qualified properties and, in the case of the exemptions described in the Public Utilities Act and Section 1d of the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act, the minimum full-time equivalent jobs or full-time retained jobs set forth in subdivision (a)(3)(A) of this Section have been created or retained. Businesses designated as High Impact Businesses under this Section shall also qualify for the exemption described in Section 5l of the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. The credit provided in subsection (h) of Section 201 of the Illinois Income Tax Act shall be applicable to investments in qualified property as set forth in subdivision (a)(3)(A) of this Section.

(b-5) Businesses designated as High Impact Businesses pursuant to subdivisions (a)(3)(B), (a)(3)(B-5), (a)(3)(C), (a)(3)(D), (a)(3)(G), and (a)(3)(H) of this Section shall qualify for the credits and exemptions described in the following Acts: Section 51 of the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act, Section 9-222 and Section 9-222.1A of the Public Utilities Act, and subsection (h) of Section 201 of the Illinois Income Tax Act; however, the credits and exemptions authorized under Section 9-222 and Section 9-222.1A of the Public Utilities Act, and subsection (h) of Section 201 of the Illinois Income Tax Act shall not be authorized until the new electric generating facility, the new gasification facility, the new transmission facility, the new, expanded, or reopened coal mine, the new cultured cell material food production facility, or the existing or planned grocery store is operational, except that a new electric generating facility whose primary fuel source is natural gas is eligible only for the exemption under Section 5l of the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act.

(b-6) Businesses designated as High Impact Businesses pursuant to subdivision (a)(3)(E) or (a)(3)(E-5) of this Section shall qualify for the exemptions described in Section 5l of the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act; any business so designated as a High Impact Business being, for purposes of this Section, a "Wind Energy Business".

(b-7) Beginning on January 1, 2021, businesses designated as High Impact Businesses by the Department shall qualify for the High Impact Business construction jobs credit under subsection (h-5) of Section 201 of the Illinois Income Tax Act if the business meets the criteria set forth in subsection (i) of this Section. The total aggregate amount of credits awarded under the Blue Collar Jobs Act (Article 20 of Public Act 101-9) shall not exceed $20,000,000 in any State fiscal year.

(c) High Impact Businesses located in federally designated foreign trade zones or sub-zones are also eligible for additional credits, exemptions and deductions as described in the following Acts: Section 9-221 and Section 9-222.1 of the Public Utilities Act; and subsection (g) of Section 201, and Section 203 of the Illinois Income Tax Act.

(d) Except for businesses contemplated under subdivision (a)(3)(E), (a)(3)(E-5), (a)(3)(G), or (a)(3)(H) of this Section, existing Illinois businesses which apply for designation as a High Impact Business must provide the Department with the prospective plan for which 1,500 full-time retained jobs would be eliminated in the event that the business is not designated.

(e) Except for new businesses contemplated under subdivision (a)(3)(E), subdivision (a)(3)(G), or subdivision (a)(3)(H) of this Section, new proposed facilities which apply for designation as High Impact Business must provide the Department with proof of alternative non-Illinois sites which would receive the proposed investment and job creation in the event that the business is not designated as a High Impact Business.

(f) Except for businesses contemplated under subdivision (a)(3)(E), subdivision (a)(3)(G), or subdivision (a)(3)(H) of this Section, in the event that a business is designated a High Impact Business and it is later determined after reasonable notice and an opportunity for a hearing as provided under the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, that the business would have placed in service in qualified property the investments and created or retained the requisite number of jobs without the benefits of the High Impact Business designation, the Department shall be required to immediately revoke the designation and notify the Director of the Department of Revenue who shall begin proceedings to recover all wrongfully exempted State taxes with interest. The business shall also be ineligible for all State funded Department programs for a period of 10 years.

(g) The Department shall revoke a High Impact Business designation if the participating business fails to comply with the terms and conditions of the designation.

(h) Prior to designating a business, the Department shall provide the members of the General Assembly and Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability with a report setting forth the terms and conditions of the designation and guarantees that have been received by the Department in relation to the proposed business being designated.

(i) High Impact Business construction jobs credit. Beginning on January 1, 2021, a High Impact Business may receive a tax credit against the tax imposed under subsections (a) and (b) of Section 201 of the Illinois Income Tax Act in an amount equal to 50% of the amount of the incremental income tax attributable to High Impact Business construction jobs credit employees employed in the course of completing a High Impact Business construction jobs project. However, the High Impact Business construction jobs credit may equal 75% of the amount of the incremental income tax attributable to High Impact Business construction jobs credit employees if the High Impact Business construction jobs credit project is located in an underserved area.

The Department shall certify to the Department of Revenue: (1) the identity of taxpayers that are eligible for the High Impact Business construction jobs credit; and (2) the amount of High Impact Business construction jobs credits that are claimed pursuant to subsection (h-5) of Section 201 of the Illinois Income Tax Act in each taxable year.

As used in this subsection (i):

"High Impact Business construction jobs credit" means an amount equal to 50% (or 75% if the High Impact Business construction project is located in an underserved area) of the incremental income tax attributable to High Impact Business construction job employees. The total aggregate amount of credits awarded under the Blue Collar Jobs Act (Article 20 of Public Act 101-9) shall not exceed $20,000,000 in any State fiscal year

"High Impact Business construction job employee" means a laborer or worker who is employed by a contractor or subcontractor in the actual construction work on the site of a High Impact Business construction job project.

"High Impact Business construction jobs project" means building a structure or building or making improvements of any kind to real property, undertaken and commissioned by a business that was designated as a High Impact Business by the Department. The term "High Impact Business construction jobs project" does not include the routine operation, routine repair, or routine maintenance of existing structures, buildings, or real property.

