§ 14.11 Historic business preservation registry. 1. Purpose. A registry of historic businesses in the state shall be established for the purpose of recognizing that historic community-serving businesses are valuable cultural assets that serve as examples of the rich and diverse history of the communities in the state. Such registry shall also serve as a tool for providing educational and promotional assistance to historic businesses to encourage their continued viability and success. 2. Establishment. The office shall establish and maintain a registry of historic businesses in the state and maintain an online registry which includes the name, address and a list of products and/or services offered by each historic business that has been accepted into the registry. 3. Eligibility. A historic business must first be nominated by an assembly member, senator, the governor or the lieutenant governor. Nominations are limited to two per elected official per term. An elected official shall not nominate a business if they, or a close family member, including a spouse, children, siblings or parents, own or have a major investment stake in such business. 4. Application. (a) After a business is nominated pursuant to subdivision three of this section, such business shall submit a completed application for final approval. Such application shall be created by the office and shall include the following requirements:

(i) The business shall have operated in the state for fifty or more years with no break in operations exceeding two years. The business may have operated in more than one location, but shall have operated in the same municipality for a minimum of fifty years.

(ii) The business has contributed to the municipality's history and/or identity of such municipality.

(iii) The business is committed to maintaining the physical features and traditions that define such business, including but not limited to, craft, culinary or art forms.

(b) The office, upon receipt of a nomination and accompanying application, shall make a determination of whether the applicant meets the requirements necessary to be accepted into such registry. The nominating elected official and the applicant shall be notified by the office if such applicant is not accepted into the registry and shall explain the reasons for the determination of ineligibility.