The MCILEDC knows how important it is to a successful business to have an efficient means to bring in supplies, ship products and services out, and for workers to get to and from work. To that end, MCILEDC staff works closely with rail, road-way related, and public facility (water and sewer) assistance program providers to secure public infrastructure funds on behalf of a development project. Depending on the timing of the project, its needs, and availability of a specific program’s funds, MCILEDC works with pertinent local governments to make applications for assistance in a timely manner. Working relationships already in place with the Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, and the United States Department of Commerce will be utilized to help a project pay the cost difference of upgrading local highways, building rail spurs, and bringing water and sewer up to a company’s property lines. One or more of the following could be accessed. Contact ekoch@mciledc.com for help in accessing these public infrastructure assistance programs.
IDOT Rail Freight Program. The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) offers low interest loans to companies, or sometimes a grant to the relevant community, to help improve rail freight service to a business development project. Your project must result in job creation and/or retention and transportation savings to be eligible.
IDOT Economic Development Program (EDP). Manufacturing, light industrial, warehouse and distribution companies, and corporate headquarters, who are making a capital investment and creating jobs in Illinois, can get help from IDOT, for improving local or municipal roadways that are needed to support their development project. EDP can fund up to 50% of eligible costs; maximum of $2M. Local governments are the eligible recipients for these funds on behalf of the project. Funds can be used for roadway-related construction and engineering. If access improvement is located on a state highway, IDOT can fund 100%.
IDOT Truck Access Route Program (TARP). IDOT can make it possible for local governments to access funds to help pay the cost difference of upgrading local highways to meet additional weight and geometric requirements for truck accessibility (80,000 lb. truck). Funding level is the lesser of up to $30K per lane mile and $15K per intersection or $600K. Projects must connect to a truck route and end at another truck route or truck generator.
IDOT Surface Transportation Program. For projects where timing is not an issue, IDOT also has a surface transportation program through an annual application process with funding levels up to 80% of costs. Municipalities of 5,000 or more in population are eligible.
ILDCEO Community Development Block Grant – Economic Development Program (CDAP-EDP). Local governments not classified by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as an entitlement community, (in our service area Valmeyer, Waterloo, Columbia, Hecker) can apply for public infrastructure funds from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (ILDCEO). The grant can be used for water and sewer and road improvements on behalf of an eligible business making a capital investment and creating jobs. Funding level is usually $10K-25K per full time job created with a maximum of $1M. Fifty-one percent of the jobs created or retained must meet the low to moderate income status established on a county-wide basis.
USDOC Economic Development Administration (EDA) Public Works Program. This United States Department of Commerce (USDOC) program is designed to provide grant funds to projects located in a Region or geographic area that meets EDA’s economic distress criteria (or) for projects not located in a distressed area, but EDA determines the proposed project will be of a substantial direct benefit to a geographic area within the District that meets EDA’s Economic distress criteria. The main program focus is to help communities to revitalize, upgrade, or expand economic development-related infrastructure such as water and sewer system improvements, and rail or roadway-related improvements. Generally, the amount of an EDA award may not exceed 50% of the total cost of the project (maximum $2M). Depending upon the relative needs of the region, that percent could be higher and is usually determined by the average per capita income or unemployment rate of the region in which the project is located.
IEPA Clean Water Initiative. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) has a low interest loan for a variety of wastewater and drinking water capital projects (1.91 % interest rate for 20 years). Units of local government are the eligible recipients and could apply for funds to make improvements in support of a company’s project.