"Incremental income tax" means the total amount withheld during the taxable year from the compensation of High Impact Business construction job employees.

"Underserved area" means a geographic area that meets one or more of the following conditions:

(1) the area has a poverty rate of at least 20% according to the latest American Community Survey;

(2) 35% or more of the families with children in the area are living below 130% of the poverty line, according to the latest American Community Survey;

(3) at least 20% of the households in the area receive assistance under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); or

(4) the area has an average unemployment rate, as determined by the Illinois Department of Employment Security, that is more than 120% of the national unemployment average, as determined by the U.S. Department of Labor, for a period of at least 2 consecutive calendar years preceding the date of the application.

(j) (Blank).

(j-5) Annually, until construction is completed, a company seeking High Impact Business Construction Job credits shall submit a report that, at a minimum, describes the projected project scope, timeline, and anticipated budget. Once the project has commenced, the annual report shall include actual data for the prior year as well as projections for each additional year through completion of the project. The Department shall issue detailed reporting guidelines prescribing the requirements of construction-related reports.

In order to receive credit for construction expenses, the company must provide the Department with evidence that a certified third-party executed an Agreed-Upon Procedure (AUP) verifying the construction expenses or accept the standard construction wage expense estimated by the Department.

Upon review of the final project scope, timeline, budget, and AUP, the Department shall issue a tax credit certificate reflecting a percentage of the total construction job wages paid throughout the completion of the project.

(k) Upon 7 business days' notice, each taxpayer shall make available to each State agency and to federal, State, or local law enforcement agencies and prosecutors for inspection and copying at a location within this State during reasonable hours, the report under subsection (j-5).

(l) The changes made to this Section by Public Act 102-1125, other than the changes in subsection (a), apply to High Impact Businesses that submit applications on or after February 3, 2023 (the effective date of Public Act 102-1125).

(Source: P.A. 102-108, eff. 1-1-22; 102-558, eff. 8-20-21; 102-605, eff. 8-27-21; 102-662, eff. 9-15-21; 102-673, eff. 11-30-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 102-1125, eff. 2-3-23; 103-9, eff. 6-7-23; 103-561, eff. 1-1-24; 103-595, eff. 6-26-24; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24.)

(20 ILCS 655/6) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 610)

Sec. 6. Powers and Duties of Department.

(A) General Powers. The Department shall administer this Act and shall have the following powers and duties:

(1) To monitor the implementation of this Act and submit reports evaluating the effectiveness of the program and any suggestions for legislation to the Governor and General Assembly by October 1 of every year preceding a regular Session of the General Assembly and to annually report to the General Assembly initial and current population, employment, per capita income, number of business establishments, dollar value of new construction and improvements, and the aggregate value of each tax incentive, based on information provided by the Department of Revenue, for each Enterprise Zone.

(2) To promulgate all necessary rules and regulations to carry out the purposes of this Act in accordance with The Illinois Administrative Procedure Act.

(3) To assist municipalities and counties in obtaining Federal status as an Enterprise Zone.

(4) To determine the conditions and processes for renewal of high impact business designations, and any incentives associated with that designation, awarded under this Act in accordance with Section 5.5 of this Act.

(B) Specific Duties:

(1) The Department shall provide information and appropriate assistance to persons desiring to locate and engage in business in an enterprise zone, to persons engaged in business in an enterprise zone and to designated zone organizations operating there.

(2) The Department shall, in cooperation with appropriate units of local government and State agencies, coordinate and streamline existing State business assistance programs and permit and license application procedures for Enterprise Zone businesses.

(3) The Department shall publicize existing tax incentives and economic development programs within the Zone and upon request, offer technical assistance in abatement and alternative revenue source development to local units of government which have enterprise Zones within their jurisdiction.

(4) The Department shall work together with the responsible State and Federal agencies to promote the coordination of other relevant programs, including but not limited to housing, community and economic development, small business, banking, financial assistance, and employment training programs which are carried on in an Enterprise Zone.

(5) In order to stimulate employment opportunities for Zone residents, the Department, in cooperation with the Department of Human Services and the Department of Employment Security, is to initiate a test of the following 2 programs within the 12 month period following designation and approval by the Department of the first enterprise zones: (i) the use of aid to families with dependent children benefits payable under Article IV of the Illinois Public Aid Code, General Assistance benefits payable under Article VI of the Illinois Public Aid Code, the unemployment insurance benefits payable under the Unemployment Insurance Act as training or employment subsidies leading to unsubsidized employment; and (ii) a program for voucher reimbursement of the cost of training zone residents eligible under the Targeted Jobs Tax Credit provisions of the Internal Revenue Code for employment in private industry. These programs shall not be designed to subsidize businesses, but are intended to open up job and training opportunities not otherwise available. Nothing in this paragraph (5) shall be deemed to require zone businesses to utilize these programs. These programs should be designed (i) for those individuals whose opportunities for job-finding are minimal without program participation, (ii) to minimize the period of benefit collection by such individuals, and (iii) to accelerate the transition of those individuals to unsubsidized employment. The Department is to seek agreement with business, organized labor and the appropriate State Department and agencies on the design, operation and evaluation of the test programs.

A report with recommendations including representative comments of these groups shall be submitted by the Department to the county or municipality which designated the area as an Enterprise Zone, Governor and General Assembly not later than 12 months after such test programs have commenced, or not later than 3 months following the termination of such test programs, whichever first occurs.

(Source: P.A. 102-1125, eff. 2-3-23.)

