2021-483

Community Navigators will be on-the-ground service providers in communities across the state that perform extensive outreach, marketing, and 1-on-1 technical assistance to small businesses.

ARPA

20 ILCS 605/605-55 and/or 20 ILCS 605/605-30 Section 3-10 of Public Act 101-0636 & Section 55 of Article 30 of Public Act 101-0637

Title 14 Ill. Admin. Code Part 690.500

Grantees will reach businesses that are most in need of support are aware of resources that can help them survive the current pandemic-induced recession and thrive during our economic recovery. Programs that Community Navigators will be expected to provide support for include state small business relief grants, as well as federal support available from the Small Business Administration and U.S. Treasury.

Yes

Information about the Program Specific Terms and requirements can be found within the Notice of Funding Opportunity.

Government Organizations; Nonprofit Organizations;

Local governments and/or nonprofit organizations, depending on the specific NOFO

N/A

Direct Payments for Specific Use

Economic Development

N/A

Applications are due by deadline identified in the Notice of Funding Opportunity Supplement. All applications received by the deadline will be scored on merit and finalists will be notified via a Notice of State Award.

Application materials [for the Creative Industries Community Navigator Program] must be submitted to the Department via electronic form at [link TBD]

DCEO may take into account the geographic distribution of and scope of services offered to target businesses, in addition to grantee score, when making award determinations.

Merit-based Review. Disbursements via working capital advance (if needed) & reimbursement per submitted financial reports approved

TBD

The Department anticipates sending Notices of State Award (NOSA) by approximately June 20, 2021, but reserves the right to issue a reduced award, or not to issue any award.

N/A

Yes

N/A

Grantees will be required to: • Partner with, provide funds to, oversee, and manage local community-based organizations (“spokes”) as subgrantees that have relationships with target businesses. (See the responsibilities of these subgrantee organizations below.) • Coordinate via regular meetings and joint planning with other grantees to ensure their subgrantees collectively achieve broad coverage of target businesses in Illinois, taking into account various grantees’ location and/or specialized expertise and networks • Plan outreach events, webinars, and other major communications efforts • Train subgrantees on the programs available to small businesses and methods for support and outreach • Develop simple, easy to understand, multilingual marketing materials to be used by subgrantees and other partners • Maintain and share information on best practices for outreach and counseling small businesses • Maintain a culturally knowledgeable staff of professionals, including CPAs and attorneys, that can provide specialized support to subgrantees and targeted businesses, in multiple languages, where applicable • Collect information from subgrantees and provide regular reports to DCEO on the following: o Number of businesses contacted by form of contact (phone, in-person, social media, etc.) o Number of businesses receiving 1-on-1 assistance o Number of businesses receiving 1-on-1 assistance that successfully submitted applications by program o Number of businesses receiving 1-on-1 assistance that successfully received benefits from the government program for which they received application assistance by program o Each of the above metrics broken out by type of target business, using categories described below (race, rural, disabled, etc.) o List of partner organizations o Common barriers and other problems that businesses face in completing applications and receiving assistance Subgrantees (the “spokes”) will be local community-based organizations (“spokes”) that have relationships with target businesses in their local area. These organizations will be expected to provide the following services: • 1-on-1 support with businesses to understand program details, eligibility, and requirements for small business grants and other relevant relief programs; prepare applications; and navigate the application process • Intensive, grassroots outreach through phone calls, texts, e-mails, targeted social media, and door-to-door canvassing • Work with local elected officials and institutions like schools, associations, chambers of commerce, Economic Development Organizations, regional planning councils, and faith networks to share information and conduct targeted outreach • Market the program through earned and paid media, such as radio interviews, local print outlets, or social media ads, that reach the target businesses • Maintain a culturally knowledgeable staff that can speak the language of the target business population and be cognizant of any other barriers or hesitancies local business owners may experience in accessing government resources • Maintain a line of communication accessible to target businesses for customer service and Q&A, including a dedicated call center, web-based question form, or e-mail Inbox • Coordinate with the grantee and with other partners, as needed, to track their activities and ensure they are adequately reaching target businesses

Standard GATA reporting (performance, financial and audits if appropriate) monthly reports with the following information, aggregated across their own activity and all subgrantee activity: • Number of businesses contacted by form of contact (phone, in-person, social media, etc.) • Number of businesses receiving 1-on-1 assistance • Number of businesses receiving 1-on-1 assistance that successfully submitted applications by program • Number of businesses receiving 1-on-1 assistance that successfully received benefits from the government program for which they received application assistance by program • Each of the above metrics broken out by type of target business, using categories described in “Section A. Program Description” (race, rural, disabled, etc.), and language • List of partner organizations • Common barriers and other problems that businesses face in completing applications and receiving assistance

N/A

5-yr records retention policy as referenced in the executed Grant Agreements (per ARPA).

324-42045-4900-0000

PY 0; CY 10,000,000; BY 10,000,000

100,000 to 2,000,000

N/A

Title 14 Ill. Admin. Code Part 700, 2 CFR 200.303 (regarding internal controls), & 2 CFR 200.330 through 200.332 regarding subrecipient monitoring and management, as well as subpart F regarding audit requirements.

Statewide

500 East Monroe, Springfield IL 62701

https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/Coronavirus-Relief-Fund-Frequently-Asked-Questions.pdf & https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/Coronavirus-Relief-Fund-Guidance-for-State-Territorial-Local-and-Tribal-Governments.pdf https://www2.illinois.gov/dceo/AboutDCEO/GrantOpportunities/Pages/CommunityNavigator.aspx

420-00-2452

technical assistance & outreach regarding help to small businesses fo rrecovery from COVID-19 emergency

5/10/2021

FY 2021 : $10,000,000