SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 81

(By Senators McCabe, Oliverio, Bowman, Chafin, Facemyer, Fanning, Guills, Helmick, Kessler, Minard, Minear, McKenzie, Plymale, Prezioso and Unger)
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[Originating in the Committee on Economic Development.]
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Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance study the procedure for applying for funding for economic development projects.

Whereas, Numerous state agencies, including the Council for Community and Economic Development, the Housing Development Fund, the Economic Development Authority, the Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council, the Department of Transportation, the Jobs Investment Trust Fund, the Parkways, Economic Development and Tourism Authority, the School Building Authority and the Tourism Commission, receive applications for funding for economic development projects; and
Whereas, There is insufficient funding resources for every worthy project and no clear procedure to prescreen and coordinate the application process; and
Whereas, Senate Bill No. 617, introduced during the regular session of the Legislature, 2004, proposes an Economic Development Funding Committee composed of representatives of state agencies that fund economic development projects, to develop uniform guidelines for review and evaluation of applications to determine whether the application should be funded and from what source; and
Whereas, Under section eleven, article fifteen-a, chapter thirty-one of the code of West Virginia, all West Virginia infrastructure fund applications must first be reviewed and recommended by the Council for Community and Economic Development; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to study the procedure for applying for funding for economic development projects; and, be it
Further Resolved, That every state agency participating in economic development funding should be included in the study; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2005, on its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.