(20 ILCS 655/7) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 611)

Sec. 7. State Incentives Regarding Public Services and Physical Infrastructure.

(a) This Act does not restrict tax incentive financing pursuant to the "Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act".

(b) Industrial development bonds. Priority in the use of industrial development bonds issued by the Illinois Finance Authority shall be given to businesses located in an Enterprise Zone.

(c) Deposit of State funds by the State Treasurer. The State Treasurer is authorized and encouraged to place deposits of State funds with financial institutions doing business in an Enterprise Zone.

(Source: P.A. 93-205, eff. 1-1-04.)

(20 ILCS 655/8) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 612)

Sec. 8. Zone Administration. The administration of an Enterprise Zone shall be under the jurisdiction of the designating municipality or county. Each designating municipality or county shall, by ordinance, designate a Zone Administrator for the certified zones within its jurisdiction. A Zone Administrator must be an officer or employee of the municipality or county. The Zone Administrator shall be the liaison between the designating municipality or county, the Department, and any designated zone organizations within zones under his jurisdiction.

A designating municipality or county may designate one or more organizations qualified under paragraph (d) of Section 3 to be designated zone organizations for purposes of this Act. The municipality or county, may, by ordinance, delegate functions within an Enterprise Zone to one or more designated zone organizations in such zones.

Subject to the necessary governmental authorizations, designated zone organizations may provide the following services or perform the following functions in coordination with the municipality or county:

(a) Provide or contract for provision of public services including, but not limited to:

(1) establishment of crime watch patrols within zone neighborhoods;

(2) establishment of volunteer day care centers;

(3) organization of recreational activities for zone area youth;

(4) garbage collection;

(5) street maintenance and improvements;

(6) bridge maintenance and improvements;

(7) maintenance and improvement of water and sewer lines;

(8) energy conservation projects;

(9) health and clinic services;

(10) drug abuse programs;

(11) senior citizen assistance programs;

(12) park maintenance;

(13) rehabilitation, renovation, and operation and maintenance of low and moderate income housing; and

(14) other types of public services as provided by law or regulation.

(b) Exercise authority for the enforcement of any code, permit, or licensing procedure within an Enterprise Zone.

(c) Provide a forum for business, labor and government action on zone innovations.

(d) Apply for regulatory relief as provided in Section 8 of this Act.

(e) Receive title to publicly owned land.

(f) Perform such other functions as the responsible government entity may deem appropriate, including offerings and contracts for insurance with businesses within the Zone.

(g) Agree with local governments to provide such public services within the zones by contracting with private firms and organizations, where feasible and prudent.

(h) Solicit and receive contributions to improve the quality of life in the Enterprise Zone.

(Source: P.A. 91-357, eff. 7-29-99.)

(20 ILCS 655/8.1)

Sec. 8.1. Accounting.

(a) Any business receiving tax incentives due to its location within an Enterprise Zone or its designation as a High Impact Business must annually report to the Department of Revenue information reasonably required by the Department of Revenue to enable the Department to verify and calculate the total Enterprise Zone or High Impact Business tax benefits for property taxes and taxes imposed by the State that are received by the business, broken down by incentive category and enterprise zone, if applicable. Reports will be due no later than May 31 of each year and shall cover the previous calendar year. The first report will be for the 2012 calendar year and will be due no later than May 31, 2013. Failure to report data may result in ineligibility to receive incentives. To the extent that a business receiving tax incentives has obtained an Enterprise Zone Building Materials Exemption Certificate or a High Impact Business Building Materials Exemption Certificate, that business is required to report those building materials exemption benefits only under subsection (a-5) of this Section. No additional reporting for those building materials exemption benefits is required under this subsection (a). In addition, if the Department determines that 80% or more of the businesses receiving tax incentives because of their location within a particular Enterprise Zone failed to submit the information required under this subsection (a) to the Department in any calendar year, then the Enterprise Zone may be decertified by the Department. If the Department is able to determine that specific businesses are failing to submit the information required under this subsection (a) to the Department in any calendar year to the Zone Administrator, regardless of the Administrator's efforts to enforce reporting, the Department may, at its discretion, suspend the benefits to the specific business rather than an outright decertification of the particular Enterprise Zone. The Department, in consultation with the Department of Revenue, is authorized to adopt rules governing ineligibility to receive exemptions, including the length of ineligibility. Factors to be considered in determining whether a business is ineligible shall include, but are not limited to, prior compliance with the reporting requirements, cooperation in discontinuing and correcting violations, the extent of the violation, and whether the violation was willful or inadvertent.

(a-5) Each contractor or other entity that has been issued an Enterprise Zone Building Materials Exemption Certificate under Section 5k of the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act or a High Impact Business Building Materials Exemption Certificate under Section 5l of the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act shall annually report to the Department of Revenue the total value of the Enterprise Zone or High Impact Business building materials exemption from State taxes. Reports shall contain information reasonably required by the Department of Revenue to enable it to verify and calculate the total tax benefits for taxes imposed by the State, and shall be broken down by Enterprise Zone. Reports are due no later than May 31 of each year and shall cover the previous calendar year. The first report will be for the 2013 calendar year and will be due no later than May 31, 2014. Failure to report data may result in revocation of the Enterprise Zone Building Materials Exemption Certificate or High Impact Business Building Materials Exemption Certificate issued to the contractor or other entity.

The Department of Revenue is authorized to adopt rules governing revocation determinations, including the length of revocation. Factors to be considered in revocations shall include, but are not limited to, prior compliance with the reporting requirements, cooperation in discontinuing and correcting violations, and whether the certificate was used unlawfully during the preceding year.

