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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
PROPOSED RESOLUTION FOR ARPA VITAL COMMUNITIES PROGRAM INITIATIVES IMPLEMENTED BY THE BUREAU OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
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) has developed a menu of Vital Community and Smart Community programs and initiatives which have undergone review and approval through the Project Management Office process to utilize ARPA funding for such programs and initiatives pursuant to the issuance of grants, contracts, and agreements; 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.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Cook County Board of Commissioners hereby approves the issuance of the following agreements by the BED to utilize ARPA funding for multiyear terms through Fiscal Year 2026, subject to annual appropriation by the Board, for the BED programs and initiatives as follows:
1. As part of the Manufacturing Rebound and Recovery Program, to be renamed Manufacturing Reinvented, Cook County will enter into a contract (represented by Proposed Contract # 22-3558) with the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC) for an aggregate amount of $375,000 to provide outreach and marketing services. In addition, IMEC on a pro bono basis, will conduct assessments and advise manufacturers, that apply, about potential investments to enhance productivity, adopt automation, undertake strategic planning and/or leadership training, strengthen supply chain resiliency, address workforce needs or promote business growth through marketing assistance. Cook County will reimburse manufacturers for completed projects with grants in the range of $10,000 - $25,000, depending on the specific project details. Cook County has an aggregate amount of up to $4,625,000 to support these Implementation Grants. Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC) is the official Illinois representative of the U.S. Department of Commerce Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) National Network.
2. Enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with the Housing Authority of Cook County (HACC) in an aggregate amount of up to $5,000,000 to implement Lead Pipe Removal at Vera Yates Homes and Richard Flowers Homes, an initiative to remove lead-containing water service lines at these two large HACC owned and managed affordable housing properties located in Ford Heights and Robbins. This replacement will remove all lead service lines and provide a safer, healthier living environment for the nearly 700 residents who call these developments home.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Cook County Board of Commissioners recognizes that time is of the essence and authorizes the Chief of the Bureau of Economic Development to negotiate and enter into the various agreements that outlines the specific metric and impact data, and compliance with all ARPA reporting and monitoring requirements with the agencies listed above to implement the above programs.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Cook County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Chief of the Bureau of Economic Development or its designee to modify the agreements and funding allocations to all BED selected organizations based upon need and utilization.
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