55 ILCS 85/3 — Illinois Code / Chapter 55 / Act 85 / Section 3
Section 3
Status: in_force

(55 ILCS 85/3) (from Ch. 34, par. 7003) Sec. 3. Definitions. In this Act, words or terms shall have the following meanings unless the context usage clearly indicates that another meaning is intended. (a) "Department" means the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. (b) "Economic development plan" means the written plan of a county which sets forth an economic development program for an economic development project area. Each economic development plan shall include but not be limited to (1) estimated economic development project costs, (2) the sources of funds to pay such costs, (3) the nature and term of any obligations to be issued by the county to pay such costs, (4) the most recent equalized assessed valuation of the economic development project area, (5) an estimate of the equalized assessed valuation of the economic development project area after completion of the economic development plan, (6) the estimated date of completion of any economic development project proposed to be undertaken, (7) a general description of any proposed developer, user, or tenant of any property to be located or improved within the economic development project area, (8) a description of the type, structure and general character of the facilities to be developed or improved in the economic development project area, (9) a description of the general land uses to apply in the economic development project area, (10) a description of the type, class and number of employees to be employed in the operation of the facilities to be developed or improved in the economic development project area and (11) a commitment by the county to fair employment practices and an affirmative action plan with respect to any economic development program to be undertaken by the county. The economic development plan for an economic development project area authorized by subsection (a-15) of Section 4 of this Act must additionally include (1) evidence indicating that the redevelopment project area on the whole has not been subject to growth and development through investment by private enterprise and is not reasonably expected to be subject to such growth and development without the assistance provided through the implementation of the economic development plan and (2) evidence that portions of the economic development project area have incurred Illinois Environmental Protection Agency or United States Environmental Protection Agency remediation costs for, or a study conducted by an independent consultant recognized as having expertise in environmental remediation has determined a need for, the clean-up of hazardous waste, hazardous substances, or underground storage tanks required by State or federal law, provided that the remediation costs constitute a material impediment to the development or redevelopment of the project area. (c) "Economic development project" means any development project in furtherance of the objectives of this Act. (d) "Economic development project area" means any improved or vacant area which is located within the corporate limits of a county and which (1) is within the unincorporated area of such county, or, with the consent of any affected municipality, is located partially within the unincorporated area of such county and partially within one or more municipalities, (2) is contiguous, (3) is not less in the aggregate than 100 acres and, for an economic development project area authorized by subsection (a-15) of Section 4 of this Act, not more than 2,000 acres, (4) is suitable for siting by any commercial, manufacturing, industrial, research or transportation enterprise of facilities to include but not be limited to commercial businesses, offices, factories, mills, processing plants, assembly plants, packing plants, fabricating plants, industrial or commercial distribution centers, warehouses, repair overhaul or service facilities, freight terminals, research facilities, test facilities or transportation facilities, whether or not such area has been used at any time for such facilities and whether or not the area has been used or is suitable for such facilities and whether or not the area has been used or is suitable for other uses, including commercial agricultural purposes, and (5) which has been certified by the Department pursuant to this Act. (e) "Economic development project costs" means and includes the sum total of all reasonable or necessary costs incurred by a county incidental to an economic development project, including, without limitation, the following: (1) Costs of studies, surveys, development of plans and specifications, implementation