(b) Each person required to file a return under the Gas Revenue Tax Act, the Gas Use Tax Act, the Electricity Excise Tax Act, or the Telecommunications Excise Tax Act shall file, on or before May 31 of each year, a report with the Department of Revenue, in the manner and form required by the Department of Revenue, containing information reasonably required by the Department of Revenue to enable the Department of Revenue to calculate the amount of the deduction for taxes imposed by the State that is taken under each Act, respectively, due to the location of a business in an Enterprise Zone or its designation as a High Impact Business. The report shall be itemized by business and the business location address.

(c) Employers shall report their job creation, retention, and capital investment numbers within the zone annually to the Department of Revenue no later than May 31 of each calendar year. High Impact Businesses shall report their job creation, retention, and capital investment numbers to the Department of Revenue no later than May 31 of each year. With respect to job creation or retention, employers and High Impact Businesses shall use best efforts to submit diversity information related to the gender and ethnicity of such employees.

(d) The Department of Revenue will aggregate and collect the tax, job, and capital investment data by Enterprise Zone and High Impact Business and report this information, formatted to exclude company-specific proprietary information, to the Department and the Board by August 1, 2013, and by August 1 of every calendar year thereafter. The Department will include this information in their required reports under Section 6 of this Act. The Board shall consider this information during the reviews required under subsection (d-5) of Section 5.4 of this Act and subsection (c) of Section 5.3 of this Act.

(e) The Department of Revenue, in its discretion, may require that the reports filed under this Section be submitted electronically.

(f) The Department of Revenue shall have the authority to adopt rules as are reasonable and necessary to implement the provisions of this Section.

(Source: P.A. 102-108, eff. 1-1-22.)

(20 ILCS 655/8.2)

Sec. 8.2. Zone Administrator.

(a) Each Zone Administrator designated under Section 8 of this Act shall post a copy of the boundaries of the Enterprise Zone on its official Internet website and shall provide an electronic copy to the Department. The Department shall post each copy of the boundaries of an Enterprise Zone that it receives from a Zone Administrator on its official Internet website.

(b) The Zone Administrator shall collect and aggregate the following information:

(1) the estimated cost of each building project, broken down into labor and materials; and

(2) within 60 days after the end of the project, the estimated cost of each building project, broken down into labor and materials.

(c) By April 1 of each year, each Zone Administrator shall file a copy of its fee schedule with the Department, and the Department shall post the fee schedule on its website. Zone Administrators shall charge no more than 0.5% of the cost of building materials of the project associated with the specific Enterprise Zone, with a maximum fee of no more than $50,000.

(Source: P.A. 97-905, eff. 8-7-12; 98-109, eff. 7-25-13.)

(20 ILCS 655/9) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 613)

Sec. 9. State Regulatory Exemptions In Enterprise Zones. (a) The Department shall conduct an ongoing review of such agency rules and regulations that may be identified by the department or representatives of designating municipalities and counties as business enterprises and preliminarily appearing to the Department to:

(i) affect the conduct of business, industry and commerce;

(ii) impose excessive costs on either the creation or conduct of such enterprises; and

(iii) inhibit the development and expansions of enterprises within Enterprise Zones.

The Department shall conduct hearings, pursuant to public notice, to solicit public comment on such identified rules and regulations as part of this review process.

(b) No later than August 1 of each calendar year, the Department shall publish in the Illinois Register a list of such rules and regulations identified pursuant to paragraph (a). The Department shall transmit a copy of the list to each agency which has promulgated rules or regulations on the list.

(c) Within 90 days of the publication of the list by the Department, each agency which promulgated rules or regulations identified therein shall file a written report with the Department detailing for each identified rule or regulation:

(i) the need or justification;

(ii) whether the rule or regulation is mandated by state or federal law, or is discretionary, and to what extent;

(iii) a synopsis of the history of the rule, including any internal agency review after its original promulgation; and

(iv) any appropriate explanation of its relationship to other regulatory requirements.

The promulgating agency shall also include any available data, analysis and studies concerning the economic impact of the identified rules and regulations. The agency responses shall be public records.

(d) No later than January 1 of the following calendar year, the Department shall file proposed rules exempting business enterprises within Enterprise Zones from those agency rules and regulations contained in the published list, for which the Department finds that the job creation or business development incentives for Enterprise Zone development engendered by the exemption outweigh the need and justification for the rule or regulation. In making its findings, the Department shall consider all information, data, and opinions submitted to it by the public, as well as by promulgating agencies, as well as information otherwise available to it.

(e) The proposed rules and regulations promulgated by the Department shall be in the form of amendments to the existing rules and regulations to be affected, and shall be subject to the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act.

(f) Upon its effective date, any exempting rule or regulation of the Department shall supersede the exempted agency rule or regulation in accordance with the terms of the exemption. Such exemptions may apply only to business enterprises within Enterprise Zones during the effective term of the respective Zones. Agencies may not promulgate emergency rules to circumvent an exemption effected by a Department exemption rule; any such emergency rules shall not be effective within Enterprise Zones to the extent inconsistent with the terms of such an exemption.

(Source: P.A. 83-1114.)

(20 ILCS 655/9.1) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 614)

Sec. 9.1. State and local regulatory alternatives.

(a) Agencies may provide in their rules and regulations for:

(i) the exemption of business enterprises within enterprise zones; or

(ii) modifications or alternatives specifically applicable to business enterprises within enterprise zones, which impose less stringent standards or alternative standards for compliance (including performance-based standards as a substitute for specific mandates of methods, procedures, or equipment).

