15E.195  Enterprise zone commission.
  1.  A county which designates an enterprise zone pursuant to section 15E.194, subsection 1, and in which an eligible enterprise zone is certified shall establish an enterprise zone commission to review applications from qualified businesses located within or requesting to locate within an enterprise zone designated pursuant to section 15E.194, subsection 1, to receive incentives or assistance as provided in section 15E.196. The enterprise zone commission shall also review applications from qualified housing businesses requesting to receive incentives or assistance as provided in section 15E.193B. The commission shall consist of nine members. Five of these members shall consist of one representative of the board of supervisors, one member with economic development expertise chosen by the economic development authority, one representative of the county zoning board, one member of the local community college board of directors, and one representative of the local workforce development center. These five members shall select the remaining four members. If the enterprise zone consists of an area meeting the requirements for eligibility for an urban or rural enterprise community under Tit. XIII of the federal Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, one of the remaining four members shall be a representative of that community. A county shall have only one enterprise zone commission to review applications for incentives and assistance for businesses located within or requesting to locate within a certified enterprise zone designated pursuant to section 15E.194, subsection 1.
  2.  A city which includes at least three census tracts with at least fifty percent of the population in each census tract located in the city and which designates an enterprise zone pursuant to section 15E.194, subsection 2 or 3, and in which an eligible enterprise zone is certified shall establish an enterprise zone commission to review applications from qualified businesses located within or requesting to locate within an enterprise zone to receive incentives or assistance as provided in section 15E.196. The enterprise zone commission shall review applications from qualified housing businesses requesting to receive incentives or assistance as provided in section 15E.193B. The commission shall consist of nine members. Six of these members shall consist of one representative of an international labor organization, one member with economic development expertise chosen by the economic development authority, one representative of the city council, one member of the local community college board of directors, one member of the city planning and zoning commission, and one representative of the local workforce development center. These six members shall select the remaining three members. If the enterprise zone consists of an area meeting the requirements for eligibility for an urban enterprise community under Tit. XIII of the federal Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, one of the remaining three members shall be a representative of that community. If a city contiguous to the city designating the enterprise zone is included in an enterprise zone, a representative of the contiguous city, chosen by the city council, shall be a member of the commission. A city in which an eligible enterprise zone is certified shall have only one enterprise zone commission. If a city has established an enterprise zone commission prior to July 1, 1998, the city may petition to the economic development authority to change the structure of the existing commission.
  3.  The commission may adopt more stringent requirements, including requirements related to compensation and benefits, for a business to be eligible for incentives or assistance than provided in sections 15E.193 and 15E.193B. The commission may develop as an additional requirement that preference in hiring be given to individuals who live within the enterprise zone. The commission shall work with the local workforce development center to determine the labor availability in the area. The commission shall examine and evaluate building codes and zoning in the enterprise zone and make recommendations to the appropriate governing body in an effort to promote more affordable housing development.
  4.  If the enterprise zone commission determines that a business qualifies and is eligible to receive incentives or assistance as provided in section 15E.193B or 15E.196, the commission shall submit an application for incentives or assistance to the economic development authority. The authority may approve, defer, or deny the application.
  5.  a.  In making its decision, the commission or authority shall consider the impact of the eligible business on other businesses in competition with it and compare the compensation package of businesses in competition with the business being considered for incentives or assistance. The commission or authority shall make a good-faith effort to identify existing Iowa businesses within an industry in competition with the business being considered for incentives or assistance. The commission or authority shall also make a good-faith effort to determine the probability that the proposed incentives or assistance will displace employees of existing businesses. In determining the impact on businesses in competition with the business seeking incentives or assistance, jobs created as a result of other jobs being displaced elsewhere in the state shall not be considered direct jobs created.
  b.  However, if the commission or authority finds that an eligible business has a record of violations of the law, including but not limited to environmental and worker safety statutes, rules, and regulations, over a period of time that tends to show a consistent pattern, the eligible business shall not qualify for incentives or assistance under section 15E.193B or 15E.196, unless the commission or authority finds that the violations did not seriously affect public health or safety or the environment, or if it did that there were mitigating circumstances. In making the findings and determinations regarding violations, mitigating circumstances, and whether an eligible business is eligible for incentives or assistance under section 15E.193B or 15E.196, the commission or authority shall be exempt from chapter 17A. If requested by the commission or authority, the business shall provide copies of materials documenting the type of violation, any fees or penalties assessed, court filings, final disposition of any findings, and any other information which would assist the commission or authority in assessing the nature of any violation.
  6.  A business that is approved to receive incentives or assistance shall, for the length of its designation as an enterprise zone business, certify annually to the county or city, as applicable, and the economic development authority its compliance with the requirements of section 15E.193 or 15E.193B.
97 Acts, ch 144, §5; 98 Acts, ch 1175, §12; 98 Acts, ch 1223, §17; 2001 Acts, ch 141, §6, 8; 2002 Acts, ch 1119, §120; 2004 Acts, ch 1003, §9, 12; 2006 Acts, ch 1133, §8, 10; 2008 Acts, ch 1032, §201; 2010 Acts, ch 1061, §180; 2011 Acts, ch 118, §85, 89
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