Section 296.60  Criteria for Review of Grant Applications

The Committee will consider the following criteria and assign point totals when determining grant recipients.  The Committee will only consider applications provided by the Office in accordance with Section 296.55. 

a)         Space Need − 0-50 points

1)         Current fire station status.  Whether the applicant currently owns an existing fire station and, if so, the condition of the existing fire station.

2)         Operational impact.  Whether space limitations of the existing fire station or other space used by the fire department affect response time, public safety or operations of the fire department.

3)         Capacity and sustainability.  Whether the current fire station or other space used by the fire department is sufficient for housing apparatus, equipment, decontamination areas and other fire department functions.

4)         Alternatives and constraints.  Whether space can be rented or shared on a consistent and financially sustainable basis. 

5)         Readiness and growth.  Whether the proposed project responds to or accounts for community growth or service expansion.

b)         Financial Need − 0-50 points

1)         Budget.  Evaluation of the fire department's available annual operating budget and whether the project is prohibitively expensive relative to the fire department's budget.

2)         Other financial support.  Whether other funding sources are available for the proposed project. 

3)         Project costs.  Whether there is a clear and responsible financial justification, including detailed cost breakdowns, for the proposed project.

(Source:  Amended at 50 Ill. Reg. 10950, effective August 1, 2026)