March 23, 2005, Introduced by Senators ALLEN, BIRKHOLZ, OLSHOVE, GILBERT, GEORGE, GARCIA, BERNERO, VAN WOERKOM, GOSCHKA and STAMAS and referred to the Committee on Commerce and Labor.
A bill to identify commerce centers; to target state funding;
and to prescribe the powers and duties of certain state agencies
and officials.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the
"commerce center act".
Sec. 2. The legislature finds that it is in the public
interest to recognize certain communities as commerce centers
because of their urban and commercial character and that to improve
commercial growth and development in this state it is necessary to
provide these target areas with certain funding and assistance
programs.
Sec. 3. As used in this act:
(a) "Commerce center" means any of the following:
(i) A city.
(ii) A village.
(iii) A township that meets all of the following conditions:
(A) Is located in a county with a population greater than
400,000 as established by the latest federal decennial census.
(B) If the township has a population less than or equal to
20,000 as established by the latest federal decennial census, the
board of commissioners of the county in which the township is
located has adopted a resolution approving the township's
recognition as a commerce center.
(b) "Department" means the department of labor and economic
growth.
(c) "Incorporated community" means a city or village.
Sec. 4. (1) The department shall annually identify each city,
village, or township that qualifies as a commerce center under this
act.
(2) The department shall make recommendations to the
legislature for funding and program development that will assist
commerce centers in encouraging commercial growth and development.
(3) The department shall report annually to the legislature
regarding the activities and success of each commerce center
located in this state.