(505 ILCS 19/35)
Sec. 35. Illinois AgriFIRST Program.
(a) The Department must develop and administer an Illinois AgriFIRST Program to enhance the value of Illinois agriculture products or by-products through grants to current and potential processors. Qualifying persons and agribusinesses must be located in Illinois and must process, package, or otherwise enhance the value of farm products or by-products produced in Illinois.
The recipient of a grant under this Section must provide a minimum percentage, as determined by the Department, of the total cost of the processing project, with the balance of the project's total cost available from other sources. Other sources include, but are not limited to, commercial and private lenders, leasing companies, and grants. The recipient's match may be in cash, cash-equivalent investments, or bonds, irrevocable letters of credit, or any combination thereof. A grant under this Section may provide (i) up to 75% of the cost for technical assistance to develop a project to enhance the value of agricultural products or to expand agribusiness in Illinois but not to exceed $25,000, (ii) up to 50% of the cost of undertaking feasibility studies, competitive assessments, and consulting or productivity services that the Department determines may result in the enhancement of value-added agricultural products, and (iii) on and after July 1, 2003, up to 10% of the project's total capital construction cost not to exceed $5,000,000, including, but not limited to, (A) purchasing land, (B) purchasing, constructing, or refurbishing buildings, (C) purchasing or refurbishing machinery or equipment, (D) installation, (E) repairs, (F) labor, and (G) working capital. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, the grant moneys may not be used for the purpose of compliance with the provisions of the Livestock Management Facilities Act.
Grant applications must be made on forms provided by and in accordance with procedures established by the Department. At a minimum, an applicant must be an Illinois resident, as defined by Department rule, and must provide the names, addresses, and occupations of all project owners, the project address, relevant credit and financial information (including, but not limited to, assets and liabilities), and any other information deemed necessary by the Department for review of the grant application.
(b) All requests for the waiver of any requirements in this Section must be made in writing to the Department. A grant award is subject to modification or alteration under, but is not limited to, the following conditions:
(1) The grant award is subject to any modifications
that may be required by changes in State law or regulations. The Department shall notify the recipient in writing of any amendment to the regulations and the effective date of those amendments.
(2) If either the Department or the recipient
requests to modify the terms of the grant award other than as set forth in paragraph (1), written notice of the proposed modification shall be given to the other party. No modification shall take effect unless agreed to in writing by both the Department and the recipient.
(c) The Illinois AgriFIRST Program Fund is created as a special appropriated fund within the State treasury. Appropriations and moneys from any public or private source may be deposited into the Fund. The Fund shall be used for the purposes of the Illinois AgriFIRST Program Act of 2001. Repayments of grants made under this Section shall be deposited into the Fund.
(Source: P.A. 92-346, eff. 8-14-01.)
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Last modified: February 18, 2015