Illinois § 15

§ 15.

Eligibility. (a) The Department may make non-competitive economic incentive awards, including, but not limited to, grants and loans, to assist applicants that pledge to make capital investments and create new jobs in this State or retain jobs in this State. (b) To qualify for economic incentives under this Act, an applicant must: (1) be in good standing under the laws of this State and the laws of all other states where the applicant was formed or is organized; and (2) owe no delinquent taxes to the State. (c) The Department may not award economic incentives to an applicant that (i) closes operations at one location in the State or reduces those operations by more than 50% and (ii) relocates substantially the same operations to another location in the State. This prohibition does not apply if (i) the applicant moves its operations from one location in the State to another location in the State for the purpose of expanding its operations in the State and (ii) the Department determines that expansion could not reasonably be accommodated within the municipality or county where the business was located prior to the relocation. In making its determination, the Department shall confer with the chief executive officer of the municipality or county where the business was located prior to the relocation and take into consideration any evidence offered by the municipality or county regarding its ability to accommodate expansion within the municipality or county. (d) Notwithstanding subsection (c), the Department shall not award economic incentives to a professional sports organization that moves its operations from one location in the State to another location in the State. (e) Nothing in this Act will diminish or remove diversity, equity, inclusion, or jobs goals and commitments in other State Programs related to any development project supported by this Act. (Source: P.A. 102-1125, eff. 2-3-23.)