Government Affairs Roundup
“Your Timely Roundup of Local, State, and Federal Updates”
Chamber members:
Nothing has been completed yet regarding a federal deal as reported a few weeks ago. House Republicans on Tuesday evening mulled a compromise that would pair state and local tax relief (SALT) with a conservative policy priority as a possible solution for an impasse between tax writers, blue-state Republicans and the House Freedom Caucus.
One idea under consideration would be to move a second tax bill in parallel with the $78 billion family and business tax cut deal negotiated by Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo., and Senate Finance Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore.
That second bill would pair relief from the $10,000 state and local tax deduction cap with a requirement that parents collecting the child tax credit provide a Social Security number, a source familiar with the negotiations said. The new child credit requirement could offset some of the cost of expanding the current “SALT” limit, helping alleviate concerns of deficit hawks, the source said.
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Downtown Joliet is designated as a National Register Historic District
The City of Joliet is pleased to announce that Downtown Joliet was recently listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a National Register Historic District. Encompassing over 150 years of history and development, downtown Joliet endures as a significant commercial district and the heart of Joliet and Will County government, society, and community culture.
The Downtown Joliet NRHD retains a significant collection of commercial, governmental, educational, transportation, and religious high-style architecture. The period of significance for the Downtown Joliet NRHD is from 1858, the construction date of the oldest building in the district, to 1973, the fifty-year cutoff for the National Register of Historic Places.
The City of Joliet, in conjunction with the Joliet Historic Preservation Commission and City Center Partnership, pursued National Register Historic District designation for the downtown as an economic development tool. Priscilla Cordero, the Executive Director of the City Center Partnership, remarked: “having a national register historic district in place enables property owners or developers to receive state and federal historic tax credits for qualified rehabilitation projects, and we have several older buildings that could benefit from this. National Register Historic District status also enhances downtown Joliet as a destination for heritage tourism type travelers.”
“Joliet was one of the few cities in Illinois without a downtown or commercial National Register Historic District” said City Planner Jayne Bernhard. Lockport, Plainfield, Lemont, Morris, Ottawa, Aurora to name a few, they all have them. It was time to recognize our historic downtown and provide another opportunity for economic investment.”
The Downtown Joliet National Register Historic District is the fifth National Register Historic District in Joliet. The East Side National Register Historic District was designated in 1980, the Upper Bluff National Register Historic District in 1991, the Steel Works National Register Historic District in 1991, and the Illinois State Penitentiary-Joliet National Register Historic District in the fall of 2023.
For those interested in learning more about the downtown’s architectural history and historical development, please visit the historic preservation webpage on the City of Joliet’s website to view the Downtown Joliet NRHD nomination: www.joliet.gov/historicpreservation
Army Corps plans $1 billion barricade to deter invasive carp at Illinois and Des Plaines Rivers
Scott Whitney, the head of project management at the Army Corps of Engineers, is actively involved in preventing the spread of invasive carp that established a presence in parts of the Illinois River during the 1990s. The Army Corps is gearing up to implement its nearly decade-long plan for the site, aiming to construct a formidable barrier to halt the migration of these troublesome fish.
To thwart the invasive fish from infiltrating Lake Michigan and beyond, the Army Corps is devising a sophisticated system of barricades estimated to cost $1.416 billion. The Brandon Road Interbasin Project, expected to take a minimum of six to eight years for completion after construction begins, is currently in the process of finalizing a partnership agreement between the Army Corps and the state department of natural resources.
Whitney emphasizes the necessity of a multi-pronged approach, stating, “One technology by itself is only so good, but four or five technologies together are going to give us what we need.” The megaproject includes an electric barrier, a bubble wall, sound blasts, and a flushing lock.
The term “invasive carp” refers to a group of large fish that outcompete, outgrow, and outreproduce native fish. In certain stretches of the Illinois River, carp populations exceed those found anywhere else globally. Concerns arise as these carp, located approximately 14 miles downstream, pose a potential threat to the Great Lakes’ delicate food web. If unchecked, carp could devastate the $7 billion annual recreational and commercial fishing industry that has flourished around the lakes.
Whitney underscores the significance of the Great Lakes fisheries, a valuable resource worth billions of dollars annually, explaining, “Fish that come in and feed at the bottom of the food chain affect the entire ecosystem.”