Such exemptions, modifications, or alternatives shall be effected by rule or regulation promulgated in accordance with the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. The Agency promulgating such exemptions, modifications, or alternatives shall file with its proposed rule or regulation its findings that the proposed rule or regulation provides economic incentives within enterprise zones which promote the purposes of this Act and which, to the extent they include any exemptions or reductions in regulatory standards or requirements, outweigh the need or justification for the existing rule or regulation.

(b) If any agency promulgates a rule or regulation pursuant to paragraph (a) affecting a rule or regulation contained on the list published by the Department pursuant to Section 9, prior to the completion of the rulemaking process for the Department's rules under that Section, the agency shall immediately transmit a copy of its proposed rule or regulation to the Department, together with a statement of reasons as to why the Department should defer to the agency's proposed rule or regulation. Agency rules promulgated under paragraph (a) shall, however, be subject to the exemption rules and regulations of the Department promulgated under Section 9.

(c) Within enterprise zones, the designating county or municipality may modify all local ordinances and regulations regarding (1) zoning; (2) licensing; (3) building codes, excluding however, any regulations treating building defects; (4) rent control and price controls (except for the minimum wage). Notwithstanding any shorter statute of limitation to the contrary, actions against any contractor or architect who designs, constructs, or rehabilitates a building or structure in an enterprise zone in accordance with local standards specifically applicable within zones which have been relaxed may be commenced within 10 years from the time of beneficial occupancy of the building or use of the structure.

(Source: P.A. 101-81, eff. 7-12-19.)

(20 ILCS 655/9.2) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 615)

Sec. 9.2. Exemptions from Regulatory Relaxation.

(a) Section 9 and subsection (a) of Section 9.1 do not apply to rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to:

(i) the "Environmental Protection Act";

(ii) the "Illinois Historic Preservation Act";

(iii) the "Illinois Human Rights Act";

(iv) any successor acts to any of the foregoing; or

(v) any other acts whose purpose is the protection of the environment, the preservation of historic places and landmarks, or the protection of persons against discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, marital status, national origin or physical or mental disability.

(b) No exemption, modification or alternative to any agency rule or regulation promulgated under Section 9 or 9.1 shall be effective which

(i) presents a significant risk to the health or safety of persons resident in or employed within an Enterprise Zone;

(ii) would conflict with federal law or regulation such that the state, or any unit of local government or school district, or any area of the state other than Enterprise Zones, or any business enterprise located outside of an Enterprise Zone would be disqualified from a federal program or from federal tax or other benefits;

(iii) would suspend or modify an agency rule or regulation mandated by law; or

(iv) would eliminate or reduce benefits to individuals who are residents of or employed within a Zone.

(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)

(20 ILCS 655/9.3)

Sec. 9.3. Railroad right-of-way. Any business entity located in an enterprise zone shall be granted access to build facilities to cross a railroad right-of-way owned by a land management company and not a registered rail carrier for the purpose of conveyance of grain, aggregate, construction materials, and other commodities over, under, or across that right-of-way. A business entity whose facilities cross a right-of-way shall pay the land management company operating the right-of-way a one time standard crossing fee of $1,500 for each crossing plus the cost associated with modifications to existing insurance contracts of the land management company. The standard crossing fee shall be in lieu of any license, permit, application, or any other fee or charges to reimburse the land management company for the direct expense incurred by the land management company as a result of the crossing. The company shall also reimburse the land management company or rail carrier for any actual flagging expenses associated with the crossing in addition to the standard crossing fee.

(Source: P.A. 99-525, eff. 6-30-16.)

(20 ILCS 655/10) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 616)

Sec. 10. Sale of Publicly-Owned Real Property in an Enterprise Zone.

Once an area becomes an Enterprise Zone, pursuant to provisions contained in the Enterprise Zone agreement, the State and any county or municipality that owns any unused structures or vacant land within the Enterprise Zone may dispose of such structure or vacant land in one of the following ways:

(A) sell such structures or vacant land at public auction or by other methods available to dispose of such property; or

(B) establish an urban homestead program that provides:

(1) that the State or county or municipality will sell an individual a residence or portion thereof it owns for a sum not to exceed $100.

(2) that the individual agrees to live in the residence for a period of seven years.

(3) that the individual agrees to renovate or remodel the property to meet the level of maintenance stated in the agreement between the individual and the State or county or municipality.

(4) that the State, county or municipality shall assign the property to the individual at the end of the seven year residency requirement when satisfactory improvements to the property have been made; or

(C) establish an urban shopstead program that provides:

(1) that the State or county or municipality will sell to a designated Zone organization a structure or portion thereof it owns for a sum not to exceed $100.

(2) that the designated Zone organization agrees to renovate or remodel the property to meet the level of maintenance stated in the agreement between the individual and the State or county or municipality.

(3) that the State, county or municipality shall assign the property to the designated Zone organization when satisfactory improvements to the property have been made.

(4) that the designated Zone organization may sell or lease such structure to commercial or industrial businesses pursuant to procedures which shall be contracted in the agreement between the Zone organization and the State or county or municipality. The Zone organization may also retain such structure in whole or part for its own use. Any proceeds derived from the use, lease, or sale of such property shall be used for cost recovery and for activities entered into pursuant to Section 8 of this Act, as agreed to between the State, County, or Municipality and the designated Zone organization.

Such disposal of real property by the methods described above shall give preference to a proposed enterprise zone in the selection process by the Department as set forth in Section 4.

(Source: P.A. 82-1019.)

(20 ILCS 655/11) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 617)

Sec. 11. (a) A business entity may receive a deduction against income subject to state taxes for a contribution to a designated zone organization if the project for which the contribution is made has been specifically approved by the designating municipality or county, and by the Department.

