Author: Jayne Rose

The IEZA board has drafted it goals and objectives for 2006.

GOAL I: Continue to improve communications and record keeping with all individuals, governments, organizations and businesses involved in the Illinois Enterprise Zone Program.

• Objective: Update and approve IEZA By-Laws. Objective: Produce Three Newsletters.
• Objective: Continue the education of Zone Administrators/educators/school board members on the effect of enterprise zone abatements on general state aid.
• Objective: Continue updating and maintain IEZA Web Site.
• Objective: Maintain and centralize comprehensive mailing lists for membership solicitations, conferences and newsletters.
• Objective: To purchase digital camera for newsletter photos

GOAL II: Continue to broaden awareness of the Illinois Enterprise Zone Program through cooperative efforts with other Economic Development organizations.

• Objective: Continue to coordinate conferences with other ED organizations to avoid conflicts.
• Objective: Link IEZA Web Site to Web Sites of IEZA members, DCEO, IDC and ITIA. 

GOAL III: Increase membership of Zone Administrators and other business categories.

• Objective: Maintain contact with each zone administrator by mail. Objective: Continue contact with nonmembers by phone or other means.
• Objective: Continue contacting certified businesses and candidates for professional membership by mail.
• Objective: Encourage IEZA members to contact potential certified businesses and other potential members in their area by phone or in person. 

GOAL IV: Remain active in legislation affecting zones.

• Objective: Monitor and inform members of all legislation affecting zones.
• Objective: Poll IEZA Board members to determine if a position should be taken on individual legislation.
• Objective: Contact legislators regarding IEZA’s position on legislation and encourage members to make individual contact.

GOAL V: Educate new zone administrators.

• Objective: Provide continuing education for members through two workshops/ conferences.

GOAL VI: Promote and hi-lite successful business investment with Illinois Enterprise Zones.

• Objective: Expand mailing of IEZA newsletter and press releases to all State Agencies. 

Recently a question was raised concerning whether or not County Public Safety Sales Tax is exempt under EZ Building Materials Sales Tax Exemption.

Officials from the Illinois Department of Revenue have confirmed that County Public Safety Sales Tax is automatically exempt.

The EZ Building Materials Sales Tax Exemption also covers Home Rule Sales Tax, Non Home Rule Sales Tax and Business District Sales Tax.

Online Reporting Due March 30, 2013
IDOR Reporting Deadline
             
Enterprise Zone and River Edge Redevelopment Zone Administrators are now required to annually collect and compile information regarding job creation, job retention and capital investment and submit to the Department of Revenue. Although businesses have been granted an extension until May 20, 2013 to file Enterprise Zone reports pursuant to Public Act 97-905, Zone Administrators aren’t as lucky. The deadline to complete this online reporting is March 30, 2013.
 
Within the last week, the Department of Revenue issued letters to Zone Administrators of record with a PIN number and your Enterprise Zone name. This is the information needed to get into the system in order to complete the forms.
 
Please keep in mind, businesses have been granted an extension to May 29 to file reports.
 
In the event that you find fields that are problematic or questionable, please contact me and I will refer those questions directly to the Department of Revenue.
 
For your convenience, below is the link to the reporting website:
www.tax.illinois.gov  (please click on the EZ Reporting tab, then New Business Incentives Reporting Information link).

September 28, 2012

First let me apologize for the delay in getting the program to you for our upcoming conference in Springfield… The IEZA Board of Directors and I have been working closely with a number of groups to make sure we can present accurate information about the revised Illinois Enterprise Zone Program.

The 2012 Enterprise Zone Extension Legislation makes major changes in the way Zones are selected, managed, and reported. While the end goal of long term extension was achieved, the implementation of the program modifications will change the way administrators operate the program at the local level, the way companies report activity in each zone and the way the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and the Department of Revenue gather and evaluate information.

The goal of the Fall 2012 IEZA Conference is to begin to outline the issues we will all need to address, recognizing this is a fluid and dynamic process and that some processes are still in development. So if you already have a Zone, use a Zone or want a new Zone, I hope you will join us November, in Springfield to learn more.
Thank you and hope to see you soon!

