[HISTORY: Adopted by the Common Council of the City of Hornell 11-15-2000
by L.L. No. 2-2000. Amendments noted where applicable.]
Article 18B of the General Municipal Law has authorized applications
by municipalities for designation as empire zones within the meaning of said
statute and such designation could greatly benefit the City of Hornell and
other municipalities within Steuben County 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 City and county residents.
The Mayor of the City of Hornell is hereby authorized to submit an application
for designation of certain areas within the City of Hornell and Steuben County
as an empire zone, the boundaries of which zone are as set forth in Schedule
A which is attached hereto and made a part hereof.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Schedule A, containing a description of Empire
Zone boundaries and subsequent amendments thereto, is on file in the City
offices.
Pursuant to the requirements of the aforesaid statute, the City Chamberlain
shall serve as Certification Officer of the City of Hornell / Steuben County
empire zone areas and shall 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 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 empire
zone administration board is hereby established to consist of seven members,
none of whom shall be the Certification Officer. All members shall be appointed
by the Mayor of the City of Hornell. The appointments shall be for terms of
three years, except that four of the original appointees shall be appointed
to two-year terms. All subsequent new appointments and reappointments shall
be for a term of three years and shall be filled for duration of unexpired
tern). The members shall be representatives of local business, organized labor,
community organizations, financial and educational institutions, at least
one of whom shall be a zone resident. The local empire zone administrative
board shall perform the following duties:
A.
Submit an annual report to the New York State Commissioner
of Economic Development regarding empire zone activities, including analysis
of the extent to which the goals set forth in the Empire Zone application
have been met.
B.
Undertake efforts to ensure meaningful participation
by minority and women businesses in empire zone activities.
C.
Provide within the Zone, by contract with the City of
Hornell Industrial Development Agency (HIDA), 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 economic development assistance programs
in furtherance of the Empire Zone plan as shall be determined by the designee.
Provided, however, within the amount appropriated therefor and allocated by
the HIDA, 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 Zone activity operations. No funds shall
be made available for this purpose unless the amount to be provided has been
matched by private and governmental sources, other then state sources, in
amounts at least equaling that to be provided by the state.
D.
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 the Empire
Zone.
E.
Enter into agreements with the commissioners of economic
development, labor and social services, local education agencies as defined
in paragraph (b) of subdivision one 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 Empire 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 the Empire Zone, provided,
however, that:
(1)
Any agreement to establish a job training program designed
to meet the 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;
(2)
Any job training program established pursuant to this
subdivision shall make use of the job service division of the labor department
as well as other sources for the purpose of recruitment;
F.
In cooperation with local service officials establish
a job training opportunities program sponsored by private employers in accordance
with the provisions of § 164b of § 351 of the Social Service
Law.
G.
Enter into agreements with the local departments of social
services and community-based organizations to facilitate the provisions of
ancillary or enhanced social services in the Zone.
H.
Ensure that the job training programs meet standards
of instructional quality established in regulations promulgated by the Commissioner
of Education.
