Category: IEZA News

February 27, 2012
SPRINGFIELD, IL – On Monday, State Senators Pamela Althoff (R – McHenry) and Michael Frerichs (D – Champaign) were named co‐chairs of a newly created bipartisan Senate Special Committee on Enterprise Zone Extensions that will travel the state to gather input on proposed legislation to modernize and extend the Enterprise Zone Program.

The Enterprise Zone Program, established in 1982, is one of the state’s most proven and successful economic development tools. Beginning next year, these zones will start to expire and businesses statewide will lose access to the various incentives they offer.

“I think we have a tremendous opportunity to fine tune this great economic development tool to make sure it remains useful and productive for years to come. As a former mayor, I am keenly aware of how vital enterprise zones can be in spurring economic development and creating jobs. At the same time, I am also sensitive to the need to balance tax incentives with worthwhile results. I look forward to hearing from others about their experiences and ultimately producing and passing a meaningful enterprise zone reform package,” said Senator Althoff, who before joining the Senate was the mayor of McHenry, IL.

Frerichs stressed that the goal is to make sure this effective economic development program remains successful.

“We know enterprise zones have been creating jobs across Illinois for 30 years,” said Senator Frerichs. “A program this proven and successful deserves this kind of comprehensive approach, rather than piecemeal renewals. I look forward to hearing from business and community officials throughout the state on how we can keep this great program going and improve it for the future.”

The committee’s first hearing will be held Thursday, March 15 at Southern Illinois University’s Dunn‐Richmond Economic Development Center in Carbondale. Three additional hearings are planned for Peoria, Rockford, and Chicago. Exact dates and times are yet to be determined.

The new Senate Special Committee was created Monday at the direction of Senate President John J. Cullerton. The six‐member committee will have three members from each party to be chosen by President Cullerton and Republican Leader Christine Radogno.

Enterprise zones seek to stimulate economic growth by creating specified geographic regions that offer businesses within that zone state and local tax incentives and regulatory relief. In
2011 alone, the program is credited with creating 8,980 jobs and nearly $2.5 billion in investments.

“Enterprise zones are a crucial economic development tool in Illinois that have a real record of success. Nearly $50 billion in capital investment and more than 900,000 jobs have been
created or retained since their inception,” said Greg Baise, president & CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, the oldest and largest manufacturing trade association in the
country. “We applaud the bipartisan effort to provide long‐term stability and foresight to economic development in Illinois.”

The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association is working with lawmakers to produce a comprehensive modernization and extension package regarding enterprise zones. That legislation (SB 3688) includes the following reforms:

• Renews current enterprise zones for an additional 25 years, subject to approval of state and local officials
• Allows up to 10 additional zones to be created over the next 10 years
• Streamlines the available tax incentives to remove those that are not producing results
• Requires maps of enterprise zones to be posted online

“Illinois enterprise zones have proven themselves to be a vital business retention and attraction tool. They are utilized by employers of all sizes and have added a measure of predictability for Illinois job creators and economic development professionals as we all compete for jobs and investment”, said Craig Coil, President of the Illinois Enterprise Zone Association. “Long term extension of enterprise zones is critical to the success of our economic development efforts in Illinois and I’m pleased that the Senate is focusing its attention on this important issue.”

The goal of the hearings is to gather input from local business and community leaders and enterprise zone officials. Legislators aim to pass a comprehensive enterprise zone package this spring.

To: IEZA Membership
From: John Thompson:

Re: Termination dates

When the IEZA met at our Spring Conference in Bloomington, the Administrator’s Manual that was distributed on CD contained a list of Zone Termination Dates. Three zones were listed with termination dates occurring in the past. I requested a review by DCEO and am now providing the updated dates for those three zones who have all been certified by DCEO for their termination date 10-year extensions.

Please include these corrections in your records.

• Calumet Region's termination date is December 31, 2017
• Greenville/Smithboro's termination date is December 31, 2017
• Mendota/LaSalle County's termination date is December 31, 2017

John R. Thompson
IOM, ACE President/CEO/Zone Administrator
Dixon Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry Lee County Industrial Development Association
Lee County Enterprise Zone Administrative Office
101 West Second Street, Suite 301
Dixon, Illinois 61021
Phone – 815.284.3361
Fax – 815.284.3675
E-mail – dchamber@essex1.com

As published in the 2008 Goals & Objectives, the By-laws of the Illinois Enterprise Zone Association has been published as follows:

By-laws in pdf format available at the end of this article.

BY-LAWS OF THE ILLINOIS ENTERPRISE ZONE ASSOCIATION

ARTICLE 1 – GENERAL

1.1 NAME. The name of the association shall be the ILLINOIS ENTERPRISE ZONE ASSOCIATION hereinafter referred to as "ASSOCIATION."

1.2 DEFINITION. The ASSOCIATION is a creative coalition of enterprise zone officials, economic development professionals and prominent business leaders organized to promote, strengthen and enhance the Illinois Enterprise Zone Program.

1.3 PURPOSE. The purpose of the ASSOCIATION is to provide a forum for Illinois Enterprise Zone representatives to coordinate, respond to and support the needs, efforts and concerns of individual enterprise zones in Illinois.

1.4 OFFICE OF ASSOCIATION. The office of the ASSOCIATION shall be the office designated by the President of the Board of Directors as the case may be from time to time.

1.5 FISCAL YEAR. The fiscal year of the ASSOCIATION shall begin on the first day of January and end on the thirty-first day of the succeeding December of each twelve-month period.

