Galva

Census Follow Up Calls Underway...

Census follow-up calls are underway.

Follow-up calls ensure that everyone is counted, counted only once, and counted in the right place.

If you get a call from (844) 809-7717, it is not a scam. It is the US Census with a question about some part of your self-response.

The Census Bureau will attempt multiple calls, and you may call them back.

For those concerned about spoofed calls, calling them back is the safest way to handle the call. When you call back, they ask for the 12-digit census ID which they include in the call back message. If the person does not have it they can look up the house using the phone number and address.

An example for checking would be confirming that a college-aged member of the family should not be counted at home, but instead be counted on their campus.

For more information

Gary Metiever Produces Galva Levitt Amp Video...

Downstate Small Business Stabilization Grant,,,

​With the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus and its detrimental impact on small businesses, the State of Illinois is invoking its option to adjust Community Development Block Grant allocations to address specific needs to benefit Illinois’ non-entitlement communities in case of unforeseen circumstances.

$20 million will be available for this program.

The Downstate Small Business Stabilization component has been established to provide working capital funds to community’s businesses economically impacted by the COVID-19 virus. The program component makes funds available for 60 days of verifiable working capital up to a grant ceiling of $25,000 and is available for businesses that employ 50 people or less.

Number of employees includes the business owner(s). These funds may be used to assist private for-profit small retail and service businesses, or businesses considered non-essential by the Governor’s Executive Order without the ability for employees to work remotely.

Applications must be submitted by a unit of local government recognized by the Illinois Constitution and able to support economic development activities on a sufficient scale. Applications will be made “in support of” the benefiting business and funds will be passed through to the business via a Participation Agreement.

The following businesses are specifically ineligible for assistance:

• Businesses that have both essential and non-essential activities.
• Not-for-profit businesses.
• Independent contractors.
• Franchises or chain businesses.
• As this grant is federally funded, businesses that involve the use of cannabis for medical and/or recreational purposes are not eligible to apply.
• Private club or business that limits membership for reasons other than capacity.
• A business that derives at least 33% of its gross annual revenue from legal gambling activities, unless, subject to the Department’s approval, the business is a restaurant with gaming terminals.
• Business engaged in manufacturing or selling at wholesale, tobacco products, vaping, liquor or sexually explicit materials or in the business of manufacturing or selling firearms at wholesale or retail.
• Liquor store, an adult bookstore, non-therapeutic massage parlor, strip club or nightclub
• Pawn Shops
• Storage facility, trailer-storage yard or junk yard
• Businesses owned by public officials or state employees who are paid at least 60% of the governor’s salary; their spouses, and their minor children.
• An establishment similar to any enumerated above; or
• Any other business subsequently deemed ineligible by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Funds are available to all eligible applicants meeting program component requirements until all funds allocated to this component have been distributed. All awards in this category are predicated upon a demonstrated need for funds. This will include a review of all sources and uses of funds, an analysis of the recipient’s ability to comply with the terms of the program, and a determination that CDBG participation is appropriate.

Businesses must enter into a financial assistance agreement, referred to as the “Participation Agreement”, at agreed upon terms with the local government making the application and receiving the grant award. The Department has provided a boilerplate of the agreement in the application forms. The agreement language can be altered to be more stringent but not less stringent, and if altered, must be pre-approved prior to the application.

Requirements & Disclaimers...

The following requirements apply to all applications submitted for consideration under the CDBG Program:

1. Costs incurred prior to the date of grant award are not reimbursable under this grant program.
2. The Department reserves the right to reject any or all applications received and/or negotiate or cancel in part or in entirety grants resulting from application awards if it is in the Department’s best interest to do so.
3. The Department reserves the right to establish the amount of grant funds awarded, raise the individual grant ceilings, and to award funds to the next highest rated applicant(s) should funds become available due to de-obligations, etc.
4. The Department reserves the right to deny funding when submitted applications involve eligible units of government with serious unresolved audit or monitoring findings related to performance.
5. A grant agreement will be issued to the local government for a contract period of twelve months. All grants must meet the National Objective of Urgent Need for the benefiting business. If circumstances beyond a grantee’s control are apparent and impact the project, a grantee may apply for an extension, which may, or may not be granted. No more than one six-month extension may be considered. Requests for Modifications must be presented to the Department and approved prior to any changes.
6. If the National Objective is not met by the benefiting business, then the grantee (unit of local government) will be required to repay the entire amount of the grant to the State. With enforcement of the Participation Agreement, the benefiting business will be required to repay the entire amount of the grant to the unit of local government.
7. Each applicant must agree to comply with all applicable federal and state requirements. This includes 2 CFR 200, 24 CFR 570, Part 85, and the Grantee Accountability & Transparency Act (GATA).
8. Equal Opportunity and Fair Housing Accessibility Laws require that CDBG grantees administer their project in a manner that affirmatively furthers equal opportunity and fair housing. All CDBG grantees (local governments) will be required to pass a Fair Housing Resolution prior to application, if they do not have one. There are numerous examples available through a web search. CDBG grantees must assure all activities and services are accessible to persons with disabilities.
9. A HUD Exempt/Categorically Excluded not subject to 58.5 Environmental Review form, signed and dated by the community’s environmental review preparer and chief elected official must be included with the application.
10. A copy of the current FEMA FIRMette obtained from FEMA’s Map Service Center https://msc.fema.gov/portal/home with the proposed business’s location clearly marked must be included with the application. If the business is located in a denoted prohibited Floodway, then the business would be ineligible for assistance unless the business is a functionally dependent use of the floodway (e.g., a riverside marina or boat repair shop).
11. A Certificate of Good Standing from the Illinois Secretary of State for the local business (does not apply to sole proprietorships) should accompany the application. The certificate can be printed from: https://www.ilsos.gov/corporatellc/ In addition, an ITR-1 verification that the business has no tax liability with the Illinois Department of Revenue must be provided prior to grant closeout. This may be obtained at: http://tax.illinois.gov/taxforms/misc/clearance/ITR-1.pdf

Special Requirements...

