[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of
the City of Ithaca 3-18-1994 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 Ithaca 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 Ithaca residents, particularly residents of that zone.
[Amended 11-3-2021 by L.L. No. 2022-07]
The City Manager is hereby authorized to submit
an application for designation of certain areas within the City of
Ithaca as an Economic Development Zone.
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 on file in the
city offices.
Pursuant to the requirements of the aforesaid
statute, the City Controller shall serve as the City of Ithaca Economic
Development Zone Certification Officer and shall perform the following
duty, to wit: 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 18-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 13 members to be appointed by the Mayor, with the consent
of Common Council, for terms of three years, except that four of the
original appointees shall be appointed to a one-year term, and five
of the original appointees shall be pointed to a two-year term, and
four of the original appointees shall be appointed for a term of three
years. All subsequent new appointments and reappointments shall be
for a term of three years. Unexpired terms shall be filled for duration
of the unexpired term. The Board shall be representative of local
businesses, organized labor, community organizations, financial institutions,
local educational institutions and residents of the Economic Development
Zone. The Mayor shall designate one member of the Board to serve as
Chairperson of the Board. The City of Ithaca Economic Development
Zone Certification Officer shall not be a member of the Board.
B.
The City of Ithaca Economic Development Zone Administrative
Board shall perform the following duties, to wit:
(1)
Develop short-term goals for zone activities on an
annual basis.
(2)
Prepare, or cause to be prepared, an annual report
and submit copies to New York State Department of Audit and Control,
Department of Taxation and Finance and Department of Economic Development
and to the Ithaca City Council, on or before the first day of July
next succeeding the year to which the report pertains, regarding Economic
Development Zone activities, including information which would allow
for substantive review of the zone's strategies and progress of the
zone in meeting its short-term objectives, and an analysis of the
extent to which the long-term goals set forth in the Economic Development
Zone application have been met.
(3)
Undertake efforts to ensure meaningful participation
by minority-owned and women-owned business enterprises in Economic
Development Zone activities.
(4)
Enter into agreements to participate in a business
permit assistance program to be provided to applicants for business
permits required by the state or the county or city for a business
undertaking, project or activity in the Economic Development Zone.
(5)
Enter into agreements with the Commissioners of Economic
Development, Labor and Social Services, local departments of social
services and 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, as
amended) 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 workers 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 a private employer shall require
such employer to retain in its employ for not less than six months
an employee who has satisfactorily completed a course of training
for a particular job opening unless such employee voluntarily leaves
such employment or is discharged for misconduct or other good cause.
(b)
Any job training program established pursuant to this
section shall make use of the Community Service Division of the Labor
Department as well as other sources for the purpose of recruitment.
(6)
In cooperation with local social 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,
effective 10-1-1990.
(7)
Enter into agreements with local departments of social
services or community-based organizations to facilitate the provision
of ancillary or enhanced social services, including licensed and certified
child day care, in any such zone.
(8)
Ensure that job training programs meet standards of
instructional quality established in regulations promulgated by the
commissioner of education.
(9)
Organize or use the existing human resource development
network within the zone, including a committee of representatives
of human resource agencies and organizations serving the zone, organized
labor and business representatives, to develop strategies and activities
for improving the coordination and delivery of human services to residents
of the zone and zone businesses.
(10)
Prepare and implement a small business development
and assistance plan.
(11)
In conjunction with zone administrative entities,
develop and implement a system for continuous monitoring and evaluation
of zone performance at the local level consistent with the guidelines
set forth in Subdivisions (l) through (p) of § 959 of Article
18-B of the General Municipal Law.
(12)
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 applications for financing assistance
and other technical assistance services; coordination of the delivery
of state and local programs within the zones; and operation of such
other economic development assistance programs in furtherance of the
Economic Development Zone development plan as may be appropriate.