(b) Any designated zone organization seeking to have a project approved for contribution must submit an application to the Department describing the nature and benefit of the project and its potential contributors.

The application must address how the following criteria will be met:

(1) The project must contribute to the self help efforts of the residents of the area involved.

(2) The project must involve the residents of the area in planning and implement the project.

(3) The project's lack of sufficient resources.

(4) The designated zone organization must be fiscally responsible for the project.

(c) The project must enhance the Enterprise Zone in one of the following ways:

(1) by creating permanent jobs;

(2) by physically improving the housing stock;

(3) stimulating neighborhood business activity; or

(4) by preventing crime.

(d) If the designated zone organization demonstrates its ability to meet the criteria in subsection (b), and will enhance the neighborhood in one of the ways listed in subsection (c), the Department shall approve the organization's proposed projects and specify the amount of contributions it is eligible to receive for such project. Comments from state elected officials, and county and municipal officials in which all or part of the Enterprise Zone are located, or in which the project is proposed to be located, shall be solicited by the Department in making such decision.

(e) Within 45 days of the receipt of an application, the Department shall give notice to the applicant as to whether the application has been approved or disapproved. If the Department disapproves the application, it shall specify the reasons for this decision and allow 60 days for the applicant to amend and resubmit its application. The Department shall provide assistance upon request to applicants. Resubmitted applications shall receive the Department's approval or disapproval within 30 days of submission. Those resubmitted applications satisfying initial Department objectives shall be approved unless reasonable circumstances warrant disapproval.

(f) On an annual basis, the designated zone organization shall furnish a statement to the Department on the programmatic and financial status of any approved project and an audited financial statement of the project.

(g) For any project which is approved and for which there is a specified amount of contributions which the designated Zone Organization may receive for such project as provided in subsection (d) of this Section, the designated Zone Organization shall provide to the Department any information necessary to determine the eligibility of a contribution to the project for a deduction pursuant to subsection (b)(2)(N) of Section 203 of the "Illinois Income Tax Act". The Department shall certify to the Department of Revenue the taxpayers eligible for and the amounts of contributions which those taxpayers may claim as a deduction pursuant to subsection (b)(2)(N) of Section 203 of the "Illinois Income Tax Act". The total of all actual contributions approved by the Department for deductions pursuant to subsection (b)(2)(N) of Section 203 of the "Illinois Income Tax Act" shall not exceed $15,400,000 in any one calendar year.

(Source: P.A. 83-1539.)

(20 ILCS 655/11.1) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 617.1)

Sec. 11.1. Any business located within the Enterprise Zone which has received tax credits or exemptions, regulatory relief or any other benefits under this Act shall notify the Department and the county and municipal officials in which the Enterprise Zone is located within 60 days of the cessation of any business operations conducted within the Enterprise Zone. The Department shall promulgate rules to effect this Section.

(Source: P.A. 87-981.)

(20 ILCS 655/12-1) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 618)

Sec. 12-1. Sections 12-1 through 12-10 of this Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Enterprise Zone Loan Act".

(Source: P.A. 84-165.)

(20 ILCS 655/12-2) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 619)

Sec. 12-2. Definitions. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

(a) "Financial institution" means a trust company, a bank, a savings bank, a credit union, an investment bank, a broker, an investment trust, a pension fund, a building and loan association, a savings and loan association, an insurance company or any venture capital company which is authorized to do business in the State.

(b) "Participating lender" means any trust company, bank, savings bank, credit union, investment bank, broker, investment trust, pension fund, building and loan association, savings and loan association, insurance company or venture capital company approved by the Department which assumes a portion of the financing for a business project.

(c) "Department" means the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

(d) "Business" means a for-profit, legal entity located in an Illinois Enterprise Zone including, but not limited to, any sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, joint venture, association or cooperative.

(e) "Loan" means an agreement or contract to provide a loan or other financial aid to a business.

(f) "Project" means any specific economic development activity of a commercial, industrial, manufacturing, agricultural, scientific, service or other business in an Enterprise Zone, the result of which yields an increase in jobs and may include the purchase or lease of machinery and equipment, the lease or purchase of real property or funds for infrastructure necessitated by site preparation, building construction or related purposes but does not include refinancing current debt.

(g) "Fund" means the Enterprise Zone Loan Fund created in Section 12-6.

(Source: P.A. 94-793, eff. 5-19-06.)

(20 ILCS 655/12-3) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 620)

Sec. 12-3. Powers and Duties. The Department has the power to:

(a) Provide loans from the funds appropriated to a business undertaking a project and accept mortgages or other evidences of indebtedness or security of such business.

(b) Enter into agreements, accept funds or grants and cooperate with agencies of the federal government, local units of government and local regional economic development corporations or organizations for the purposes of carrying out this Act.

(c) Enter into contracts, letters of credit or any other agreements or contracts with financial institutions necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of this Act. Any such agreement or contract may include, without limitation, terms and provisions relating to a specific project such as loan documentation, review and approval procedures, organization and servicing rights, default conditions and other program aspects.

(d) Fix, determine, charge and collect any premiums, fees, charges, costs and expenses, including application fees, commitment fees, program fees, financing charges or publication fees in connection with its activities under this Act.

(e) Establish application, notification, contract and other procedures, rules or regulations deemed necessary and appropriate.

(f) Subject to the provisions of any contract with another person and consent to the modification or restructuring of any loan agreement to which the Department is a party.

(g) Take any actions which are necessary or appropriate to protect the State's interest in the event of bankruptcy, default, foreclosure or noncompliance with the terms and conditions of financial assistance or participation provided under this Act, including the power to sell, dispose, lease or rent, upon terms and conditions determined by the Director to be appropriate, real or personal property which the Department may receive as a result thereof.

