Section 43.160  Grant Award Process

a)         Grants will be awarded by the Board in rank order.

b)         The Board will notify both those applicants who are recommended for an award as well as those who will not be offered a grant.  Those applicants who do not receive an award are eligible to submit future applications if funding is available.

c)         Grants shall be subject to the Illinois Grant Funds Recovery Act [30 ILCS 705]. Any grant funds not legally obligated within two years after disbursement by the State shall be returned to the Board within 45 days.

d)         Grant funds may only be used for the project described in the grant agreement. The applicant must provide matching funds as required by the Act.

e)         Applicants must demonstrate their ability to obtain the required match and any amounts needed for the proposed project that exceed the grant amount.

f)         Applicants must demonstrate that the facility for which the grant is sought will continue to be operated by the applicant as an early childhood center for at least 10 years after completion of the capital project. (See Section 5-300(b)(5) of the Act.)

g)         Grant awards are conditioned upon the recipient's written certification that it will comply with applicable laws, including, but not limited to, the equal employment practices of:

1)         Section 2-105 of the Illinois Human Rights Act [775 ILCS 5];

2)         the Illinois Accessibility Code (71 Ill. Adm. Code 400);

3)         the Prevailing Wage Act [820 ILCS 130];

4)         the practices for minority-owned businesses, woman-owned businesses, and businesses owned by persons with disabilities of the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Women and Persons with Disabilities Act [30 ILCS 575]; and

5)         the Illinois Works Jobs Program Act Apprenticeship Initiative [30 ILCS 559/20-20], when applicable.

h)         Grants will be awarded based on the availability of funding within a given application period.

i)          Appeals for this grant program shall follow the process provided in 44 Ill. Adm. Code 7000.350(g).  All appeals shall be submitted in writing as provided in the Notice of Funding Opportunity.

(Source:  Amended at 49 Ill. Reg. 6880, effective May 5, 2025)