1 Create a ZoomGrants™ account (below) or log in to your existing account (above) 2 Select a Program to apply for, then click the Apply button to get started 3 Answer the questions and/or fill in the fields in each tab 4 If necessary, upload any requested documents 5 Submit your application and wait for a decision 6 If you are selected to receive funding, you might be required to submit invoices or reports through your application
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The Grand Victoria Riverboat Fund was established by the Kane County Board in 1997 under an agreement with the Elgin Riverboat Resort (Grand Victoria Riverboat). The agreement provides for an annual contribution to the county equal to 7.5% of the riverboat’s annual net operating income. The Kane County Board utilizes Grand Victoria Riverboat funds to support a variety of projects and programs aimed at strengthening Kane County communities, promoting collaboration among area organizations, and providing long-term solutions to current problems facing Kane County residents.
ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS Kane County provides Grand Victoria Riverboat funds to non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations and units of local government for eligible projects that benefit Kane County residents. The county will not consider requests from the following types of entities: Organizations that discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, handicap or national origin; political organizations, candidates for public office, or organizations whose primary purpose is to influence legislation; religious organizations that submit projects with a denominational or sectarian purpose; organizations benefiting only a few people; individuals; and units of government that submit applications involving projects or services that would typically be funded from the taxing authority of the given entity. ELIGIBLE PROJECTS Capital projects are eligible for the Grand Victoria Riverboat Fund. Examples of capital projects are those that involve the purchase or development of facilities or infrastructure, or other fixed assets such as equipment, vehicles, or computer software. They do not include recurring, day-to-day expenses which are considered operating expenses. Applicants are discouraged from seeking funding from the county for operating expenses. If you are unsure about about which category your project falls into, you are strongly encouraged to discuss your project with the county. All projects should address at least one of the following priorities: (a.) Education: Kane County seeks to promote or enhance educational and training programs and initiatives that address community and government improvement issues. (b.) Environment: Kane County encourages programs and projects that address a broad spectrum of environmental issues. and/or (c.) Economic Development: Kane County supports initiatives that promote economic and community development. Projects that meet the broad eligibility criteria listed above should also address one or more of the following goals/strategies: (a.) Promote cooperation among organizations without duplicating services. (b.) Demonstrate practical approaches to current issues facing area residents. and/or (c.) Enhance or improve the self-sufficiency and effectiveness of area organizations. d. Emphasize prevention. Additionally, favorable consideration will be given to projects that: a. Affect a broad segment of the county’s population. b. Are relevant to overall county needs and available resources. c. Are pilot programs that are clearly replicable in their design. d. Have reasonable prospects for future support. e. Have brought together a wide variety of funding partners. Applicants may not receive more than $100,000 in Grand Victoria Riverboat funds per project. INELIGIBLE PROJECTS Note that Grand Victoria Riverboat funds may not be used to fund the following types of activities: Research; special occasions, goodwill, program advertising, and/or special interest magazines; travel, tours, expeditions, or trips by individuals or groups; deficit spending or the payment of interest or taxes; annual fund campaigns; underwriting for fundraising events or performances; loans; and projects outside Kane County.
PROJECT REVIEW, FUNDING AGREEMENTS, AND TIME LIMITS Kane County accepts applications for Grand Victoria Riverboat funds from eligible external applicants during an annual application cycle that typically begins in the winter and concludes in the summer. All eligible proposals are reviewed by the County Board’s Grand Victoria Riverboat Committee, which evaluates them on a competitive basis. Projects recommended for funding by the committee are considered by the full County Board. Following the board’s decision, applicants selected for funding will be notified of the amount of their award and afforded a reasonable amount of time to obtain and submit documentation that funding for other sources are committed to their projects. Capital projects may not begin until the county has verified that all project funding is in place and the project is ready to proceed. Grant recipients must sign a Funding Agreement which outlines various reporting and recordkeeping requirements. Periodic progress reports must be submitted during the course of the project. Grand Victoria Riverboat funds may be requested while the project is underway to cover eligible project expenses. The Grand Victoria Riverboat Fund Program operates on a reimbursement basis, and all expenses must be properly documented with itemized receipts or vendor invoices, and accompanied by proof of payment. Finally, Grand Victoria Riverboat Fund projects are expected to be completed in a timely manner. Generally, non-construction projects must be completed within one year, and construction projects must be completed within two years. QUESTIONS? The staff of the Kane County Office of Community Reinvestment is available to answer questions regarding application procedures, project eligibility requirements, and the Grand Victoria Riverboat Fund in general. All inquiries should be directed to Josh Beck, at 630-444-2960 or beckjosh@co.kane.il.us.