The following requirements, in addition to those listed above, apply to applications submitted for consideration under the CDBG-Economic Development Downstate Small Business Stabilization component:

1. Grant Costs and Funding Information. All applications are assessed to determine whether CDBG funding is appropriate. The business must submit supporting financial data as indicated in Section K of the Guidebook.. The Department will review each application to determine whether funding is appropriate and whether the activity complies with the guidelines for evaluating project costs and financial feasibility set forth in 24 CFR 570.209(a). A financial review will be conducted to ensure that CDBG funds are not being substituted for available private debt financing or equity capital.
2. The amount of CDBG grant assistance provided to a business will be limited to the amount, with appropriate terms and conditions, sufficient to allow continuity of the business for 60 days or the grant ceiling, whichever is less, without substituting CDBG funds for available private debt, cash equity or other federal assistance programs.
3. The Department will conduct an analysis of the assisted Business in relation to the grant request and assess the risk. The Department may approve the project if it determines that the risk is reasonable.
4. The following will be required for all businesses as a condition of a CDBG grant award:
   • The business must identify their net income for the last three fiscal years beginning January 1, 2017 and ending December 31, 2019. Net income can be obtained from the Profit and Loss statement, generally the last item on that statement. If the Profit and Loss statements are not available, net income can be derived from total sales minus total expenses. End-of-year cash balances must also be provided. This will be either the first line item on the balance sheet or bank statements as of the last day of each fiscal year. Three years of ending cash balances must be provided for each fiscal year, as well as the current cash balance.
   • A copy of the most current bank statement for the business.
   • If available, other forms of documentation to demonstrate the lack of permanent working capital in support of operating expenses. Such evidence may include shutoff utility notices, delinquent bills, denied loan applications, etc.
   • A listing of all employees as of January 1, 2020, employees hired since then, and their status.
   • A Participation Agreement between the unit of local government and the business that will receive funding.

Resident Participation...

A public hearing must be held prior to submission of an application and prior to passage of a local council resolution of support by the local governing body.

• All applicants must provide for public participation. All residents must be given reasonable access to the community’s application and reasonable time to review the application prior to the public hearing.
• A Notice of Public Hearing must be published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation at least seven calendar days (excluding the date of publication and the date of the hearing) prior to the public hearing. NOTE: One public hearing may cover multiple applications; information concerning each application must be included in the Notice of Public Hearing.
• All project information must be available for viewing on the first date of publication at a location within the community.
• Public Hearings must be facilitated by the applicant’s governing body authorized official and certified by the authorized official or clerk
• .Efforts must be made to assure reasonable access to the public hearing by persons with disabilities; as well as be conducted in a manner to meet the needs of non-English speaking residents where a significant number of non-English speaking residents can reasonably be expected to participate.
• Those attending the public hearing must be informed of where and how to access a copy of the application.
• A sign-in sheet must be provided to document attendance. It is suggested that each person attending the public hearing provide his address and identify his role of participation (e.g., resident, elected or appointed official, municipal employee, contractor, grant administrator, business owner, etc.).
• All information, including financial information submitted by the business to the City of Galva (as applicant) will become a part of the public record and is subject to the FOIA (Freedom of Information Act)

For more information, the Guidebook and application forms

Census Response Rate Map Now Available...

The 2020 Census response rate map shows how cities and towns across the country are now responding. The map will be updated daily around 3 p.m. for everyone to see the response rate in their area and compare it to other areas across the nation.

Eagle Enterprises Publishes New Recycling Standards...

View or Print the Recyclables List

American Legion August Events:

Veteran's Breakfast - All veterans are invited to the Galva Legion bets breakfast. This breakfast is held the second Saturday of each month at the Legion Building. Open at 0700. Food is served at 0730. Cost is $8.00.

Galva Arts Council Secures Third Award...

The Galva Arts Council will once again enliven Wiley Park through the second Levitt AMP Galva Music Series, further activating the large, underused green space into a dynamic hub for self-expression, connection and layered arts experiences set to free, live music from across the globe.

The 2020 series aims to deepen community engagement and expand upon community partnerships, creating a weekly communal celebration of the best Galva has to offer.

For photographs of last year's series of concerts, visit our Gallery or visit the official Levitt AMP Galva Facebook page.

Sons of the American Legion...

The Galva American Legion Post #45 has received their charter for a new Sons of the American Legions Squadron.

The Legion is looking for new members to get the squadron rolling.

If you have a parent, grandparent or great grandparent or step parent or step grandparent that was in the military, you are eligible to join.

If interested, please contact Wayne Glisan at (309) 335 - 2931, Lloyd Anderson at (309) 853 - 7347 or Earl Stuckey at (309) 853 - 7917