(h) Acquire and accept by gift, grant, purchase or otherwise, but not by condemnation, fee simple title, or such lesser interest as may be desired, in land, and to improve or arrange for the improvement of such land for industrial or commercial site development purposes, and to lease or convey such land, or interest in land, so acquired and so improved, including sale and conveyance subject to a mortgage, for such price, upon such terms and at such time as the Department may determine, provided that prior to exercising its authority under this subsection, the Director shall find that other means of financing and developing any such project are not reasonably available and that such action is consistent with the purposes and policies of this Act.

(i) Exercise such other powers as are necessary or incidental to the foregoing.

(Source: P.A. 84-165.)

(20 ILCS 655/12-4) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 621)

Sec. 12-4. Loans. Any loan made under this Act shall:

(a) Be made only if a participating lender, or other funding source including the applicant, also provides a portion of the financing with respect to the project, and only if the Department determines, on the basis of all the information available to it, that the project would not be undertaken in Illinois unless the loan is provided. Such other risk assumption may be in the form of a loan, letter of credit, guarantee, loan participation, bond purchase, direct cash payment or other form approved by the Department.

(b) Finance no more than 25% of the total amount of any single project and be approved for amounts from the Fund not to exceed $2,000,000 for any single project, unless waived by the Director upon a finding that such waiver is appropriate to accomplish the purposes of this Act.

(c) Be protected by adequate security satisfactory to the Department to secure payment of the loan agreement.

(d) Be in such principal amount and form and contain such terms and provisions with respect to property insurance, repairs, alterations, payment of taxes and assessments, delinquency charges, default remedies, additional security and other matters as the Department shall determine adequate to protect the public interest.

(e) Include provisions to call the loan agreement as due and payable if the project is not completed, if the project fails to generate anticipated employment opportunities or if the business ceases to operate the project.

(f) Be made only after the Department has determined that the loan will cause a project to be undertaken which has the potential to create substantial employment in relation to the principal amount of the loan.

(g) Be made with a business that has certified the project is a new plant start-up or expansion and is not a relocation of an existing business from another site in Illinois unless that relocation results in substantial employment growth.

(Source: P.A. 84-165.)

(20 ILCS 655/12-5) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 622)

Sec. 12-5. Loan Applications. Applications for loans shall be submitted to the Department on forms and subject to filing fees prescribed by the Department. The Department shall not be prohibited from soliciting such applications. The Department shall conduct such investigation and obtain such information concerning the business as is necessary and diligent to complete a loan agreement. The Department's investigation shall include facts about the company's history, job opportunities, stability of employment, past and present condition and structure, actual and pro-forma income statements, present and future market prospects and management qualifications and any other aspects material to the financing request.

After consideration of such data and after such other action as is deemed appropriate, the Department shall approve or deny the application. If the Department approves the application, its approval shall specify the amount of funds to be provided and the loan agreement provisions. The business shall be promptly notified of such action by the Department.

(Source: P.A. 84-165.)

(20 ILCS 655/12-6) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 623)

Sec. 12-6. Enterprise Zone Loan Fund. (a) There is hereby created the Enterprise Zone Loan Fund to be held as part of the State Treasury. The Department is authorized to make loans from the Fund for the purposes established under this Act. The State Treasurer shall have custody of the Fund and may invest in securities constituting direct obligations of the United States Government, or in obligations the principal of and interest on which are guaranteed by the United States Government, or in certificates of deposit of any State or national bank which are fully secured by obligations guaranteed as to principal and interest by the United States Government. The purpose of the Fund is to offer loans to finance firms considering the location of a proposed plant in a certified Enterprise Zone and to provide financing to carry out the purposes and provisions of paragraph (h) of Section 12-3 of this Act. Such financing shall be in the form of a loan, mortgage or other debt instrument. All loans shall be conditioned on the project receiving financing from participating lenders or other sources. Loan proceeds shall be available for project costs associated with an expansion of business capacity and employment, except for debt refinancing. Targeted companies for the program shall primarily consist of established industrial and service companies with proven records of earnings which will sell their product to markets beyond Illinois and which have proven multistate location options. New ventures shall be considered only if the entity is protected with adequate security with regard to its financing and operation. The limitations and conditions with respect to the use of this Fund shall not apply in carrying out the purposes and provisions of paragraph (h) of Section 12-3 of this Act.

(b) Deposits in the Fund shall include, but are not limited to:

(1) All receipts, including principal and interest payments, royalties or other payments, from any loan made by the Department under this Act.

(2) All proceeds of assets of whatever nature received by the Department as a result of default and delinquency with respect to loans made under this Act, including proceeds from the sale, disposal, lease or rental of real or personal property which the Department may receive as a result thereof.

(3) Any appropriations, grants or gifts made to the Fund.

(4) Any income received from interest on investments of amounts from the Fund not currently needed to meet the obligations of the Fund.

(Source: P.A. 84-165.)

(20 ILCS 655/12-7) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 624)

Sec. 12-7. Construction. Nothing in this Act shall be construed as creating any rights of a competitor of an approved borrower or any applicant whose application is denied by the Department to challenge any application which is accepted by the Department and any loan or other agreement executed in connection therewith.

(Source: P.A. 84-165.)

(20 ILCS 655/12-8) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 625)

Sec. 12-8. Confidentiality. Any documentary materials or data made or received by any member, agent or employee of the Department shall be deemed to be confidential and shall not be deemed public records to the extent that such materials or data consist of trade secrets, commercial or financial information regarding the operation of any business conducted by an applicant for or recipient of any form of assistance under this Act or information regarding the competitive position of such business in a particular field of endeavor.

