The Military Economic Development Committee was founded to: Coordinate the State's activities on and to act as a communications center for issues relating to current and former military bases in the State.
The Military Economic Development Committee's main responsibilities as outlined by the Illinois General Assembly
(20 ILCS 605/605-215):
To preserve, protect, expand, and attract new military missions, assets, and installations to the State of Illinois.
To encourage defense related businesses to expand or relocate to the State of Illinois.
To identify emerging trends and support the long-term viability of the military and defense industry in Illinois.
To assist Illinois communities who have been or could be impacted by Federal Base Realignment and Closure actions or other military realignments.
To be an information clearinghouse by providing military installation information and recommendations to enhance the military value of Illinois defense installations to the Governor, General Assembly, congressional delegation, and State and Federal Government officials.
Rivers of IL Coordinating Council originally created by (20 ILCS 3967/) in 1997 and revamped by Executive Order 4 on March 8, 2013 was made to consolidate a list of boards and commissions into a single State of Illinois Rivers Council.
Lt. Governor Stratton serves as the chair of the Rivers of Illinois Coordinating Council
Duties as outlined by
Executive Order 13-04:
Periodically review activities and programs administered by State and federal agencies that directly impact the Illinois River Watershed, the Mississippi River, the Wabash and Ohio Rivers, and other Illinois rivers
Work with local communities and organizations to encourage partnerships that enhance awareness and capabilities to address watershed and water resource concerns and to encourage strategies that protect, restore, and expand critical habitats and soil conservation and water quality practices
Work with State and federal agencies to optimize the expenditure of funds affecting the rivers and the Illinois River Watershed
Advise and make recommendations to the Governor and State agencies on ways to better coordinate the expenditure of appropriated funds affecting the Illinois River Watershed and rivers
Advise and make recommendations to the Governor on funds and the priority of projects
Encourage local communities to develop watershed management plans to address storm water, erosion, flooding, sedimentation, and pollution problems and shall encourage projects for the natural conveyance and storage of floodwaters, the enhancement of wildlife habitat and outdoor recreation opportunities, the recovery, management, and conservation of the rivers, the preservation of farmland, prairies, and forests, and the use of measurable economic development efforts that are compatible with the ecological health of the State
Help identify possible sources of additional funding for rivers and watershed management projects.
To the extent practical, the Council shall perform its duties in accordance with the Office of the Lieutenant Governor’s Integrated Management Plan for the Illinois River Watershed Technical Report (1997)
State agencies represented on the Council shall provide to the Council, on request, information concerning agency programs and activities that impact the Illinois River Watershed and the rivers
Within the State of Illinois Rivers Council:
The Governor's Rural Affairs Council (originally created by Executive Order Number 7 on October 15, 1986; and re-launched by
Executive Order 4 on May 18, 2011) serves as a link between the state and local agencies to help improve the delivery of State of Illinois services to rural Illinois.
Lt. Governor Stratton serves as the chair of the Governor's Rural Affairs Council.
Membership of GRAC includes one representative from each of the following governmental agencies or institutions of the State of Illinois:
- Illinois Department of Aging
- Illinois Department of Agriculture
- Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
- Illinois Department of Employment Security, Illinois Department of Human Services
- Illinois Department of Natural Resources
- Illinois Department of Public Health
- Illinois Department of Transportation
- Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
- Illinois Community College Board
- Illinois State Board of Education
- University of Illinois-Cooperative Extension Service
- Illinois Housing Development Authority
- Southern Illinois University
- Institute for Rural Affairs at Western Illinois University
- Illinois Finance Authority
Membership also includes one representative from each of the following Illinois non-for-profit corporations:
- Illinois Agricultural Association
- Rural Partners