CCIDA Uniform Project Evaluation Policy

County of Chautauqua
Industrial Development Agency (“CCIDA”)  

UNIFORM PROJECT EVALUATION POLICY

Pursuant to and in accordance with Section 859-a(5) of the General Municipal Law (“GML”), the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (the “Agency”) hereby establishes a Uniform Project Evaluation Policy for the evaluation and selection of all qualifying categories of projects for which the Agency may provide Financial Assistance (as defined herein) in accordance with its Uniform Tax Exemption Policy (“UTEP”).

For each Application for Financial Assistance received by the Agency, the following must occur prior to authorizing the project and provision of Financial Assistance:

1. 1. The Agency shall undertake an assessment of all material information included in connection with the Application for  Financial Assistance as necessary to afford a reasonable basis for the decision by the Agency to provide Financial Assistance for the Project, including, but not limited to qualification of the proposed project under the GML (including any retail analysis, as applicable), conducting a full application review, review of applicant financial history and project pro-formas, and consideration of all local development priorities;
   2. A written cost-benefit analysis shall be utilized by the Agency that identifies the extent to which a project will create or retain permanent, private sector jobs, the estimated value of any tax exemptions to be provided; the amount of private  sector  investment generated or  likely to be generated by the proposed project; the likelihood of accomplishing the  proposed project in a timely  fashion;  and the extent to which the  proposed project will provide additional sources of revenue for municipalities and school districts; and any other public benefits that might occur as a result of the project, the effect of the proposed project upon the environment and surrounding property, and the extent to which the proposed project will provide a benefit (economic or otherwise) not otherwise available within the municipality in which the project is located;
   3. The Agency’s Application for Financial Assistance shall include a statement by the applicant that the project, as of the date of the application, is in substantial compliance with all provisions of GML Article 18-A, including, but  not  limited  to, the provisions of GML Section 859-a(5) and 862(1); and
   4. If the proposed project involves the removal or abandonment of a facility or plant within the State of New York, the Agency shall notify the chief executive officer or officers of the municipality or municipalities in which the facility or plant was located.

Reviewed and Adopted this 26^th day of September, 2023.