Growing Residential Opportunities County-Wide (GROW) Program

Overview

In 2023, The Great River Economic Development Foundation in partnership with Adams County and the City of Quincy completed a housing study. This study evaluated the need for housing in Adams County, Illinois with a focus on Quincy, Illinois. Demand for housing in the same area and gaps between supply and demand. The study also evaluated the effectiveness of past programs, while engaging stakeholders on what specific steps the entities could do to encourage additional investments in housing.

Application

The following documents/information must be submitted for a project to be considered:
1. Completed Application
2. Letter of interest executed by authorized representative of the applicant that provides contact person, title, phone/fax numbers and email address.
3. Detailed description of the proposed project including:
   a. Development Layout
   b. Number of Units to be constructed
   c. Detailed Cost Estimate
   d. Construction Timeline
   e. Location of Units
   f. Projected Taxable Value of Completed Units
4. Ownership of the property (including any deed and title documents)
5. Amount of Private Investment Proposed for the Project.
6. Project Budget
7. If a developer is borrowing money, there must be a sign-off from the developer’s lending institution.

All projects selected will require a title opinion to be obtained at the owner’s expense to verify clean title. All projects will be required to have proper property and liability insurance at the time of the application and throughout the development project until the loan is forgiven.

Project Eligibility

• The project/development must be located within Adams County.
• The developer/owner must obtain the required permits and complete the approved scope of work within 12 months of the approval of an application to the GROW Program. Longer timelines may be considered based on application.
• A project/development may include the construction of a new residential unit(s) on a vacant lot, including a single-family residence, duplex, condos, townhouses, cluster homes, and/or apartment complex.
• A project/development may include the development of a currently uninhabited or partially uninhabited structure.
• Non-for profit organizations are not eligible for this program.
• Projects completed after December 31, 2026, will not be eligible.

Financials

• The maximum amount provided through the GROW Program is $20,000 for new residential housing units.
• The GROW Program incentive cannot exceed 50% of the cost of the project or $100,000 (whichever is less).
• The forgivable loan period will be five years from the date of project completion with an approved certificate of occupancy.
• Applications will be accepted through an RFP process.
• The GROW Program can provide forgivable loans at any time until the fund is depleted.
• If the developer/owner has received other incentives through other housing programs, those incentives must be disclosed, and that will be taken into consideration during the application process.

GROW Program monies are based on a reimbursement process and will not be advanced to the developer/owner until a Certificate of Occupancy has been issued for the new residential unit and loan documents are executed.

Projects within the city limits of Quincy will need a Certificate of Occupancy issued by the City of Quincy. For projects outside of the city’s jurisdiction, Adams County shall hire a private home inspector to verify dwellings are ready for occupancy. The developer/owner is responsible for all costs associated with the project, beyond the funding provided through the GROW Program, including any inspections or other documentation needed to prove compliance with the program requirements.

The County’s funding will come in the form of a zero percent, deferred payment, forgivable loan, which will not require periodic repayment. The funds will be forgiven pro rata per year based on an agreed project timeline set by the loan committee. All property taxes must be paid in full, and the property must remain without liens for the entire agreement period for the loan to be forgiven.

Property owners receiving GROW Program funding shall agree not to file any appeal of the property(s) assessed value for five years after the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy.

Project Selection

Awards will be based, in part, on the following criteria:

• Financial Requests from GROW Program
• Number of Units Constructed
• Construction Timeline
• Financial Ability of Developer to Complete Project
• Location of Units
• Proposed Taxable Value of Completed Units
• Addressing the needs outlining the “Comprehensive Needs Assessment for Adams County”, specifically median-priced housing and rental identified in study.

The GROW Fund Review Process:

• 7 (seven) members from the Great River Economic Development Foundation or other community members it may select. All selected members will be appointed by the Adams County Board to serve on this committee. The committee will review applications to assure proposals meet the goals/objectives of the GROW Fund and to verify the applicant has sufficient financial resources to complete the project.
• The committee will use a scoring criterion to rank the project.
• The committee will send the vetted and recommended projects to the Adams County Finance Committee for approval.
• The Adams County Finance Committee will review and send approved projects to the Adams County Board for approval of appropriation of funds.

The Scoring Criteria used to evaluate the proposals will include:

• Project Scope
• Private Investment vs. County Investment
• Number of Units
• Location of Project
• Project Timeline
• Addressing housing needs projections outlined in the “Comprehensive Housing Needs Assessment for Adams County/Quincy, IL.”

The County reserves the right to reject any or all submissions. Successful applicants will enter into a GROW Program Redevelopment Agreement with the County. The committee will submit recommendations to the Adams County Board for final approval and funding authorization.

Monitoring of Project

Upon approval of the project, owner shall obtain all required permits. Mandatory inspections must be allowed during the construction process, as required by code in the jurisdiction of the project.

The property owner will also be required to submit to an annual inspection of the property on or around the annual anniversary of project completion for a period of five years. The inspection of the property must show compliance with all applicable codes and ordinances within the property’s jurisdiction.

Timeline

April 12, 2024 – Applications will be available
April 23, 2024 – In-Person Training at 4 p.m. in the Oakley-Lindsay Center (300 Civic Center Plaza Quincy, IL 62301)
May 1, 2024 – Online Training on Zoom at 12 p.m. Please email Madison Badgley, Director of Business Development for the Zoom link.
June 18, 2024 – Applications are due to GREDF by 4 p.m.. Applications can be sent via email to gredf@gredf.org; dropped off to the GREDF Office, or sent via mail (300 Civic Center Plaza, Suite 256, Quincy, IL 62301).