(Source: P.A. 84-165.)

(20 ILCS 655/12-9) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 626)

Sec. 12-9. Report. On January 1 of each year, the Department shall report on its operation of the Fund for the preceding fiscal year to the Governor and the General Assembly. For any fiscal year in which no operations are conducted by the Department because no funds were appropriated to the Fund, the report outlined by this Section is not required.

(Source: P.A. 102-108, eff. 1-1-22.)

(20 ILCS 655/12-10) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 627)

Sec. 12-10. Federal Programs. The Department is authorized to accept and expend federal monies pursuant to this Act except that terms and conditions hereunder which are inconsistent with or prohibited by the federal authorization under which such monies are made available shall not apply with respect to the expenditure of such monies.

(Source: P.A. 84-165.)

(20 ILCS 655/13)

Sec. 13. Enterprise Zone construction jobs credit.

(a) Beginning on January 1, 2021, a business entity in a certified Enterprise Zone that makes a capital investment of at least $10,000,000 in an Enterprise Zone construction jobs project may receive an Enterprise Zone construction jobs credit against the tax imposed under subsections (a) and (b) of Section 201 of the Illinois Income Tax Act in an amount equal to 50% of the amount of the incremental income tax attributable to Enterprise Zone construction jobs credit employees employed in the course of completing an Enterprise Zone construction jobs project. However, the Enterprise Zone construction jobs credit may equal 75% of the amount of the incremental income tax attributable to Enterprise Zone construction jobs credit employees if the project is located in an underserved area.

(b) A business entity seeking a credit under this Section must submit an application to the Department and must receive approval from the designating municipality or county and the Department for the Enterprise Zone construction jobs credit project. The application must describe the nature and benefit of the project to the certified Enterprise Zone and its potential contributors. The total aggregate amount of credits awarded under the Blue Collar Jobs Act (Article 20 of Public Act 101-9) shall not exceed $20,000,000 in any State fiscal year.

Within 45 days after receipt of an application, the Department shall give notice to the applicant as to whether the application has been approved or disapproved. If the Department disapproves the application, it shall specify the reasons for this decision and allow 60 days for the applicant to amend and resubmit its application. The Department shall provide assistance upon request to applicants. Resubmitted applications shall receive the Department's approval or disapproval within 30 days after the application is resubmitted. Those resubmitted applications satisfying initial Department objectives shall be approved unless reasonable circumstances warrant disapproval.

On an annual basis, the designated zone organization shall furnish a statement to the Department on the programmatic and financial status of any approved project and an audited financial statement of the project.

The Department shall certify to the Department of Revenue the identity of taxpayers who are eligible for the credits and the amount of credits that are claimed pursuant to subparagraph (8) of subsection (f) of Section 201 the Illinois Income Tax Act.

The Enterprise Zone construction jobs credit project must be undertaken by the business entity in the course of completing a project that complies with the criteria contained in Section 4 of this Act and is undertaken in a certified Enterprise Zone. The Department shall adopt any necessary rules for the implementation of this subsection (b).

(c) (Blank).

(d) Annually, until construction is completed, a company seeking Enterprise Zone construction job credits shall submit a report that, at a minimum, describes the projected project scope, timeline, and anticipated budget. Once the project has commenced, the annual report shall include actual data for the prior year as well as projections for each additional year through completion of the project. The Department shall issue detailed reporting guidelines prescribing the requirements of construction-related reports.

In order to receive credit for construction expenses, the company must provide the Department with evidence that a certified third-party executed an Agreed-Upon Procedure (AUP) verifying the construction expenses or accept the standard construction wage expense estimated by the Department.

Upon review of the final project scope, timeline, budget, and AUP, the Department shall issue a tax credit certificate reflecting a percentage of the total construction job wages paid throughout the completion of the project.

Upon 7 business days' notice, the taxpayer shall make available to any State agency and to federal, State, or local law enforcement agencies and prosecutors for inspection and copying at a location within this State during reasonable hours, the report under this subsection (d).

(e) As used in this Section:

"Enterprise Zone construction jobs credit" means an amount equal to 50% (or 75% if the project is located in an underserved area) of the incremental income tax attributable to Enterprise Zone construction jobs credit employees.

"Enterprise Zone construction jobs credit employee" means a laborer or worker who is employed by a contractor or subcontractor in the actual construction work on the site of an Enterprise Zone construction jobs credit project.

"Enterprise Zone construction jobs credit project" means building a structure or building or making improvements of any kind to real property commissioned and paid for by a business that has applied and been approved for an Enterprise Zone construction jobs credit pursuant to this Section. "Enterprise Zone construction jobs credit project" does not include the routine operation, routine repair, or routine maintenance of existing structures, buildings, or real property.

"Incremental income tax" means the total amount withheld during the taxable year from the compensation of Enterprise Zone construction jobs credit employees.

"Underserved area" means a geographic area that meets one or more of the following conditions:

(1) the area has a poverty rate of at least 20% according to the latest American Community Survey;

(2) 35% or more of the families with children in the area are living below 130% of the poverty line, according to the latest American Community Survey;

(3) at least 20% of the households in the area receive assistance under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); or

(4) the area has an average unemployment rate, as determined by the Illinois Department of Employment Security, that is more than 120% of the national unemployment average, as determined by the U.S. Department of Labor, for a period of at least 2 consecutive calendar years preceding the date of the application.

(Source: P.A. 102-108, eff. 1-1-22; 102-558, eff. 8-20-21; 103-595, eff. 6-26-24.)