Craig Coil

2012 Fall Conference Brochure and Agenda

After nearly three years of discussion and negotiation, the Illinois
 General Assembly unanimously passed Enterprise Zone extension legislation
 last night.  Senate Bill 3616 will provide stable and predictable job
 creation and retention incentives for the long term, more transparency and
 performance reporting and revised qualification criteria which may give
 communities not currently designated as Enterprise Zones the chance to be
 considered for designation. It also gives communities with existing zones
 the opportunity to renew for up to 25 years.  The bill awaits Governor
 Quinn’s signature.



Championed by the Illinois Manufacturers Association (IMA) with
 significant technical assistance and support provided by the Illinois
 Enterprise Zone Association (IEZA) and the Illinois Taxpayers Federation
 (IFT), 3616 was the culmination of months of work.  Employers of all sizes
 as well as media and local government leaders, Chambers of Commerce and
 Economic Development Organizations throughout the state helped promote the initiative as well, reaching out to their respective legislators.  *Mark Denzler of the IMA along with Tom Johnson of ITF should be commended for
 their diligence and determination in getting this passed.  Mark was the
 captain of the ship and did a great job of building consensus and keeping  things moving.*

Legislative
At the legislative level, Senator Mike Frerichs (D-Urbana/Champaign) and
 Senator Pamela Althoff (R-Crystal Lake) were exemplary leaders on the
 negotiating team in the upper chamber along with President John Cullerton,
 who made this a primary issue for the Senate this session, as well as  Minority Leader Christine Radogno.  *Senators Frerichs and Althoff made  the case for zones during the statewide Enterprise Zone Special Committee
 hearings and were instrumental in getting the message out about the
 importance of the program to the future of Illinois economic development  efforts.*

House
In the House, Representative John Bradley (D-Marion) and Representative
 David Harris (R- Mt.Prospect),  in addition to Speaker Mike Madigan, worked  well together to help that chamber reach concensus. * Representative Bradley in particular was instrumental in making sure the program met the
 needs of the our employers going forward while at the same time providing
 transparency and accountability to the taxpayers in these difficult financial times.*

IEZA Board
I also don’t want to forget the Board of Directors of the IEZA for their
 input during this process and all of you who contacted your legislators and
 community leaders to garner support for the program.  The extension could
 not have happended wthout everyone coming togther for the common cause.





Chamber and Caucus Group Staffs
And finally, I have to thank the unsung heroes of the effort to pass this
 bill.  The staffs of both chambers and all four caucus groups, as well as
 those from the Governor’s office, DCEO and Revenue. They did an amazing
 amount of work to bring all of the pieces together into the final bill,
 especially given all of the other things on their plates.  Little if
 anything can be accomplished at the Capital without the staffs and they
 deserve significant recognition.





In the coming months, the IEZA wll be working closely with DCEO and the
 Illinois Department of Revenue to design, test and communicate new zone
 operating procedures and revised application processes and very soon we
 will be forwarding information related to the details of the bill and key
 timelines to be aware of as Zone Administrators and community leaders.


Stay tuned, there’s lots more to come.







Craig Coil


President

 Illinois Enterprise Zone Association

(Published 4/26/12)

Minutes ago, the Illinois Senate unanimously passed legislation (SB 3688) championed by the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA) and the Illinois Enterprise Zone Association (IEZA) that extends Illinois enterprise zones for an additional twenty-five years.  Co-sponsored by Senator Mike Frerichs (D-Champaign) and Sen. Pam Althoff (R-Crystal Lake), this critical legislation will maintain an economic development tool used to help attract and retain jobs across the state.  Without an extension, the ninety-seven enterprise zones will begin expiring in 2013 including zones in Decatur, Peoria, Rockford, Chicago, East St. Louis, Des Plaines River Valley and Canton/Fulton County.
 
The IMA with input from IEZA initiated this legislation and worked with supporters from both sides of the aisle in the Senate. President John Cullerton and Republican Leader Christine Radogno formed a special Enterprise Zone Committee that conducted four public hearings around the state to solicit testimony and support from hundreds of companies, economic development officials, labor unions, and elected leaders.
 
SB 3688 creates long term stability and predictability by extending zones for 25 years, creating ten new zones, enlarging the current geographic size, modernizing the tax structure, and requiring additional transparency and accountability by enterprise zone administrators.
 
Despite the overwhelming popularity and measured success of the enterprise zone program, it faces an uncertain future in the House of Representatives that has twice failed to act.  Everyone is encouraged to call your respective state representatives and ask them to support the enterprise zone legislation (SB 3688).