In ranking applications for funds, the department shall consider a variety of factors including, but not limited to, the following:
1. The proportion of local match to be provided.
2. The proportion of private contributions to be provided, including the involvement of financial institutions.
3. The total number of jobs to be created or retained.
4. The size of the business receiving assistance. The department shall award more points to small businesses as defined by the United States small business administration than to other businesses.
5. The potential for future growth in the industry represented by the business being considered for assistance.
6. The need of the business for financial assistance from governmental sources. The department shall award more points to a business for which the department determines that governmental assistance is most necessary to the success of a project, than to other businesses.
7. The quality of the jobs to be created. In rating the quality of the jobs the department shall award more points to those jobs that have a higher wage scale, have a lower turnover rate, are full-time or career-type positions, provide comprehensive health benefits, or have other related factors which could be considered to be higher in quality, than to other jobs. Businesses that have wage scales substantially below that of existing Iowa businesses in that area should be rated as providing the lowest quality of jobs and should therefore be given the lowest ranking for providing such assistance.
8. The level of need of the political subdivision.
9. The impact of the proposed project on the economy of the political subdivision.
10. The impact of the proposed project on other businesses in competition with the business being considered for assistance. The department shall make a good faith effort to identify existing Iowa businesses within an industry in competition with the business being considered for assistance. The department shall make a good faith effort to determine the probability that the proposed financial assistance will displace employees of the existing businesses. In determining the impact on businesses in competition with the business being considered for assistance, jobs created as a result of other jobs being displaced elsewhere in the state shall not be considered direct jobs created.
11. The impact to the state of the proposed project. In measuring the economic impact the department shall award more points for projects which have greater consistency with the state strategic plan than other projects. Greater consistency may include any or all of the following:
a. A business with a greater percentage of sales out-of-state or of import substitution.
b. A business with a higher proportion of in-state suppliers.
c. A project which would provide greater diversification of the state economy.
d. A business with fewer in-state competitors.
e. A potential for future job growth.
f. A project which is not a retail operation.
12. If a business has a record of violations of the law over a period of time that tends to show a consistent pattern, the business shall be given the lowest ranking for providing assistance. The department shall make a good faith effort to compile this information.
13. If a business has, within three years of application for assistance, acquired or merged with an Iowa corporation or company, whether the business has made a good faith effort to hire the workers of the acquired or merged company.
14. Whether a business provides for a preference for hiring residents of the state or of the economic development area, except for out-of-state employees offered a transfer to Iowa or to the economic development area.
15. Whether all known required environmental permits have been issued and regulations met before moneys are released.
16. In cases where projects being reviewed at the same time are given equivalent ratings under subsections 1 through 15, preference in funding shall be given to the project which is located in the county which has the highest percentage of low- and moderate-income individuals. If the projects are located in the same county, preference in funding shall be given to the project which is located in the city which has the highest percentage of low- and moderate-income individuals.
17. The capacity of the proposed project to create products by adding value to agricultural commodities.
18. The degree to which the proposed project relies upon agricultural or value-added research conducted at a college or university, including a regents institution, community college, or a private university or college.
92 Acts, ch 1244, § 22; 94 Acts, ch 1119, §4; 94 Acts, ch 1201, §14
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