By entering your initials here you certify this submission truthfully and accurately represents your application and is hereby submitted for review. Submission of this application does not, in any way, guarantee that your application will yield a favorable result.
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This Pre-Application section must be submitted and Approved by the Administrator (not ZoomGrants) before you can fill out the rest of the application. Click the Submit Pre-Application button at the top or bottom of this tab to submit this section to be reviewed.
Applicant and Project Information
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Please answer questions 1-7 and indicate the type of application you are submitting in question 8. Depending on your answer to question 8, you will be presented with additional questions that are unique to your application type. Provide an answer to every question you are presented with, entering "N/A" as appropriate. Many of the questions require answers in narrative format. Please keep your narrative answers as brief as possible, while making sure all aspects of each question are addressed. Applicants are not expected to utilize the full character limit established for each question.
1. Indicate the type of organization submitting this application. Select one.
2. Provide a general description of your organization, its history, the service(s) you provide, and the people or groups to whom you provide those services.
3. Summarize your organization’s recent experience (last 3 years) managing projects/programs funded by federal, state, and/or local government agencies. Indicate whether your organization has ever had any such funding withdrawn, recaptured, or otherwise returned, and why.
4. Briefly describe your organization’s financial management capabilities, including your accounting, payment, and record-keeping systems for both receipts and expenditures.
5. Identify and describe any audit findings or investigations (including outcomes) made by any funding agency in the last 3 years. Include the name of the auditing agency and/or CPA.
6. Describe your efforts to secure other funding (including from your own budget) for this project/program. If you are a unit of local government, indicate whether you will utilize tax revenue to support this project/program and, if so, from what sources (property, sales, MFT, gaming, etc.).
7. Describe the qualifications of the key personnel to whom your organization will assign oversight/management responsibilities for this project/program. Upload resume(s) as supporting documents in the Documents tab.
8. Indicate the type of application you are submitting. Select one. Questions specific to the type of application you select will follow.
9. Indicate the type of capital project proposed. Select all that apply.
10. Describe your capital project, including the target population it will serve. Upload a map identifying the address/location of your project as a supporting document in the Documents tab.
11. Indicate the Grand Victoria Riverboat Program priority your project will address. Select one.
12. Describe how your project will address the priority selected in Question 11?
13. How many Kane County residents do you estimate your project will serve in the first year following completion?
14. Describe your efforts to collaborate with other organizations (regarding the project described in this application) in order to avoid duplication of services and to maximize available resources.
15. Have plans/specifications, contractor estimates, and/or material quotes been prepared for the project? Upload copies as supporting documents in the Documents tab.
16. Describe your project’s readiness to proceed. Are there approvals you still must obtain? If your project involves the development of real estate, do you have site control, zoning approvals, and any necessary easements? Upload any applicable supporting documents in the Documents tab.
17. Is your project part of a larger plan to improve a particular facility, neighborhood, or community? If so, indicate the type of plan you are following. Upload the plan (or relevant sections) as a supporting document in the Documents tab.
18. If you indicated your project is part of a larger plan in Question 17, explain how the project described in this application addresses one or more priorities identified in the plan. Also, indicate whether you expect to seek additional funding from Kane County to implement other aspects of the plan, including estimated amount(s).
19. How you will fund the on-going maintenance and upkeep of the improvements described in your proposal? Will you prepare (or do you already have) a reserve study and replacement reserve to cover major repairs resulting from normal deterioration?
20. How will your project be affected if it receives less funding from the Grand Victoria Riverboat Fund or from other anticipated funding sources? For example, will the project be downsized, or will you borrow additional funds or seek additional donations to make up the difference?
21. Indicate what operating expenses you plan to cover with Grand Victoria Riverboat Funds. Are they general operating expenses or for a specific program or initiative. Please describe the program including the target population it will serve.
