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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
TO PROVIDE ARPA FUNDS TO SUPPORT COOK COUNTY ARTS VIA SUBRECIPIENT AGREEMENT WITH LISC CHICAGO
WHEREAS, on March 11, 2021, the federal government authorized the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ARPA”) which includes $1.9 trillion in federal stimulus funds to hasten the United States’ recovery from the economic and health effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, specifically, the federal government has authorized and allocated a federal award of approximately $1,000,372,385B of ARPA funding to Cook County to assist the County in its recovery from the economic and health effects of COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, on June 24, 2021, the Cook County American Rescue Plan Act Framework (the “ARPA Framework”) was presented to the Cook County Board of Commissioners; and
WHEREAS the Cook County Board of Commissioners via Resolution 21-3654 accepted the ARPA federal award allocated to Cook County to assist the County in its recovery from the economic and health effects of COVID-19 in the amount of approximately $1,000,372,385.00; and
WHEREAS Resolution 21-3654 further authorized the Cook County Budget Director and Comptroller to create and implement a Special Purpose Fund for the ARPA award and other accounting measures to track the acceptance and spending of the federal award; and
WHEREAS, the Cook County Board of Commissioners authorized the Chief Financial Officer, Budget Director, Chief Procurement Officer and applicable using agencies to issue grants, contracts and agreements for ARPA programs approved via Resolutions 22-3657 and 22-0637; and
WHEREAS, to further the Policy Roadmap Goals, the Bureau of Economic Development (BED) developed a menu of Vital Community programs and initiatives which received approval through the Project Management Office process to utilize ARPA funding for such programs and initiatives pursuant; and
WHEREAS Resolutions 22-3657 and 22-0637 provided that any grants issued regarding ARPA programs in an amount over $1M shall require the approval of the Cook County Board of Commissioners; and
WHEREAS Cook County Bureau of Economic Development seeks to advance industry-sector strategies to build vibrant, sustainable and inclusive communities where people want to live, learn, work and play; and
WHEREAS, the Cook County Policy Roadmap includes a key objective under Vital Communities to “Invest in economic sectors with good jobs and positive economic, environmental and social impact”; and
WHEREAS, the Cook County arts sector is an essential driver of community vibrancy and livability that continues to experience increased operating costs, audience loss and decreased revenue; and
WHEREAS, to advance the above the Bureau of Economic Development established the Cook County Arts (NT830) as an initiative to support artists and arts organizations with grants, engage with municipalities to promote arts investments and explore strategies for Cook County to support arts sector beyond ARPA; and
WHEREAS, Resolution 22-4414 authorized the Bureau of Economic Development to enter into a Sub-recipient Agreement with the Arts Alliance Illinois in an aggregate amount of up to $5,000,000 to encourage investment in the arts and promote economic recovery in this hard-hit sector in suburban Cook County; and
WHEREAS, Arts Alliance Illinois and the Bureau of Economic Development have mutually agreed to a modified scope of work and reduction of the allocated funding totaling up to $1.8 million to focus on distribution of relief grants to suburban Cook nonprofit arts organizations, conduct an analysis of the suburban Cook arts landscape and assist the County identify opportunities to further support integration of the arts into the county’s programs and policies, with the intention of supporting the sector’s long-term vitality and growth; and
WHEREAS, to ensure expediency in the effective implementation of the Cook County Arts’ objectives, Cook County seeks to enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with LISC Chicago (“LISC”) for up to $2.0 2.3 million, a regional nonprofit affiliate of the national Local Initiative Support Corporation, to develop an arts-focused creative placemaking initiative in suburban Cook; and
WHEREAS, LISC has a track record of building organizational capacity by organizing and engaging stakeholders to further community-driven economic and cultural development.
WHEREAS, LISC currently provides grants, loans, technical assistance, and other resources to more than 70 nonprofit partners in low- and moderate-income communities across Chicago and this program will expand its footprint into suburban Cook County; and
WHEREAS, the initial project scope of the Arts Alliance Illinois included the creation and delivery of training curriculum to foster and support the arts in local communities; and
WHEREAS, based upon mutual agreement between the Bureau of Economic Development and the Alliance, and in recognition of LISC’s experience in this area, BED will engage LISC to develop initiatives to support the arts, often called creative placemaking projects, provide capacity building to support project development and create the framework to provide implementation grants for said projects in suburban Cook County.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners does hereby authorize the Bureau Chief of the Bureau of Economic Development to amend the Arts Alliance Illinois’ original scope of work and reduce its budget and then enter into a new subrecipient agreement with LISC Chicago for Cook County Arts for up to $2.0 2.3 million through 2026 to provide technical assistance to projects that support the arts in suburban Cook as well as administer, and distribute grants to advance these projects; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Bureau Chief of the Bureau of Economic Development or its designee to modify the agreement and funding amount based upon need, performance, and utilization, subject to annual appropriation by the Board.
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