* Warning: This is an unofficial, introductory copy of the bill.
The official copy considered by the City Council is the first reader copy.
Introductory*
City of Baltimore
Council Bill R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: The Council President
At the request of: The Administration (Baltimore Development Corporation)
A Resolution Entitled
A Council Resolution concerning
title
Approving the Submission of an Application to the State of Maryland for the Redesignation/Renewal of Baltimore City’s Enterprise Zone Focus Areas
For the purpose of approving the submission of an application to the State of Maryland to redesignate and renew Baltimore City’s Enterprise Zone Focus Areas.
body
Whereas, The General Assembly of the State of Maryland established an Enterprise Zone Program to focus State and local resources on the encouragement of economic growth in economically distressed areas and employment opportunities for the unemployed; and
Whereas, The City Council recognizes that there is a significant need to stimulate the creation of jobs by establishing Focus Areas, and, that by doing so, opportunities will increase for revitalization, property rehabilitation, and job creation (See the attached Exhibit A, “Proposed City Focus Area Redesignation/Renewal”, for a map of the area affected by approval of this Resolution); and
Whereas, The Jones Falls Focus Area (Exhibit B), Carroll Camden Industrial Focus Area, (Exhibit C), and Oldtown Focus Area (Exhibit D) expired on June 30, 2017, and must be redesignated as Enterprise Zone Focus Areas by the State of Maryland; and
Whereas, The Orangeville/Holabird Industrial Focus Area (Exhibit E) is scheduled to expire on December 14, 2019, and the Central West Baltimore Focus Area (Exhibit F) is scheduled to expire on December 14, 2021, and may be renewed as Enterprise Zone Focus Areas by the State of Maryland; and
Whereas, The City of Baltimore wishes to pursue an application for redesignation and renewal of all aforementioned Focus Areas, so that the expiration of all Focus Areas will occur simultaneously with the expiration of the Enterprise Zone; and
Whereas, The Focus Areas will follow the provisions of the Maryland Annotated Code Economic Development Article § 5-706 and will expire on June 14, 2022, the date of expiration for the Enterprise Zone; and
Whereas, The City of Baltimore, through the Baltimore Development Corporation (BDC), has prepared an application for the redesignation and renewal of the Focus Areas, to include these aforementioned areas; and
Whereas, The regulations of the Enterprise Zone Focus Area Program require the written expression of the sentiment of the Baltimore City Council.
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of Baltimore, That the City Council of Baltimore:
1. Hereby endorses this October 2017 application of the City for the redesignation of the Oldtown Focus Area, Carroll Camden Industrial Focus Area, and Jones Falls Focus Area and for the renewal of the Orangeville/Holabird Industrial Focus Area and the Central West Baltimore Focus Area.
2. Resolves that copies of this Resolution be sent to the Secretary of the Maryland Department of Commerce, State of Maryland; the Honorable Mayor of the City of Baltimore, and the President of the Baltimore Development Corporation (BDC).