[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Geneva 2-24-1994
by L.L. No. 1-1994. Amendments noted where applicable.]
Section 961 of Article 18-B of the General Municipal Law has authorized
applications by cities for designation as an economic development zone within
the meaning of said statute.
Such a designation could greatly benefit the City of Geneva in that
new businesses would be encouraged to locate in the zone area, existing businesses
would be encouraged to expand in the zone area, and new and expanded businesses
would generate new jobs for Geneva residents.
[Amended 3-22-2006 by L.L. No. 1-2006; 6-21-2006
by L.L. No. 2-2006]
The City Manager is hereby authorized and empowered to submit an application
for redesignation of certain areas within the City of Geneva, Town of Geneva
and Town of Victor as an Empire Zone; provided, however, that such authorization
and empowerment shall be conditioned upon the concurrence, through properly
adopted resolution(s) with respect to such application of the governing bodies
of any and all cities, towns and villages in which such Zone is located.
The boundaries of said areas shall be as set forth in Schedule A which is attached hereto and made a part hereof.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Schedule A is included at the end of this chapter.
[Amended 3-22-2006 by L.L. No. 1-2006; 6-21-2006
by L.L. No. 2-2006]
Pursuant to requirements of Section 963(a) of the General Municipal
Law, the City of Geneva Comptroller shall continue to serve as the local Empire
Zone certification officer of the City of Geneva's Empire Zone, and shall,
pursuant to the regulations promulgated pursuant to Article 18-B of the General
Municipal Law, perform the following duty, to wit: certify, jointly with the
New York State Commissioner of Economic Development and the New York State
Commissioner of Labor, those businesses enterprises that are eligible to receive
those benefits referred to in § 966 of the General Municipal Law, and
any other applicable statutes.
[Amended 3-22-2006 by L.L. No. 1-2006;
amended 6-21-2006 by L.L. No. 2-2006]
Pursuant to Article 18-B of the General Municipal Law, the Local Empire
Zone Administrative Board as presently constituted is hereby continued. The
Local Empire Zone Administrative Board, pursuant to § 963(a) of the General
Municipal Law, as amended, shall approve for certification by the zone certification
officer, the New York State Commissioner of Economic Development, and the
New York State Commissioner of Labor, the applications of those businesses
eligible for certification to receive the benefits referred to in § 966
of the General Municipal Law, and shall perform all other duties required
of it pursuant to § 963(b) of the General Municipal Law.
A.
Pursuant to the requirements of the aforesaid statute,
a local economic development zone administrative board is hereby established
to consist of not less than 15 members. Initial appointments to the board
shall be made by nomination by the Mayor with the consent of the Geneva City
Council. Membership of the administrative board shall be comprised of the
City Manager, as Chairman, and the Mayor, as standing members with the remaining
membership comprised of individuals from the following categories: local business,
organized labor, financial institutions, educational institutions, community
groups and zone residents. Initial terms shall be for a period of three years
for 1/3 of the membership; two years for 1/3 of the membership; and one year
for balance of membership.
B.
All subsequent new appointments and reappointments shall
be for a term of three years and shall be filled by the majority vote of the
then current membership of the administrative board. Expired terms shall be
filled for the duration of the unexpired term.
C.
The local economic development zone administrative board
shall perform the following duties, to wit:
(1)
Submit an annual report to the Commissioner of Commerce
regarding economic development zone activities, including an analysis of the
extent to which the goals set forth in the economic development zone application
have been met.
(2)
Undertake efforts to ensure meaningful participation
by minority and women businesses in economic development zone activities.
(3)
Enter into an agreement with the office of business permits
and regulatory assistance to participate in a business permit assistance program
to be provided to applicants for business permits required by county, city,
town or village or for a business undertaking.
(4)
Enter into agreements with the commissions of commerce,
labor and special services, local education agencies as defined in paragraph
(b) of Subdivision 1 of § 3032 of the Education Law, local community-based
organizations, private employers, labor unions, the administrative entity
and established under the job training partnership act (P.L. 97-300) that
includes the economic development zone, and any other person or state or federal
agency for the purpose of establishing, implementing and coordinating job
training programs for employees and businesses to be located in an economic
development zone; provided, however, that:
(a)
Any agreement to establish a job training program designed
to meet the specific needs of private employers shall require such employer
to retain in his employ for not less than six months an employee who has satisfactorily
completed a course of training for a particular job opening.
(b)
Any job training program established pursuant to this
subsection shall make use of the job service division of the Labor Department
as well other sources for the purpose of recruitment.
(5)
In cooperation with local services officials, establish
a job training opportunities program sponsored by private employers in accordance
with the provisions of § 164-b or § 350-l of the Social
Services Law.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Sections 164-b and 350-l of the Social Services
Law were repealed by L.1990, c. 453, § 6.
(6)
Enter into agreements with local departments of social
services and community-based organizations to facilitate the provision of
ancillary or enhanced social services in any such zone.
(7)
Ensure that job training programs meet standards of instructional
quality established in regulations promulgated by the commission of education.
(8)
Provide within the zone, or contract with a new or existing
community-based local development corporation or entity to provide strategic
economic development planning for the zone, marketing and promotion of the
zone, assistance to companies in applying for available benefits, preparation
of application for financing assistance and other technical assistance services;
coordination of the delivery of state and local programs with the zones; and
operation of such economic development assistance programs in furtherance
of the economic development plan as shall be determined by the designee. Provided,
however, within the amount appropriated therefor and allocated by the director
of the budget, the commissioner shall, to the maximum extent feasible, make
equally available financial support, through contracts or other means, to
assist with the administrative expenses of the local zone administrative bodies
or community-based development organizations. No funds shall be made available
for this purpose unless the amount to be provided has been matched by private
and governmental sources, other than state sources, in amounts at least equaling
that to be provided by the state.
There shall also be established a zone capital corporation pursuant
to General Municipal Law, Article 18-B, § 964.
