No application for designation of an area as an empire zone
shall be accepted unless the applicant demonstrates that it has, to the maximum
extent feasible, solicited and considered the views of residents of the
proposed zone, the views of State and local officials elected to represent such
residents, and the local private organizations representing such residents. The
chief executive officer shall ensure that the information contained in the
application, to the maximum extent possible, is accurate and complete. The
application shall be signed and submitted by the chief executive officer of the
county, city, town or village making the application, or by such chief
executive officer's designee, by the date determined by the commissioner for
each round, and shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(a) a copy of a local law authorizing the
city, county (other than a county located wholly within a city), town or
village to prepare and submit an application to the commissioner for
designation of an area therein as an empire zone. Such local law shall also
designate the boundaries of such area, the title of the official who shall
serve as the local empire zone administrator and the generic composition of the
local empire zone administrative board, whose chairman shall be an officer or
employee of the applicant;
(b) a
description of the physical characteristics of the proposed empire zone area,
infrastructure, existing business base, housing conditions, training, education
and human resource needs, characteristics of the labor force and occupational
trends in the area, and economic problems faced by businesses and residents
within the proposed zone;
(c) a
copy of the zone development plan. The zone development plan shall be
resubmitted by the local zone administrative board as economic conditions
change within the zone, or when other factors trigger a need for a change in
the zone development plan as determined by the local zone administrative board;
provided however, changes in a zone development plan must be approved by the
commissioner;
(d) a copy of the
local law or resolution adopting such empire zone development plan by the local
governing body of the area in which the economic development zone is to be
located, with such local law or resolution identifying the composition of the
local empire zone administrative board;
(e) any maps, as indicated on the application
form, of the area comprising the proposed empire zone, showing existing
streets, highways, waterways, natural boundaries and other physical
features;
(f) a statement from the
workforce investment board, established by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998
(
P.L.
105-220,
29
U.S.C.
2801, et seq., as amended) that
encompasses the proposed empire zone, setting forth the assistance to be
provided and the resources to be allocated for the training of residents in the
area and the operation of a workforce development and job training
program;
(g) a statement from the
industrial development authority serving the municipality in which the zone is
located, and from any other development finance entity supported by public
money, setting forth the assistance to be provided and the resources to be
allocated to business development activities in the zone;
(h) the statement and any local law or
resolution specified in section
10.3 of
this Part;
(i) a statement of the
goals and objectives, both short-term and long-term, for the economic
revitalization of the proposed zone;
(j) a description of plans and strategies for
providing and improving human resource development services to residents of the
area comprising the proposed zone and to employees of businesses within such
area, and the methods by which performance in implementing such plans and
strategies will be evaluated;
(k)
identification of financial commitments the applicant will make to the zone for
activities, including but not limited to, marketing of the zone for business
development, human resource services for zone residents and businesses, and
services for small and minority and women-owned businesses;
(l) identification of publicly controlled and
other developable lands and buildings within the proposed zone which are or
could be made available for industrial and commercial development;
(m) a statement from the applicant and local
economic development entities, including but not limited to the local
development corporation, local development councils, authorities, agencies, and
all other such entities concerned with the economic development of the
municipality, ensuring the complete integration and cooperation of resources
and services for the purposes of providing essential support for the zone
administrator in order for the zone to realize such goals; and
(n) a statement demonstrating that there is
no viable alternative area available that has existing public sewer or water
infrastructure other than the proposed empire zone.
