261—71.3 (403) Application process and review.
	 71.3(1) Application. The department shall develop a standardized application and make the application available to eligible cities. The application procedures are as follows:
	  a.   	 An eligible city seeking approval as a pilot project city will submit an application to the department. The department shall determine if the application is complete.
	  b.   	 The department will review the application and consider the following criteria:
	 (1) 	 Need for pilot project status. The city shall demonstrate why status as a pilot project city is necessary, including how the city will utilize the program to attract and retain employers.
	 (2) 	 Planned and current projects. The city shall provide information on planned and current economic development projects that are taking place or will take place in an urban renewal area. The city shall demonstrate its ability to enter into a withholding agreement with an eligible business within one year of the city’s approval as a pilot project city.
	 (3) 	 Use of withholding funds. If approved as a pilot project city, the city shall indicate how the city plans to utilize withholding funds generated from the program. The city shall provide an estimate of the number of withholding agreements the city anticipates executing, the amount of withholding funds the city expects to generate as a result of the program, and the investment to be leveraged by use of the program.
	 (4) 	 Urban renewal areas. The city shall identify the number of urban renewal areas in the city and the location of the urban renewal areas where withholding funds may be utilized.
	 (5) 	 Matching funds. The city shall identify its ability to provide matching funds for projects involving withholding credits, including the potential sources of matching funds.
	  c.   	 A resolution of support from the city applying for approval as a pilot project city is required as part of the application. This resolution shall include approval of the submission of the application to the department for status as a pilot project city.
	  d.   	 The department may request additional information from a city that is applying for pilot project city status or may use other resources to obtain the needed information.
	  e.   	 Applications filed on or after October 1, 2006, shall not be considered.
	 71.3(2) Approval of applications. The department shall approve four eligible pilot project cities: one pursuant to 71.2“1,” one pursuant to 71.2“2,” and two pursuant to 71.2“3.” If more than two cities meeting the requirements of 71.2“3” apply to be designated as a pilot project city, the department of management, in consultation with the department, shall determine which two cities hold the most potential to create new jobs or generate the greatest capital in their areas. Department staff will prepare a recommendation for each of the cities to be approved as pilot project cities. The board will make the final decision to approve, defer or deny applications. Once applications are approved by the board, all communities applying for pilot project city status will be notified of the status of their applications.
	 71.3(3) Status as a pilot project city. If a pilot project city does not enter into a withholding agreement within one year of its approval as a pilot project city, the city shall lose its status as a pilot project city. Upon such occurrence, the department shall take applications from other eligible cities to replace that city. Another city shall be designated within six months.
[ARC 7561B, IAB 2/11/09, effective 3/18/09]