22. Indicate the Grand Victoria Riverboat Program priority your organization/program addresses. Select one.
23. Describe how your organization/program addresses the priority selected in Question 22?
24. How many Kane County residents do you estimate your organization/program will serve during the fiscal year for which you are seeking operating support?
25. Describe your efforts to collaborate with other organizations in order to avoid duplication of services and to maximize available resources.
26. Explain the circumstances that have led your organization to seek operating support from Kane County. Have you suffered a financial loss or other crisis resulting in a gap in your operating budget? Also, indicate whether this is a one-time request, or if you will need operating funds from the county on an annual basis.
27. Describe the steps your organization has taken (and plans to take in the future) to achieve cost savings, operational efficiencies, and financial self-sufficiency to reduce or eliminate your reliance on Kane County for on-going operating support. Upload copies of your organization's operating budgets for the last three years as supporting documents in the Documents tab.
28. Describe your plan in the event your application is either not funded or is funded at a reduced level. Will your organization downsize, or will other fund-raising activities be undertaken to fill your budget gap?
Budget
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Please complete the budget tab by detailing your project's funding sources and uses/expenses in the tables below. Instructions for completing each of these sections are provided. Additionally, provide a budget narrative and upload the requested supporting budget documentation in the Documents tab.
Funding Sources (Name and Type)
Please list by name all funding sources (including the Grand Victoria Riverboat Fund) you plan to utilize to finance your project. These may include, but are not limited to, private foundations, corporations, lenders, individuals, government agencies, and your organization itself. Immediately after the name of each source, indicate the type of funding commitment you have either received or expect to receive from the source (e.g., loan, grant, donation, cash, in-kind). If you have a commitment from the source, list the dollar amount in the “Amount Committed” column. If you have not yet received a commitment from the source, list the dollar amount you expect will be committed in the “Amount Uncommitted” column. Each column will automatically total at the bottom. When you have completed this tab, the total funding sources (both committed and uncommitted) should equal the total uses/expenses below, producing a balanced budget. IMPORTANT NOTE: Applications with budgets that do not balance will be rejected.
Item Description
Amount Committed
Amount Uncommitted
Total USD$ 0.00
Total USD$ 0.00
Uses/Expenses
Please provide an itemized, comprehensive list of expenses for your project/program. If your project is capital in nature, include both hard costs (e.g. property acquisition, demolition, construction, rehabilitation) and soft costs (e.g. architectural/engineering, survey, bidding, permits, construction oversight). If your project involves operations, please list your organization’s operating budget. The figures will automatically total at the bottom. When you have completed this tab, the total uses/expenses should equal the total funding sources (both committed and uncommitted) above, producing a balanced budget. IMPORTANT NOTE: Applications with budgets that do not balance will be rejected.
Item Description
Amount
Total USD$ 0.00
Budget Narrative (Discuss the items and amounts you entered above.)
In the space below, provide a narrative statement to explain/justify the items you have listed in your budget. Regarding your funding sources, indicate the date on which you anticipate commitments from all uncommitted sources you are seeking. Explain whether any sources (either committed or uncommitted) carry time constraints or other restrictions that might limit their use in implementing your project/program. Explain the basis for your project/program expenses. After you have completed your budget narrative, upload evidence (e.g. award letters/notices) for the committed sources you have identified above in the Documents tab. If your project is capital in nature, upload copies of contractor estimates and/or quotations for services in the Documents tab to support your budget.
Tables
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Below is a list of documents that must be uploaded and submitted with your application. For several items, there are checklists or sample documents provided as templates for you to download, complete, and upload in order to complete your application. Please be aware that there is a 4 MB file size limit. If you have a file that exceeds this limit, please divide the document into multiple files, give the files sequential names (e.g. "Name of Document - Part 1"), and upload them into the appropriate row.
Budget Documentation: Upload documents that support the items listed in your budget. Include copies of all funding award letters/notices and (for capital projects) contractor estimates and/or quotes for services.
Current IRS 501(c)(3) Determination Letter (for Non-Profit Applicants) or IL Dept. of Revenue Governmental Tax Exemption Letter (for Local Govt. Applicants)
