Page 478

House Bill No. 5506

Public Act No. 22-118 478 of 739

(b) (1) There is established an Office of Community Economic Development Assistance within the Department of Economic and Community Development. The office shall, within available appropriations, (A) provide assistance to organizations seeking to establish themselves or be certified as a community development corporation in the state, (B) provide grants to certified community development corporations for projects to be undertaken in a target area, (C) serve as the liaison between community development corporations and investors seeking to invest funds in such community development corporations and provide assistance in soliciting investment funds for such community development corporations, and (D) seek to ensure coordinated, efficient and timely responses to such organizations, community development corporations and investors. (2) The office shall identify eligible target areas in the state and post such target areas on the department's Internet web site. (c) (1) Any organization exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as amended from time to time, may apply to the Office of Community Economic Development Assistance to establish itself as or be certified as a community development corporation in the state. The office shall prescribe the form and manner of such application. (2) (A) Any existing community development corporation that operates or seeks to operate in the state may apply to the office to be certified. The office shall certify any community development corporation that is exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of said Internal Revenue Code and meets the requirements set forth in subparagraphs (A) to (C), inclusive, of subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section. Each community development corporation that is established pursuant to this subsection shall be deemed to be certified.