Date: 02/17/2015

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB15-1177

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS AFFAIRS AND LABOR

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment B). The motion p
Refer House Bill 15-1177, as amended, to the Commi		Pass Without Objection
PASS



01:33 PM -- HB 15-1177

Representative Willett and Representative K. Becker, sponsors, introduced House Bill 15-1177 to the committee. The bill creates the rural economic development initiative grant program for the purpose of creating resiliency in and growing the economies of highly distressed rural counties. The bill specifies economic factors to identify distressed rural counties in the state. The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) is then required to determine which of those distressed rural counties are highly distressed and eligible for the grants by reviewing and ranking those counties based on further economic indicators. Local governments and private employers in up to 30 highly distressed rural counties may apply for grants, on a reimbursement basis, that attract new jobs or encourage private capital investment. The program requires the applicants to provide matching funds and requires the applicants to meet certain performance criteria.

Representative Willett referenced a packet provided to the committee (Attachment A) that provides an overview of the bill and the anticipated impact. Representative Willett also discussed amendment L.001 (Attachment B). The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee regarding details of the program created by the bill.

150217 AttachA.pdf150217 AttachA.pdf150217 AttachB.pdf150217 AttachB.pdf

01:58 PM -- Joe Kiely, Economic Development Council of Colorado (EDCC) and the Town of Limon, testified in support of the bill. Mr .Kiely provided two handouts to the committee from the EDCC (Attachment C) and the Town of Limon (Attachment D). Mr. Kiely spoke about the work the EDCC does and the impact this bill would have. On behalf of the Town of Limon, Mr. Kiely discussed the desire to re-evaluate the criteria used to select the most distressed counties in the state. Mr. Kiely responded to questions from the committee regarding the Enhanced Rural Enterprise Zones and clarification of statistics from the handouts he provided.

150217 AttachC.pdf150217 AttachC.pdf150217 AttachD.pdf150217 AttachD.pdf

02:12 PM -- Patrick Boyle, Colorado Competitive Council, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Boyle spoke about what the Colorado Competitive Council does and the role of the economic development zones. Mr. Boyle responded to questions from the committee.

02:15 PM -- Bruce Eisenhauer, Deputy Executive Director of the Department of Local Affairs, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Eisenhauer spoke about the department's role in the original Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) program. Mr. Eisenhauer responded to questions from the committee regarding the REDI program, including the impact and details about the appropriation, and other questions regarding the bill.

02:24 PM -- Mark Radtke, Colorado Municipal League (CML), testified in support of the bill. Mr. Radtke spoke about the need for this program in the rural areas of the state based on results from the CML's annual survey of municipal economies.

02:27 PM -- Meridith Marshall, OEDIT, responded to questions from the committee regarding program reimbursements, different types and amounts of grants awarded.

02:31 PM -- Dianna Orf, Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado (AGNC), testified in support of the bill. Ms. Orf spoke about the need for the program.

02:34 PM

The committee took a brief recess.

02:37 PM
BILL:HB15-1177
TIME: 02:37:50 PM
MOVED:Kraft-Tharp
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment B). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Thurlow
VOTE
Arndt
Garnett
Keyser
Navarro
Nordberg
Pabon
Rosenthal
Roupe
Tate
Thurlow
Winter
Kraft-Tharp
Williams
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection



02:40 PM

The bill sponsors provided closing remarks on the bill. The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee.
BILL:HB15-1177
TIME: 02:45:12 PM
MOVED:Kraft-Tharp
MOTION:Refer House Bill 15-1177, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 12-1.
SECONDED:Thurlow
VOTE
Arndt
Yes
Garnett
No
Keyser
Yes
Navarro
Yes
Nordberg
Yes
Pabon
Yes
Rosenthal
Yes
Roupe
Yes
Tate
Yes
Thurlow
Yes
Winter
Yes
Kraft-Tharp
Yes
Williams
Yes
Final YES: 12 NO: 1 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS