Authority: Title 2.2, Chapter 2, Article 3; § 2.2-201, Code of Virginia.

A. It is the intent of the General Assembly that state programs providing financial, technical, or training assistance to local governments for economic development projects or directly to businesses seeking to relocate or expand operations in Virginia should not be used to help a company relocate or expand its operations in one or more Virginia communities when the same company is simultaneously closing facilities in other Virginia communities. It is the responsibility of the Secretary of Commerce and Trade to enforce this policy and to inform the Chairmen of the Senate Finance and House Appropriations Committees in writing of the justification to override this policy for any exception.

B. The Secretary shall report to the Chairmen of the Senate Finance and the House Appropriations and Finance Committees by October 30 of each year, on the use and efficacy of state incentives in creating investments and jobs in Virginia. The two-part report shall identify, by planning districts, the following items using the most recent data available: (1) the number of companies receiving business incentives; (2) the dollar amounts received by each company for each incentive; (3) the number of jobs to be created; (4) the average salary; and (5) the amount of investment agreed upon by the state and the company as a condition for receiving the incentives. For the purposes of this report, the incentives to be reviewed in the study are those incentives included in the Virginia Economic Development Partnership publication, “Virginia Business Incentives 1997-98” as well as business incentive programs authorized and funded by the General Assembly since the 1999 Session. The first part of the study shall not identify by name the companies participating in the state’s incentive programs. In the second part of the report, organized by planning district, the Secretary shall include the actual number of jobs created, average salary, and level of investments made by each company awarded incentives in fiscal year 1999; if not prohibited by state law or by memorandum of agreement or understanding between the Commonwealth and the company, the names of the companies awarded incentives in fiscal year 1999 shall be included. In addition, the report shall also identify the specific actions taken by the state as part of its business incentive program to create private investments and jobs in rural areas of the state and the success of these actions.

C. The Secretary shall review the existing Regional Competitiveness Program as defined under §§ 15.2-1306 through 15.2-1310, Code of Virginia, and propose a plan that can be used to reestablish the Regional Competitiveness Program. In completing the plan, the Secretary is encouraged to identify and review the structure and relationships that have been established under the Regional Competitiveness Act. The Secretary shall also identify existing options that will continue the Commonwealth's efforts to encourage regional strategic economic development planning which identifies and addresses critical issues of economic competitiveness for the regions of Virginia. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Secretary in the development of this plan, upon request. The Secretary shall submit his final report to the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees by November 14, 2003.