Establishment of regional economic development districts. Board of directors. Boundaries

(a) In order to coordinate, implement and promote responsible economic growth and activities in this state, any of the following entities may, after approval by the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and the Assistant Secretary of Economic Development of the United States Department of Commerce, either individually or in conjunction with one or more other such entities, establish a regional economic development district for the purposes of sections 8-35a, 16a-27, 32-1o and 32-742 to 32-745, inclusive: (1) A regional economic development commission formed under section 7-137; (2) any organization that has a strategy that would meet the requirements of section 32-742 and has been approved by the Assistant Secretary of Economic Development of the United States Department of Commerce; (3) a corporation exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as amended from time to time; (4) another regional economic development commission or corporation formed under any other provision of the general statutes or any special act; or (5) a regional council of governments, as defined in section 4-124i. The entity or entities establishing a regional economic development district shall provide for a board of directors of the district. Not more than nine regional economic development districts shall be established pursuant to this subsection. (b) The boundaries of such districts shall encompass one or more planning regions, designated or redesignated pursuant to section 16a-4a.