ARTICLE 2 – MEMBERSHIP

2.1 CATEGORIES OF MEMBERSHIP. The ASSOCIATION shall have two categories of members. The designation of each category and the qualifications of the members of each category shall be as follows:

A. VOTING MEMBERS. A voting Member shall consist of one (1) representative member from each Enterprise Zone where such Enterprise Zone has been created pursuant to the Illinois Enterprise Zone Act as approved by the State of Illinois. Each Enterprise Zone shall have one (1) voting member and one (1) vote.

B. NON-VOTING MEMBERS. A Non-voting Member shall consist of any individual, partnership, corporation or other entity which desires to foster the purpose of the ASSOCIATION. Each nonvoting member does not have any voting privileges on any business brought before the membership or Board of Directors.

2.2 ELECTION OF MEMBERS. Voting and Nonvoting Members shall be approved by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.

2.3 TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP. The Board of Directors by affirmative vote of twothirds (2/3) of all Board members present and voting at a regular or special meeting of the Board shall suspend or expel a member for cause after an appropriate hearing, and shall, by a majority vote of those present and voting at a regular or special meeting of the Board, terminate the membership of any member who becomes ineligible for membership, or suspend or expel any member who shall be in default in the payment of dues.

2.4 RESIGNATION. Any member may resign by filing a written resignation with the Secretary, but such resignation shall not relieve the member so resigning of the obligation to pay any dues, assessments or other charges theretofore accrued and unpaid.

2.5 REINSTATEMENT. Upon written request signed by a former member and filed with the Secretary, the Board of Directors may, by the affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the members of the Board, reinstate such former member to membership under such terms as the Board may deem appropriate.

2.6 DUES. Dues for voting members shall be determined by a majority vote of the Board of Directors and voting at a regular or special meeting. Dues for nonvoting members shall be by structured categories and shall be determined by a majority vote of the membership present and voting at a regular or special meeting. The Board of Directors shall make recommendations on dues changes to the membership prior to any vote by the membership. No voting member shall be entitled to vote or hold office until dues have been paid.

2.7 MEMBERSHIP LIST. It shall be the duty of the member to notify the President of any change in the member representing an enterprise zone in time for proper notice of meetings and events; otherwise, such notice is waived.

ARTICLE 3 – MEETINGS

3.1 REGULAR MEETINGS. Regular meetings of the membership of the ASSOCIATION shall be held on the third Friday of a designated month in each quarter of the fiscal year or as otherwise designated by the President.

3.2 SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of the membership of the ASSOCIATION for any purpose or purposes may be called by the President or by a majority of the Board of Directors and shall be called by the President or Board of Directors upon request of a majority of the membership of the ASSOCIATION. No business shall be transacted at any special meeting of the membership except as shall be set forth in the notice of the meeting.

3.3 ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the members of the ASSOCIATION shall be held on such date as set by the Board of Directors.

3.4 PLACES OF MEETINGS. Meetings will be held at the places designated by the President.

3.5 NOTICE OF MEETINGS. Written notice stating the place, day and hour of the meetings, and in the cases of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be delivered or mailed to each member at the last known mailing address of such member not less than ten (10) days prior to regular meetings or five (5) days prior to special meetings.

3.6 QUORUM. A majority of the voting members of the ASSOCIATION shall constitute a quorum. Enterprise Zones may appear and be counted toward the quorum either through their respective representative members or by the proxy of the representative member.

3.7 PROXIES. At all meetings of the membership, any voting member may vote and be counted toward a quorum by proxy executed in writing by the representative member or by his/her authorized attorney-in-fact. Such proxy shall be filed with the Secretary.

IEZA-bylaws-final-as-amended-04-18-2008 25/04/2008,12:03 66.82 Kb

During the IEZA’s 2007 Annual Board Retreat (October 30 – November 1, 2007), the Board approved the following Goals & Objectives for 2008:

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

• Objective: Approve and publish revised IEZA By-Laws.
• Objective: Produce electronic IEZA Newsletters.
• Objective: Utilize ISBE resource assistance to continue the education of Zone Administrators, educators and school board members on the relationship between enterprise zone abatement and the general state aid formula.
• Objective: Maintain and update IEZA Web Site.
• Objective: Maintain centralized comprehensive mailing lists for membership information, conferences and newsletters. Integrate with online IEZA Web Site.
• Objective: Create web-based IEZA electronic information distribution system for rapid dissemination of critical zone related information.

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

• Objective: Link IEZA web site to web sites of IEZA members, DCEO, IDC, ITIA and other Enterprise Zone application-related sites (examples: AG Review, Gas Use Tax Exemption, etc.).

GOAL III: Continue to increase membership of Zone Administrators and other business categories.

• Objective: Maintain contact with each zone administrator by mail and electronic means.
• Objective: Conduct ongoing retention and recruitment efforts.
• Objective: Contact certified businesses and professional member candidates.

GOAL IV: Remain active in the enterprise zone legislative process.

• Objective: Monitor and inform members of legislation affecting zones.
• Objective: Analyze and track policies for impacts and effects on the Illinois Enterprise Zone Act and regulations.
• Objective: Poll IEZA members to assist in determining if positions should be taken on specific legislation.
• Objective: Contact legislators regarding IEZA’s positions on legislation and encourage members to make individual contacts.

GOAL V: Educate zone administrators.

• Objective: Provide continuing education for members through workshops and conferences.
• Objective: Conduct feasibility study for future implementation of a Certified Zone Administrator professional designation through IEZA.
• Objective: Conduct survey(s) related to IEZA and member needs.

GOAL VI: Improve assessment of successful investment and job creation that utilizes Illinois Enterprise Zone incentives and programs.

• Objective: Examine data collection methods and devise reporting methodologies to better reflect Illinois Enterprise Zone economic impacts at the local, regional and statewide levels.