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Introduced Version House Bill 2471 History

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Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted


H. B. 2471


(By Delegates Pino and Shelton)

[Introduced February 22, 2001; referred to the

Committee on Industry and Labor, Economic Development and Small Business then Finance.]





A BILL to amend and reenact section three, article two, chapter five-b of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, relating to allowing all economic development entities to compete for local economic development grants made by the West Virginia council for community and economic development, and not just county development corporations or authorities designated by a county commission as the county's lead economic development organization.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That section three, article two, chapter five-b of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be
amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 2. WEST VIRGINIA DEVELOPMENT OFFICE.

§5B-2-3. Powers and duties of council for community and economic development.
(a) The council for community and economic development shall enhance economic growth and development through the development of a comprehensive economic development strategy for West Virginia. "Comprehensive economic development strategy" means a plan that outlines strategies and activities designed to continue, diversify or expand the economic base of the state as a whole; create jobs; develop a highly skilled work force; facilitate business access to capital, including venture capital; advertise and market the resources offered by the state with respect to the needs of business and industry; facilitate cooperation among local, regional and private economic development enterprises; improve infrastructure on a state, regional and community level; improve the business climate generally; and leverage funding from sources other than the state, including federal and private sources.
(b) The council shall develop a certified development community program and provide funding assistance to the participating economic development corporations or authorities through a matching grant program. The council shall establish criteria for awarding matching grants to the corporations or authorities within the limits of funds appropriated by the Legislature for the program. Notwithstanding any provision of this code or a rule to the contrary, the criteria may not restrict the awarding of the grants to only county development corporations or authorities designated by a county commission as the county's lead economic development organization. Any economic development entity that is registered with the secretary of state as a nonprofit organization is eligible. The matching grants to corporations or authorities eligible under the criteria shall be in the amount of thirty thousand dollars for each fiscal year, if sufficient funds are appropriated by the Legislature. The West Virginia development office shall recognize existing county, regional or multicounty corporations or authorities where appropriate.
In developing its plan, the West Virginia development office shall consider resources and technical support available through other agencies, both public and private, including, but not limited to, the state college and university systems; the West Virginia housing development fund; the West Virginia economic development authority; the West Virginia parkways, economic development and tourism authority; the West Virginia round table; the West Virginia chamber of commerce; regional planning and development councils; regional partnership for progress councils; and state appropriations.
(c) The council shall promulgate rules to carry out the purposes and programs of the West Virginia development office to include generally the programs available, and the procedure and eligibility of applications relating to assistance under the programs. These rules are not subject to the provisions of chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, but shall be filed with the secretary of state.


NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to allow all economic development entities to compete for local economic development grants made by the West Virginia Council for Community and Economic Development, and not just county development corporations or authorities designated by a county commission as the county's lead economic development organization.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.
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