Additional criteria for award of financial assistance

(a) In addition to the criteria specified under the provisions of the general statutes authorizing each economic development financial assistance program, the awarding authority shall consider the following criteria in evaluating each request for financial assistance for a threshold project under each such program: (1) The extent to which the request addresses the stated public policy objectives developed under section 32-451 for the program; (2) The probability that the projected benefits to the state, local community and employees will be achieved; and (3) The extent to which the business's project planning has included community and employee participation. (b) After approving a request for financial assistance for a threshold project, the awarding authority and the business shall sign a statement (1) identifying the public policy objectives which the project will address and the extent to which the project will further such objectives, including but not limited to, the number of jobs to be retained, the number of jobs to be created and the wage and benefit levels of such jobs, and (2) reciting that the business understands that it is receiving economic development financial assistance because of the expectation that the assistance will be used to produce such benefits. Such statement shall not be contractually binding on the business, provided the appointing authority may, in a separate document, require any contractual commitments that it deems appropriate. The authority shall provide a copy of such statement to the chief elected official of the municipality in which the project will be located and any employee representatives of the business.