H. B. 4610
(By Delegates Pino, Laird, Rowe,
Calvert and Shelton)
[Introduced February 22, 2000; referred to the
Committee on Political Subdivisions then Government
Organization.]
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 shall be 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.