961 - Application for empire zone designation.

§  961.  Application  for  empire zone designation. (a) A city, county  (other than a county located wholly within a city), town or village  may  adopt  a local law authorizing such municipal corporation to prepare and  submit an application to the commissioner for  designation  of  an  area  therein  as  an empire zone; and the adoption of such a local law by the  municipal corporation within which the proposed empire  zone  is  to  be  located  shall be a prerequisite to the submission of an application for  such designation. Such local law shall also designate the boundaries  of  such area, provided, however, that:    (i)  a  town  shall  not  be  authorized  and  empowered  to apply for  designation of an area as an empire zone  which  is  located  wholly  or  partly  within  a  village  unless  such  action  is concurred in by the  governing body  of  such  village,  and  that  a  county  shall  not  be  authorized  and  empowered  to  apply  for  designation of an area as an  empire zone unless such action is concurred in by the governing body  of  each city, town or village in which such zone is located; and    (ii)  no  application  for  designation  of  an area as an empire zone  pursuant  to  this  article  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.    (b) Each application shall:    (i) be prepared  in  a  manner  and  form  prescribed  by  regulations  promulgated  by  the  commissioner,  and  the  chief  executive  of  the  applicant  shall  ensure  that  the  information   contained   in   such  application, to the maximum extent possible, is accurate and complete;    (ii)  include  evidence  of the adoption of an empire zone development  plan by the local governing body of the area in which the empire zone is  to be located;    (iii) identify the local empire zone certification officer  and  local  empire zone administrative board;    (iv)  include  a  map of the area comprising the proposed empire zone,  showing existing streets, highways, waterways,  natural  boundaries  and  other physical features;    (v)  include  evidence  that  the applicant has, to the maximum extent  feasible, solicited  and  considered  the  views  of  residents  of  the  proposed   empire   zone   and   the   local  governmental  and  private  organizations representing such residents; and    (vi) include a statement from the private industry  council  governing  board  of  the  service delivery area established under the job training  partnership act (P.L. 97-300, 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 job training programs;    (vii)  include  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.    (viii) specify goals and objectives, both short term  and  long  term,  for the economic revitalization of the proposed zone;    (ix)  include  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 said  area, and the methods by which performance in  implementing  said  plans  and strategies will be evaluated;(x) identify 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;    (xi)  identify  publicly  controlled  and  other developable lands and  buildings within the proposed zone which are or could be made  available  for industrial and commercial development;    (xii)  include  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;    (xiii) include demonstration that there is no viable alternative  area  available  that  has existing public sewer or water infrastructure other  than the proposed empire zone.