An Act To Provide Support for Sustainable Economic Development in Rural Maine
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1478
Committee Amendment CA_A_H391 (House)
Amends: 5 MRSA §13120-P

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 1017, L.D. 1478, Bill, "An Act To 
Provide Support for Sustainable Economic Development in Rural Maine" 
Amend the bill by inserting after the title and before the enacting clause the 
following: 
'Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, investing in the rehabilitation and revitalization of nonproductive 
industrial and manufacturing sites will provide an economic boost to rural communities 
that have experienced severe economic decline and employment loss; and 
Whereas, delaying the effective date of this bill will unnecessarily prolong the 
economic challenges faced by these rural communities; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore,' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the 
following: 
'Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §13120-P, sub-§4 is enacted to read: 
4. Other use of pro2ram funds. The authority may use funds available for the 
program established in this section: 
A. To implement the program established in this section; and 
B. To provide technical assistance, planning grants and implementation grants to 
municipalities and other entities eligible for assistance under section 13120-R. 
Sec. 2. 5 MRSA §§13120-R and 13120-S are enacted to read: 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
\ROFS 
COMMITIEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 1017, L.D. 1478 
§13120-R. Rural Manufacturing and Industrial Site Redevelopment Program 
1. 
Establishment; purpose. 
The Rural Manufacturing and Industrial Site 
Redevelopment Program is established within the authority to provide technical 
assistance, planning grants and implementation grants for the rehabilitation, revitalization 
and marketing of manufacturing and industrial sites in rural communities. 
2. Technical assistance and planning grants. The authority may provide technical 
assistance and grants for redevelopment and marketing of a nonproductive industrial or 
manufacturing site to a municipality or the owner of the nonproductive industrial or 
manufacturing site. In awarding grants and providing technical assistance under this 
subsection, the authority shall give preference to nonproductive industrial or 
manufacturing sites located in communities that have experienced severe economic 
decline and employment loss due to the nonproductive nature of the site and insufficient 
technical or planning personnel or resources. 
A. The authority shall work collaboratively with other state agencies and regional 
economic development organizations to provide technical assistance under this 
subsection. 
B. A municipality that receives technical assistance or a planning grant under this 
subsection shall form a committee, whose membership includes but is not limited to 
local residents and the owner of the nonproductive industrial or manufacturing site, to 
provide advice regarding the redevelopment of the site. 
C. If the authority is unable to provide technical assistance to a municipality or the 
owner of a nonproductive industrial or manufacturing site that is qualified for 
technical assistance under this subsection, as determined by rule, the authority: may 
provide a planning grant to the municipality or the owner of the nonproductive 
industrial or manufacturing site. 
D. The authority shall adopt rules related to the implementation of this subsection, 
including rules regarding the application process and eligibility of applicants for 
technical assistance and planning grants. Rules adopted under this paragraph are 
routine technical rules pursuant to chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
3. 
Implementation grants; rules. 
The authority may provide grants for 
implementing a project for the redevelopment and marketing of a nonproductive 
industrial or manufacturing site located in a rural community that has experienced severe 
economic decline and employment loss due to the nonproductive nature of the site. An 
applicant for a grant must demonstrate the capacity to undertake the project with a 
reasonable prospect of bringing it to successful completion. 
The authority shall adopt rules, which are routine technical rules pursuant to chapter 375, 
subchapter 2-A, related to the implementation of this subsection, including rules 
regarding: 
A. The application process for implementation grants: and 
B. The criteria and scoring system for awarding implementation grants. The scoring 
system must include, but is not limited to, an evaluation of the plan for redeveloping 
and marketing the nonproductive industrial or manufacturing site, community support 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITIEEAMENDMENT"A"toH.P.1017,L.D.1478 
for the project and consistency with any applicable regional economic development 
plan. 
§13120-S. Inventory of nonproductive industrial or manufacturing sites 
By January 1, 2018 and annually thereafter, the authority, in consultation with the 
Office of Business Development within the department, shall make or require an 
inventory to be made of all nonproductive industrial or manufacturing sites in the State 
that are available for redevelopment. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill, which is a concept draft, and adds an emergency 
preamble and an emergency clause. The amendment establishes the Rural Manufacturing 
and Industrial Site Redevelopment Program within the Maine Rural Development 
Authority to provide technical assistance, planning grants and implementation grants for 
the redevelopment and marketing of nonproductive industrial or manufacturing sites in 
rural communities. 
The authority may use funds from the Commercial Facilities 
Development Program established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 13120-
p to fund the activities of the Rural Manufacturing and Industrial Site Redevelopment 
Program. 
The amendment also requires the authority, in consultation with the Department of 
Economic and Community Development, Office of Business Development, to conduct an 
inventory of all nonproductive manufacturing and industrial sites in the State that may be 
eligible for assistance. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Revised: 05/25/17 feac 
LD 1478 
LR962(02) 
An Act To Provide Support for Sustainable Economic Development in Rural Maine . ,\ 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment'~ C 
~ "3q !) 
Committee: Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Rural Manufacturing and Industrial Site Redevelopment Program established 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Authorizing the Maine Rural Development Authority (MRDA) to utilize funds from its Commercial Facilities 
Development Program for the newly established Rural Manufacturing and Industrial Site Redevelopment Program 
will have no fiscal impact to the State. This provision will, however, result in less funds being available for the 
Commercial Facilities Development Program. According to the Finance Authority of Maine, who administers the 
funds for the MRDA, it had $4,859,186 available to fund all of its programs as of March 31, 2017, with a total of 
$4,108,176 available to lend. 
LR0962(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1