The Illinois River, a crucial economic thoroughfare since the 1800s, facilitates the transportation of goods and commodities worth billions of dollars annually. Whitney notes that approximately 15 barges carrying petroleum products traverse the river daily.
Despite the strategic location near the confluence of the Illinois and Des Plaines rivers, where the fish refuse to cross, concerns persist. Scientists propose that Chicago’s waterway pollution may have been keeping the carp in check for years.
Cory Suski, a professor of aquatic resources at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, notes higher stress indices in fish near Chicago, potentially linked to pollution. Although water quality in the Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS) has improved, Suski highlights ongoing efforts to enhance water quality. However, if conditions change, there could be a shift in carp movement.
Molly Flanagan from the Alliance for the Great Lakes, an advocacy organization dedicated to safeguarding freshwater ecosystems, warns that Lake Michigan could become a conduit for the spread of invasive carp. Whitney emphasizes the urgency of the megaproject’s construction, stating, “Rarely do we have opportunities like this to really stop something in its tracks, because typically, once they’re here, they’re here to stay.”
IDOT awarded $7.1 million in federal funds to fix, replace electric vehicle chargers across state
The Illinois Department of Transportation announced it has been awarded $7.1 million in federal funds to fix electric vehicle chargers available to the public statewide. The funding, made possible through the Federal Highway Administration’s Electric Vehicle Charger Reliability and Accessibility Program, helps support Gov. JB Pritzker’s goal to have 1 million EVs on the road in Illinois by 2030.
“This investment will help to improve the reliability and accessibility of charging stations throughout the state,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman. “Under Gov. Pritzker, IDOT is committed to modernizing transportation and expanding green practices. This award is an important step in that direction.”
The grant will repair, replace or upgrade an estimated 93 Level 2 ports and 34 Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) ports at various locations throughout the state. A complete list can be found on IDOT’s website, idot.illinois.gov, or by clicking here.
The new funding for EV charging infrastructure further expands the state’s efforts toward a clean energy future. Progress under Gov. Pritzker includes the 2021 signing of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, which places Illinois on a path to 100% clean energy by 2045. IDOT is administering the state’s National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program, targeting release of the first notice of funding opportunity in early 2024. For more information, visit IDOT’s Drive Electric Illinois page.
Last week, Gov. Pritzker announced that the Illinois Finance Authority will receive $14.9 million to support construction of new charging stations as part of the State of Illinois Community Charging Program, expanding the network statewide, filling in gaps and providing better service to disadvantaged communities.
As recreational cannabis sales again hit record, Illinois AG calls for federal rescheduling
As the recreational cannabis industry in Illinois once again records record sales in 2023, the state’s Attorney General is urging the federal government to reconsider the classification of the substance.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency currently categorizes cannabis as a Schedule 1 drug, indicating that the federal government perceives it as having “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.” However, Attorney General Kwame Raoul and counterparts in 11 other states are advocating for a reclassification to Schedule 3, denoting “a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence.”
Raoul and the other attorneys general argue that this reclassification would empower states to maintain their role in setting standards for legal products, enable businesses to claim ordinary tax deductions, and enhance the capacity to conduct research on the substance to comprehensively understand its effects.
“Illinois is among several states that have implemented robust regulatory frameworks for legal cannabis sales,” Raoul stated in a press release. “State-regulated cannabis industries safeguard consumers from the risks associated with unregulated products and the illicit market. Rescheduling cannabis will eliminate barriers for legitimate businesses, fostering better collaboration with law enforcement and regulators.”
In the previous year, recreational cannabis dispensaries in Illinois achieved a record-breaking $1.6 billion in sales, coupled with a peak in sales to Illinois residents. Conversely, sales to out-of-state residents saw a decline of $71 million from the total in 2022, marking the first reduction in that category since recreational cannabis legalization in January 2020.
While the industry witnessed a 5 percent growth in 2023 compared to the previous year, indicating a slowdown in growth, the initial surge from the first to the second year of legalization was 106 percent. In 2022, growth was noted at 12 percent from the preceding year.
Illinois boasts 177 recreational cannabis dispensaries, with 68 identified as “social equity” applicants, 64 of which commenced operations last year. This term refers to individuals impacted by cannabis-related offenses, those residing in disproportionately affected areas in the last decade, or dispensaries employing at least 10 full-time workers, half of whom meet the aforementioned criteria.
