Job Development Zone

V.S.A. tit. 10, ch. 29, subch. 2

in effect

10 V.S.A. § 691 Title

691. Title This subchapter may be cited as the “Vermont Job Development Zone Act.” Added 1985, No. 172 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.

10 V.S.A. § 692 Policy and purpose

692. Policy and purpose Recognizing that some communities in Vermont have failed to benefit from general economic progress and that innovative and intensive approaches to economic development should be tried and developed in up to three communities, this subchapter provides for the designation of up to three job development zones and for special economic development programs that will apply in these job development zones. Added 1985, No. 172 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.

10 V.S.A. § 693 Definitions

693. Definitions As used in this subchapter: (1) “Municipality” means a town or city. It also means an incorporated village the charter of which enables it to function as a general purpose unit of local government. (2) “Agency” means the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development. (3) “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Agency. (4) “Population” means the most recent population of a municipality as determined by the Vermont Department of Health. (5) “Per capita income” means the total adjusted gross incomes of residents of a municipality divided by total exemptions claimed by residents of that municipality, as reported to the Vermont Department of Taxes in the most recent year for which data is available. (6) “Employment loss” means the absolute decline in the annual average number of insured private sector employees in the municipality during the most recent 12-month period for which data is reported by the Vermont Department of Labor compared to the same 12-month period five years earlier. (7) “Area unemployment rate” means the average monthly unemployment rate over the most recent two-year period for which data is available, of the labor market area of which a municipality is a part, as reported by the Vermont Department of Labor. Added 1985, No. 172 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1995, No. 190 (Adj. Sess.), § 1(a); 2005, No. 103 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. April 5, 2006.

10 V.S.A. § 694 Eligibility; application procedure

694. Eligibility; application procedure (a) A municipality shall be eligible to apply for job development zone status if it has a population of at least 2,000 and meets two of the following three criteria: (1) it has a per capita income at least ten percent lower than the statewide per capita income; (2) it has had an employment loss; (3) it has an area unemployment rate at least 33 percent higher than the statewide rate. (b) The Agency shall solicit applications from eligible municipalities. Any eligible municipality desiring to receive designation as the job development zone shall complete and submit an application in a manner as shall be prescribed by the Secretary. (c) Applications for job development zone status will be rated by the Vermont Community Development Board established by section 685 of this title on the basis of applicants’ ability to implement and administer a successful job development zone program, the quality of applicants’ plans for conducting a job zone program, the level of support and commitment of resources demonstrated by the applicant during the application process, and the need of the applicant community for job development zone status. (d) The job development zone may geographically include a municipality or a portion of a municipality, or a combination of contiguous municipalities or portions of municipalities if so approved by the Secretary. (e) The Secretary shall review the recommendations of the Vermont Community Development Board and make the final designation of the job development zones. Added 1985, No. 172 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.

10 V.S.A. § 695 Authority to make rules

695. Authority to make rules The Secretary is hereby granted the authority to issue rules in accordance with 3 V.S.A. chapter 25 for the purpose of administering the provisions of this subchapter. Added 1985, No. 172 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.

10 V.S.A. § 696 Reporting and expiration

696. Reporting and expiration (a) Designation as job development zone under this subchapter will apply until December 31, 1992. (b) Prior to January 15 of each year, the Secretary of Commerce and Community Development shall submit a report on job development zone activities for the preceding year to the Governor and General Assembly. Prior to January 15, 1992, the Secretary of Commerce and Community Development shall submit a comprehensive evaluation of the performance of the job development zone program to the Governor and General Assembly. Added 1985, No. 172 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1987, No. 213 (Adj. Sess.); 1995, No. 190 (Adj. Sess.), § 1(b).

10 V.S.A. § 697 Incentives and initiatives

697. Incentives and initiatives The following incentives and initiatives shall be available to new or expanding business entities located within the job development zones: (1) [Repealed.] (2) Preferential consideration from the Vermont Economic Development Authority as set forth in sections 233, 253, and 263 of this title. (3) Targeted assistance under the Job Training Partnership Act, to the extent allowable by federal law. (4) Targeted assistance under the Vermont Training Program as set forth in chapter 22 of this title. (5) Funding for the purpose of program implementation to the regional development corporation which includes a job zone. The funding shall be through increased grants to economic development corporations provided for in 24 V.S.A. § 2784(a). (6) Infrastructure assistance as set forth in section 698 of this title. (7) Technical assistance from the Agency of Commerce and Community Development to develop applications for community development block grant and urban development action grants, rural development action grants, and other community improvement and economic development grants and to assist businesses with permits and licenses. (8) Direct, localized assistance from small business development center. Added 1985, No. 172 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1993, No. 89, § 3(a), eff. June 15, 1993; 1995, No. 190 (Adj. Sess.), § 1(a); 2015, No. 57, § 98.

10 V.S.A. § 698 Infrastructure improvement program

698. Infrastructure improvement program (a) A municipality that is within a designated job development zone shall be eligible to receive a payment each year from the Agency of Commerce and Community Development to reimburse annual interest costs on indebtedness for economic development related infrastructure projects approved after July 1, 1986. Annual reimbursement payments shall be limited to $1,000,000 of indebtedness in a designated job development zone. The Agency shall require the municipality to submit an amortization schedule and proof of payment of its annual interest payment on bonds. The Agency shall not reimburse a municipality for infrastructure projects unless requests for payment are received within three months after the end of the fiscal year. (b) Economic development related infrastructure projects shall include water supply, pollution abatement, and highway facilities and such other municipal facilities as may be established by rule under section 695 of this chapter. Added 1985, No. 172 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1995, No. 190 (Adj. Sess.), § 1(a).

Source: Vermont General Assembly (legislature.vermont.gov)URL: https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/chapter/10/029Fetched: 10/21/2026