Under the category of "lessons learned" from the devastating floods of the summer of 2008 is that Pre-disaster mitigation planning should be done by every Illinois County. This planning process, which can be cumbersome, is often put on the back burner by counties and municipalities. Unfortunately, as many local governments along the Mississippi and Wabash Rivers found out this summer, FEMA regulations require a FEMA Approved Hazard Mitigation Plan be in place prior to the release of any project or disaster funding. This requirement holds true even if the community is declared a Federal Disaster Area. Section 322 of the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000(DMA2K) requires a mitigation plan be developed and approved before a jurisdiction can receive funding for Pre-disaster mitigation projects or Hazard Mitigation Grant Programs.

Fortunately, there is help for Local Governments. The recently released FEMA Grant Opportunity (DHS-09-FEMA-110-001) allows local jurisdictions to request funds for Pre-Disaster Hazard Mitigation Planning. IEMA strongly encourages multi-jurisdictional plans. For example, a county wide plan where all the municipalities, as well as the county board, adopt the plan would be acceptable.

There are numerous counties that have yet to begin the planning process. These counties, through their ESDA (Emergency Services and Disaster Assistance) Director, should contact the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) Hazard Mitigation Department. In addition, University of Illinois Extension has resources and programs that may be able to assist local governments in pursuing both the funding and completion of these plans.

Since most units of Local Government would need monetary assistance to develop plans, they would most likely be requesting grant funds from FEMA. Assistance with developing the proposal is available to all units of local government through the Illinois ResourceNet. Technical Assistance providers for the Illinois ResourceNet are located throughout the state. More Information on this free program can be found at www.illinoisresource.net.

To prepare the actual plan, most jurisdictions contract with consulting groups. A complete list of consultants available to do this kind of planning is available from the State Hazard Mitigation Office. University of Illinois Extension Community Assistance and Development Services (CADS) is one of the providers included on this list. One of Extensions Flagship Programs, CADS provides similar services to private consultant firms, generally at a much lower price. In addition, CADS works directly with the local Extension Offices in the Counties where projects are ongoing, providing direct local participation with planning projects.

Ultimately, Hazard Mitigation Planning can assist communities in determining where they are most vulnerable to natural disasters, and how the community can best reduce the risks to life and property. This roadmap of sorts also determines priorities for local governments to engage in funding requests and projects for the well being of their citizens. As members of local communities, University of Illinois Extension staff and programs are available to assist local governments with this important process.

- Carrie McKillip, Community & Economic Development Educator, Knox County Extension

The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) Neighborhoods Initiative's Illinois ResourceNet: A Funding Access Initiative is actively pursuing a unique approach to grant access centered on providing guiding information and valuable resources on an interactive website, working with experienced technical assistants on designing high caliber proposals, and connecting with a diverse group of partners to meet proposed project goals.

Illinois ResourceNet strives to improve the likelihood of an organization to obtain federal funding by providing the necessary tools to accomplish the meticulous task. The five-pronged, multilayered technique offers nonprofits access to services customized to maximize their potential and proposal building capacity.

The Initiative is unique in that it unites both sides of the equation, the grantee and the funder on a physical and virtual plane, thus facilitating access to resources and assistance. On September 12th, Illinois ResourceNet and several federal government agency representatives successfully hosted more than two hundred grant-seeking nonprofits and faith–based organizations during the "Introduction to Federal Funding" conference held at the UIC's Student Center.

The one-day conference welcomed nonprofit representatives to meet the federal agents who review federal proposals, ask questions, network and develop lasting relationships with other groups for mutual benefit.

The new website, www.illinoisresource.net is also helping to keep Illinois community organizations and local governments connected and in a better position to obtain federal funding for their projects. The site offers:

A virtual proposal building studio, where nonprofit partners can share information and consult with technical assistants who know the federal grant process

News of opportunities for funding, networking and partnerships for nonprofits and governments

Online tutorials and workshops on topics such as cost-sharing, managing a federal grant budget, and navigating the Grants.gov website

Registration for community workshops, online courses, customized group training sessions and state and regional conferences

Regularly updated information on federal grant trends, demographics and the federal grant process

Subscription to the IllinoisResource.net e-newsletter

"What has been lacking in other projects offering similar support is the ongoing training and technical assistance," said David Perry, director of UIC's Great Cities Institute.

The site's content will be continuously updated in response to the needs of the participating groups.

"With what we learn from our outreach, we can be nimble and flexible with the assistance that we provide," said Nacho Gonzalez, assistant director of the Neighborhoods Initiative.

The university-based initiative is currently working closely with University of Illinois Extension to extend its reach to communities throughout Illinois. On October 20th, Illinois ResourceNet will hold its second conference in Springfield. Representatives from Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Labor, FEMA and Economic Development will inform attendees about the available funding opportunities, and orient those present on how to prepare to complete proposals successfully.

Break-out sessions on cost-sharing, matching funds, preparing and managing federal budgets provide a unique opportunity for nonprofits, local units of government and small municipalities to learn about a range of programs, specifically in Housing, Workforce Development, Disaster Mitigation and Economic Development, and the federal funds available to develop projects in each of these areas.

For more information about the upcoming conference and to register, please visit www.illinoisresource.net.

- Irene Tostado, Illinois ResourceNet Communications & Outreach Coordinator