Eligibility for financial assistance.

(A) In order to be eligible for financial assistance under section 122.24 of the Revised Code, an applicant shall demonstrate to the director of development the applicant's capacity to undertake and oversee the project, as evidenced by documentation of the applicant's past performance in economic development projects. (B) In order for an applicant to be eligible for financial assistance under section 122.24 of the Revised Code, both of the following apply: (1) The governing body of the entity that has been designated as an eligible area by the director of development under division (A) of section 122.25 of the Revised Code, by resolution or ordinance, shall designate the applicant that will carry out the project for the purposes described in section 122.24 of the Revised Code and specify the eligible area's financial participation in the project. (2) The board of county commissioners of a county that has been designated as an eligible area by the director of development under division (A)(1) of section 122.25 of the Revised Code shall certify, by resolution, that no existing industrial park is located in the county that would compete against an industrial park that would be developed and improved in the county through the use of financial assistance provided to the applicant under the rural industrial park loan program. Guidelines regarding situations in which industrial parks would be considered to compete against one another shall be established by rule in accordance with division (A)(8)(d) of section 122.25 of the Revised Code. However, an existing industrial park owner's consent to the new industrial park is sufficient to demonstrate noncompetition. (C) Solely for the purpose of applying for assistance for infrastructure improvements, a governing body may designate itself as an eligible applicant. Last updated September 19, 2023 at 1:22 PM