File #: 2002-0083    Version: 1
Type: Ordinance Status: Passed
File created: 2/19/2002 In control: Labor, Operations and Technology Committee
On agenda: Final action: 3/18/2002
Enactment date: 3/26/2002 Enactment #: 14305
Title: AN ORDINANCE relating to the office of regional policy and planning; designating the director of the office of regional policy and planning or the director's designee as the community empowerment zone administrator for the area designated by the state of Washington as a community empowerment zone within King County.
Sponsors: Larry Gossett, Dow Constantine
Indexes: Regional Planning
Attachments: 1. Ordinance 14305.pdf, 2. 2002-0083 staff report
Drafter
Clerk 02/14/2002
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AN ORDINANCE relating to the office of regional policy and planning; designating the director of the office of regional policy and planning or the director's designee as the community empowerment zone administrator for the area designated by the state of Washington as a community empowerment zone within King County.
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STATEMENT OF FACTS:
1. In February 1994, Motion 9248 moved and passed that census tracts 265, 266 and 268 of the White Center area be defined as a "neighborhood reinvestment area" by the council of King County.
2. In 1994 this area was designated as a community empowerment zone (terminology changed from neighborhood reinvestment area) by the state of Washington.
3. Depending upon the 2000 Census data, the community empowerment zone may expand to include additional census tracts within the White Center area.
4. A community empowerment zone designation enables economically disadvantaged urban areas to qualify for special tax incentives intended to support reinvestment in the zone. Specifically, qualified businesses located in the zone or that hire residents of the zone may apply to the state Department of Revenue for sales tax deferrals and business and occupation tax credits.
5. The Washington state legislature passed, and the Governor of the State of Washington signed, legislation during the 2000 legislative session requiring each local government to, by ordinance, designate a community empowerment zone administrator for the area designated as a community empowerment zone that is within its jurisdiction.
6. The new law requires that a community empowerment zone administrator must be an officer or employee of the local government.
7. It is in the interest of King County to maintain the community empowerment zone designation in good standing as a means to maintain existing and future incentives for economic development from the State of Washington for King County's low-income communities.
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