Revenue generated from cannabis taxes, licensing fees, and other charges contribute to the Cannabis Regulation Fund in the state. This fund supports various initiatives, including cannabis expungement, the general revenue fund, and the R3 campaign aimed at uplifting disinvested communities.
For the 2024 fiscal year, nearly $122 million has been disbursed from the fund for related initiatives, including $42 million in transfers to the state’s general revenue fund, as reported by the Illinois Department of Revenue.
Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen speaks at the Economic Club of Chicago
U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen made a significant impact during her visit to Chicago last Thursday, delivering a national policy speech that held a room full of finance leaders in attention.
Secretary Yellen addressed an audience that included State Treasurer Michael Frerichs, state Comptroller Susana Mendoza, and Austan Goolsbee from the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. Yellen’s discourse did not disappoint. She highlighted a decrease in inflation and a thriving economy, attributing these successes to President Joe Biden’s strategy aimed at supporting the middle class.
The central theme emphasized by Yellen was the interconnectedness of the middle-class narrative with the overall state of the economy. She clarified, “This story of the middle class is not separate from the state of the economy. It’s at the heart of it.” Yellen expanded the definition of the middle class, encompassing workers across diverse industries and occupations, ranging from firefighters and nurses to factory workers. Her words resonated positively with attendees at the luncheon hosted by the Economic Club of Chicago at the Fairmont Hotel.
Echoing the sentiment, State Comptroller Susana Mendoza expressed optimism, stating, “I just hope the room full of executives left the lunch more confident with the state of the economy.” She commended Yellen for highlighting the rise in consumer confidence and the decrease in unemployment, noting that there is often a lack of emphasis within the political sphere on the positive turnaround of the economy.
SomerCor CEO Manny Flores found Yellen’s presentation compelling, appreciating her candid acknowledgment that there is still progress to be made and that certain segments of the population are still facing challenges. Despite this, Yellen conveyed a sense of optimism, indicating an overall improvement in the economy.
Will County Alternative Fuels Readiness Plan – New Interactive Map Survey
The Will County Executive Office would like to invite you to take part in the next phase of their initiative – the Interactive Map Survey. This feedback will play a crucial role in identifying suitable locations for new fueling stations for Alternative Fuel Vehicles, including Electric Vehicles.
Please help their team by promoting this mapping survey within our community. This additional input will help them plan for the future of alternative fuel infrastructure in Will County, pinpoint desired fueling locations, and contribute to a more sustainable environment for residents, visitors, and businesses.
For additional information on the project, please feel free to visit willcountyaltfuels.com.
Building Blocks of Success: IDOT announces February dates for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program workshops
The Illinois Department of Transportation is hosting free virtual workshops in February as part of its continuing Building Blocks of Success series for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise firms interested in strengthening their skills, growing their business and bidding on state projects. New and existing DBEs, as well as firms interested in becoming certified in the program, are invited.
February workshop dates and topics:
- Feb. 1, 10 a.m. to noon: Website Best Practices: Whether DIY or Hiring Firm
- Feb. 6, 10 a.m. to noon: Marketing & Networking Q&A
- Feb. 8, 10 a.m. to noon: Building a Capability Statement
- Feb. 13, 10 a.m. to noon: How to Connect & Stand Out
- Feb. 15, 10 a.m. to noon: Benefits of Becoming IDOT DBE Certified, How to Apply & Expand Work Categories
- Feb. 27, 10 a.m. to noon: Accounting Practices / Financial Reporting Financial Series
- Feb. 29, 10 a.m. to noon: Budgeting & Cashflow Management
Building Blocks of Success will continue through April. Workshop information, including dates and times, is available through Eventbrite at bit.ly/DBEworkshops. Advance registration is required.
Questions can be directed to IDOT’s Bureau of Small Business Enterprises at (217) 785-4611.
Through Gov. JB Pritzker’s historic, bipartisan Rebuild Illinois, IDOT is helping to deliver the largest capital program in state history while promoting diversity, equity and inclusion.
Administered by IDOT, the DBE program provides minorities, women and eligible small businesses with opportunities to participate in federally and state funded highway, transit and airport contracts. For more information on becoming a certified DBE and learning more about available IDOT resources, visit www.idot.illinois.gov/dbe.
Stay well,
Mike Paone
Executive Vice President
Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce & Industry
mpaone@jolietchamber.com
815.727.5371 main
815.727.5373 direct