SE Illinois News

Carrier Mills-Stonefort Community Unit School District #2 Board of Education met July 15.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

I) Call to Order by:  Superintendent Bryce K. Jerrell at 6:40 p.m.

II) Recognition of Visitors: Mr. Tracy Felty.

III) Stakeholder Public Meeting:  Energy Transition Community Grant-

A) Introductions: Mr. Jerrell welcomed everyone to the meeting, and explained that we are here to discuss the Energy Transition Community Grant that we received earlier this year. In March of 2024, Mr. Jerrell completed a Phase I application for an Energy Transition Community Grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DECO). In June of 2024, he was notified that Carrier Mills-Stonefort CUSD #2 will receive $107,027.00. In Phase II, we will have until July 31, 2024, to complete our proposal and submit it for funding. Once approved, the anticipated start date for awards will be September 1, 2024.

B) Summary of Impact of Plant or Mine Closure on the Community: Mr. Jerrell explained that it was announced on March 7, 2023, that more than 50 localities and municipal entities will receive Energy Transition Community Grants, which is an initiative under the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) that provides funding for communities that have been impacted by fossil fuel plant or coal mine closures or significant reductions. Communities in 22 areas impacted by recent or impending plant or mine closures or reductions were eligible to apply for the program. 

C) Background on the Energy Transition Community Grant Program: Mr. Jerrell reported that the $40 million program was designed to meet the needs of individual localities by addressing the economic and social impacts of plant closures. The funding can be used on a variety of intitiatives and investments, including workforce investments, housing support, business attraction efforts, and more. Last year, Mr. Jerrell had applied for the grant and the school district had received $160,918 and the district had used the funding for two grade school teachers, a school security officer, and sidewalk removal and replacement at the high school.

D) What it is and How it was created: Mr. Jerrell explained that as part of the program, the grantees will develop detailed plans for the grant funding; which includes stakeholder engagement, a detailed project design and budget which outlines specific intended uses for the grant funds. The community stakeholder engagement process is a critical element designed to ensure grantees solicit community input and consult with a diverse set of stakeholders to best support those most impacted by energy transitions.

E) What is the grant for and What are the approved uses of the grant: Grant awards were calculated based on the economic impact of plant or mine closure, specifically, property tax losses and jobs lost due to the plant transition, with a minimum award of $50,000. Eligible uses of grant funds include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Workforce development, including upskilling and reskilling for high-demand/high-wage opportunities in regional industries, and investment in training facilities. This may include tuition assistance and wrap-around services for trainees, including stipends for housing, transportation, and childcare.

• Financial assistance for unemployed, underemployed, and/or low-income residents, including direct cash benefits, childcare, housing, transportation, and health care.

• Public infrastructure investment, including water/sewer, transportation, drainage, broadband, public facilities, and other.

• Site cleanup and environmental remediation.

• Grants to incentivize relocation or retention of companies.

• Marketing and other investment to boost tourism, recreation, and business development opportunities.

• Affordable housing.

• Public health initiatives and community health care facilities.

• Downtown/commercial redevelopment, including investment to enhance public space, improve energy efficiency/sustainability of facilities or infrastructure, and renovate/revitalize historic buildings.

• Planning, along with supporting research and analysis, for economic development, transportation, or other programs to address the impact of closure.

• Investment in local or regional operational capacity for economic development/business development/grant writing/planning through local governments or nonprofits.

F) Phase I Process Background: The grant application that was completed in March of 2024 included the completed application, a list of coal mines in our area that have closed or significantly reduced operations in the past six years (Galatia Mine, New Future Portal Mine, and Wildcat Hills Mine Complex), a list of parcels that the physical plants or mines are located on, as well as property tax or PILOT revenue collected for each of those parcels (which Mr. Jerrell received from the county clerk’s office), and a letter of support from a host city, village, or county.

G) Description of the applicants proposed or anticipated use of the grant: Mr. Jerrell stated that we are actually here tonight to discuss ways the school district can best utilize the grant award of $107,027.

IV) Open Public Comments/Input: Mr. Jerrell asked the visitor and the school board how we should spend our grant. Some suggestions were: 1) School Security Officer, 2) One time loyalty bonus, 3) Sound system and better acoustics in the High School gym, 4) High School landscaping, 5) High School parking lot repairs, 6) Air conditioning in the High School gym, 7) School nurse, and 8) Outdoor training facility.

V) Adjourn- After no further comments were made, Superintendent Bryce K. Jerrell closed the meeting at 6:50 p.m.

https://www.cmsfcats.org/documents/board-documents/board-minutes/minutes-2024-2025/680123