Section 961 of Article 18B 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 Troy in that new business would be encouraged to locate in
the zone area, existing businesses would be enlarged to expand in
the zone area, and new and expanded businesses would generate new
jobs for Troy residents.
The City Manager is hereby authorized to submit
an application for designation of certain areas within the City of
Troy as an Economic Development Zone.
[Amended by L.L. No. 1-1989, § 1;
L.L. No. 3-1995, § 1; L.L. No. 5-1995, § 1]
The boundaries of said area shall be as have
been set forth on City of Troy property tax maps and which boundaries
are substantially set forth on the attached map which is made a part
hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the aforesaid
statute, the City Comptroller shall serve as administrator of Troy's
Economic Development Zone areas and shall perform the following duty:
certify, jointly with the Commissioner of Commerce and the Commissioner
of Labor, those business enterprises which are eligible to receive
benefits referred to in § 966 of Article 18B of the General
Municipal Law.
Pursuant to the requirements of the aforesaid
statute, a local Economic Development Zone Administrative Board is
hereby established to consist of at least 10 but not more than 21
members to be appointed by the City Manager for terms of three years;
except that four of the original appointees shall be appointed to
one-year terms, and five of the original appointees shall be appointed
to two-year terms, and all remaining original appointees shall be
appointed for terms of three years. Unexpired terms shall be filled
for the duration of the unexpired term. The local Economic Development
Zone Administrative Board shall perform the following duties:
A. 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;
B. Undertake efforts to ensure meaningful participation
by minority and women businesses in Economic Development Zone activities;
C. 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 a county, City, town or village for a business undertaking
project or activity in an Economic Development Zone;
D. Enter into agreements with the Commissioners of Commerce,
Labor and Social 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 private industry council for
the service delivery area 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, 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:
(1) 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/her employ for not less than six months
an employee who has satisfactorily completed a course of training
for a particular job opening;
(2) Any job training program established pursuant to this
subsection shall make use of the Job Service Division of the Labor
Department as well as other sources for the purpose of recruitment;
E. In cooperation with local services officials, establish
a job training opportunities program sponsored by private employers;
[Amended 10-2-2003 by L.L. No. 4-2003]
F. Enter 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;
G. Ensure that job training programs meet standards of
instructional quality established in regulations promulgated by the
Commissioner of Education; and
H. 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 Zone development plan as shall be determined by the designee;
provided, however, that 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.
[Amended by L.L. No. 4-1987, § 1]
Membership of the local Economic Development
Zone Administrative Board shall consist of two individuals who maintain
a regular place of business within the Northern Subzone and two individuals
who maintain a regular place of business within the Southern Subzone,
and one resident from the zone and one individual with experience
in banking, business management or equity capital, and the Director
of Economic Development for the City of Troy, and one individual with
experience in marketing, and one individual with experience in job
training, education or employment, and the Chairperson of the Economic
Development Zone Capital Corporation, and a resident of an area nearby
the Economic Development Zone, and a City Council member or chair
of the Troy Industrial Development Authority, and an individual with
experience in high-tech business development or high-tech research.
The Chairperson of the local Economic Development Zone Administrative
Board shall be the Director of Economic Development for the City of
Troy.