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Authorizing the Use of State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to Fund a Livestock Market Assessment for the Kane County Development and Community Services Department
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WHEREAS, the Congress of the United States has enacted the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ARPA”) to provide economic relief to State, Local, and Tribal governments responding to economic and public health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, the County of Kane has received a total of $103,413,041 (One Hundred Three Million, Four Hundred Thirteen Thousand, Forty-One Dollars) from the United States Department of the Treasury, in State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (“SLFRF”) pursuant to ARPA, and
WHEREAS, pursuant to ARPA and the administrative regulations adopted by the United States Department of the Treasury (“Final Rule”), the County of Kane shall use SLFRF to defray costs associated with its response to the COVID-19 pandemic within the County, to address the economic fallout from the pandemic, and lay the foundation for a strong and equitable recovery; and
WHEREAS, by Resolution 21-313, the Kane County Board has established the American Rescue Plan Committee (“ARPC”) as a resource for research, education, planning, and recommendations for the best allocation and uses of the County’s SLFRF; and
WHEREAS, by Resolution 21-156, the Kane County Board approved the recommended Spending Plan as proposed by the ARPC, which designates $42,000,000 (Forty-Two Million Dollars) to be used for Kane County Department and Elected Office project requests; and
WHEREAS, the Kane County Development and Community Services Department has made a request in the amount of $66,000 (Sixty-Six Thousand Dollars) of SLFRF to fund a Livestock Market Assessment for the purpose of equipping area livestock operators who were negatively impacted by the pandemic with a market-focused resource guide to support their business planning and decision-making; and
WHEREAS, the Livestock Market Assessment will provide area livestock farmers with actionable market data and analysis in support of their business operating decisions in response to industry hardships experienced during the pandemic. According to monthly employment figures published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Animal Production and Aquaculture sector (NAICS 112) in Illinois experienced employment declines in a comparison of timeframes prior to and during the pandemic. This includes the timeframes of July 2019 thru February 2020 and July 2021 thru February 2022. A comparison of employment figures between these timeframes shows that employment declines in this sector ranged from 8.8% to 5.7%. The average employment decline between these timeframes was 7.6%. This exceeded the US rate of employment loss in the Animal Production and Aquaculture sector of 6.1%. Similarly, the Hog and Pig Farming sector (NAICS 1122) in Illinois experienced some of the greatest employment losses in the livestock industry during the pandemic. A comparison of employment levels for the Hog and Pig Farming sector between the same timeframes (July 2019 - February 2020 and July 2021 - February 2022) shows similar declines. This sector experienced employment losses in Illinois ranging from 12.4% to 9.3%, with an average employment loss of 11.2%. This exceeded the US average employment loss of 6.1% in the Hog and Pig Farming sector. Kane County conducted surveys of farmers in 2021 and 2022 which revealed that limitations on access to processing facilities had emerged as a major challenge for livestock operators. The Livestock Market Assessment will also include a section that analyzes the capacity of area processors and creates an inventory of their offered services; and
WHEREAS, by Resolution 23-112 the Kane County Board authorized a contract with New Venture Advisors for consulting services to conduct the Livestock Market Assessment; and
WHEREAS, to assist the County in determining whether the project is an eligible use of SLFRF under ARPA, the Final Rule, and the related guidance issued by the United States Department of the Treasury, the ARPC consultant, Ernst and Young, has reviewed the Kane County Development and Community Services Department’s request for SLFRF for a Livestock Market Assessment for the purpose of assisting area livestock operators who were negatively impacted by the pandemic and completed an assessment regarding the project’s eligibility under EC-2: Negative Economic Impacts EC Subcategory 2.36 in the US Treasury Department’s guidelines for Impacted Industries and Negative Economic Impacts (see Exhibit A); and
WHEREAS, the ARPC recommends that the Kane County Board authorizes the use SLFRF in the amount of $66,000 (Sixty-Six Thousand Dollars) to fund the Livestock Market Assessment for the Kane County Development and Community Services Department, to be spent during the ARPA period of performance and in accordance with the ARPA, the Final Rule and related guidance issued by the United States Department of the Treasury, and any other Federal, State or local laws and regulations.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Kane County Board hereby authorizes the Kane County Development and Community Services Department use of State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds in the amount of $66,000 (Sixty-Six Thousand Dollars) to be used for a Livestock Market Assessment, in accordance with the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the Final Rule, and related guidance issued by the United States Department of the Treasury, and any other Federal, State or local laws and regulations.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Kane County Board that the following adjustment be made to the Fiscal Year 2023 budget:
$20,000 Contractual Consulting Services 355.800.66836.50150
$20,000 Transfer to Fund 400 355.800.668.99400
($40,000) Allowance for Budget Expense 355.800.668.85000
$20,000 Transfer from 355 400.690.000.39355
$20,000 Net Income 400.89000
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Kane County Board that the remaining grant funding will be budgeted in FY24 ($26,000).
Line Item: See above
Line Item Description: See above
Was Personnel/Item/Service approved in original budget or a subsequent budget revision? No
Are funds currently available for this Personnel/Item/Service in the specific line item? Yes
If funds are not currently available in the specified line item, where are the funds available?
See above
Passed by the Kane County Board on September 12, 2023.
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John A. Cunningham, MBA, J.D. Corinne M. Pierog MA, MBA
Clerk, County Board Chairman, County Board
Kane County, Illinois Kane County, Illinois
Vote: