DCCA REORGANIZATION STREAMLINES SERVICES By JAN M. GRAYSON, Director Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs

On November 19, 1991, Gov. Jim Edgar announced a sweeping reorganization of the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs (DCCA), designed to make the department more effective in meeting the economic development needs of Illinois. Among the changes outlined by the Governor are an increased effort to cooperate with local governments and coordinate our services to help them build capacity to support economic development. In this column, I'd like to share with you some of the improvements you can expect from the new DCCA.

Under our realignment, DCCA will have four bureaus. The Bureau of Administration provides essential support services to the department. Under the Bureau of Tourism, all tourism-related activities are consolidated. The Bureau of Business Development merges the old Marketing and Small Business bureaus, and houses business advocacy services, loan administration, industrial development, international business activities and films. Finally, the Bureau of Community Development will administer job training programs, serve as a clearinghouse for housing and human services programs and provide assistance to local governments.

This new structure is designed to enable DCCA to operate in a more businesslike manner, reducing management layers and utilizing staff more effectively by giving them responsibilities that extend beyond a single program. We have moved away from an "all things to all people" approach; instead, DCCA will work closely with the private sector, local economic development organizations and local governments to ensure that tight state government resources are leveraged effectively.

Local government officials will find DCCA's Bureau of Community Development a willing partner in the effort to help communities improve their services to residents and expand economic development potential. The bureau's four divisions — the Division of Community Assistance, the new Housing Assistance Division, the Job Training Division and the Division of Economic Opportunity — administer a wide variety of programs, including workforce development; technical and management assistance to local governments; and housing assistance, home energy assistance, weatherization and other services to the economically-disadvantaged.

The Division of Community Assistance is particularly important to local governments. It houses a new Community Development Support Unit to provide regionally-based technical assistance to local governments. Staff in this unit will develop contacts with local governments to promote awareness of DCCA and state programs and services, identify and answer local information needs on issues of concern, act as liaison with federal and other state agencies, and coordinate activities with DCCA's economic development representatives. The division will continue to administer the Community Development Assistance Program (CDAP), that helps communities with public infrastructure, housing and business expansion needs.

WILL COUNTY OFFICIALS MEET WITH GOVERNOR EDGAR

As DCCA looks ahead, we do so with a budget that is 22 percent less than last year's and 104 fewer positions. But we do so with a new, sharper focus and a new resolve to work closer with businesses, economic development officials and local governments. This cooperation is key to our success. I look forward to our strengthened partnership as we move ahead. •

December 1991 / Illinois Municipal Review / Page 7