S 660 Summary: Economic Development Incentives Modifications

• Prohibits the Department of Commerce from contracting with nonprofit corporations to perform site certification functions or functions of other state agencies; requires detailed annual reporting on jobs created, company contacts, and project locations by contracted nonprofits.

• Excludes positions filled by H-1B visa holders from eligible job counts in discretionary incentive programs and establishes bonus structures tied to creating jobs in economically distressed (Tier One and Two) counties.

• Creates "attainment area" designation for counties meeting all development factor benchmarks and reduces state matching funds to 1:4 for attainment areas while capping Job Development Investment Grants at 50% of withholdings (vs. 80% for Tier One areas).

• Implements geographic limitations on discretionary grants with no more than 50% of annual funds ($20-35 million) awarded to projects in Tier Three areas and no more than 50% of that to attainment areas.

• Requires Department of Commerce to develop five-year county improvement plans for underperforming counties and submit annual progress reports comparing county performance to benchmarks for unemployment, income, population growth, and property values.