5:12-173.19 Proposal for entertainment-retail project, community and housing development project.

11. a. A casino licensee shall submit a proposal to the authority and to the department for an entertainment- retail project or community and housing development project in an urban area outside of Atlantic City, consistent with the requirements of paragraph (4) of subsection a. of section 4 of P.L.2001, c.221 (C.5:12-173.12), that will further the development and revitalization of an urban area designated by the department as eligible for, and in need of, the proposed project. The department shall evaluate the proposal and determine whether the proposed project meets the department's project criteria, and the authority shall evaluate the proposal and determine whether the proposed project meets the authority's project criteria for approval of urban development projects outside of the city of Atlantic City under the incentive program. The authority and the commissioner jointly may, in their discretion, also designate two entertainment-retail projects, one in North Jersey and one in South Jersey, as eligible for funds under the incentive program. Investment by a casino licensee of a minimum of $20 million of its investment alternative tax obligation under section 3 of P.L.1984, c.218 (C.5:12-144.1) in a North Jersey investment fund established for the purpose of furthering the development and revitalization of one or more urban areas designated by the commissioner shall satisfy the requirements of this section and section 4 of P.L.2001, c.221 (C.5:12-173.12).

b. The commissioner and the authority are authorized to approve the proposed project submitted under subsection a. of this section if the commissioner and the authority determine that the project meets the criteria established by the department and the authority, respectively. Upon approval by the commissioner, the State Treasurer shall annually, upon receipt of a written statement from the department certifying the satisfactory status of the project, rebate the district project grants to the authority for disbursement to casino licensees under the incentive program.

c. The authority and the commissioner shall give preference to those proposed projects that best leverage non-authority funds for the total construction project cost.

L.2001,s.221,s.11; amended 2002, c.65, s.35.