(a) The boards of directors of regional economic development districts shall submit each adopted and approved comprehensive economic development strategy to the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development and to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management for review. Said commissioner and secretary may review and make recommendations to the regional economic development districts for consolidation of the comprehensive economic development strategies to encompass not more than eight regions for the entire state. After review by said commissioner and secretary and with the concurrence from the board of directors of the districts, the regional economic development districts may submit such strategy to the Assistant Secretary of the United States Department of Commerce for approval pursuant to 42 USC 3121 et seq.
(b) A board of directors of a state approved regional economic development district that adopts a comprehensive economic development strategy in accordance with sections 32-741 and 32-742 may request the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development to approve the region as an economic development district. If said commissioner approves the regional economic development district as an economic development district, said commissioner shall recommend to the Governor that the region be designated by the Governor as an economic development district. Upon such designation by the Governor, the board of directors may request federal designation as an economic development district from the Assistant Secretary of the United States Department of Commerce pursuant to 42 USC 3121 et seq. Approval by the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development of the comprehensive economic development strategy under section 32-742 shall be deemed to meet the requirements of 42 USC 3121 et seq.
(P.A. 10-168, S. 3.)
History: P.A. 10-168 effective July 1, 2010.