The following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall have the meaning given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Applicant." An issuing authority which applies for financial assistance under section 3404 (relating to application).

"Convention center." Interests in land, improvement, structure, buildings or part of a building, whether owned by, leased by or to or otherwise acquired by an authority, which are appropriate for large public assemblies, the holding of conventions, conferences, trade exhibitions and other business, social, cultural, scientific and public interest events.

"Convention center authority." An entity created under any of the following:

(1) Article XXV-A of the act of July 28, 1953 (P.L.723, No.230), known as the Second Class County Code.

(2) Article XXIII(n) and (o) of the act of August 9, 1955 (P.L.323, No.130), known as The County Code.

(3) 53 Pa.C.S. Ch. 56 (relating to municipal authorities) or the former act of May 2, 1945 (P.L.382, No.164), known as the Municipality Authorities Act of 1945, for purposes related to convention centers.

(4) 64 Pa.C.S. Ch. 60 (relating to Pennsylvania Convention Center authority).

"Cost of a project." Any of the following expenses incurred for a project:

(1) Expenses for the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, expansion, extension, demolition, improvement, rehabilitation or remodeling of interests in land, buildings, structures, improvements or infrastructure, which are part of the project.

(2) Expenses for the remediation of existing environmental hazards on land where the project is or will be located.

(3) Financing charges and other costs and expenses incurred in financing and issuing bonds for the project.

(4) Costs and expenses of administrative expenses and professional services, including the costs of engineering, financial services, accounting and legal services, rendered in completing the project.

(5) Costs and expenses associated with the preparation of plans, specifications, studies and surveys, necessary or incidental to determining the feasibility or practicability of constructing the project.

"Department." The Department of Community and Economic Development of the Commonwealth.

"Hospital." A facility operated by an entity licensed as a hospital under the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Public Welfare Code, or the act of July 19, 1979 (P.L.130, No.48), known as the Health Care Facilities Act, which is used to provide inpatient care and services.

"Hotel establishment." A hotel which is associated with a convention center.

"Industrial enterprise." An enterprise, other than a mercantile, commercial or retail enterprise, which by virtue of its size requires substantial capital and will create significant employment opportunities.

"Infrastructure." Any of the following:

(1) Drainage and storm water systems.

(2) Energy facilities which distribute electric power.

(3) Wastewater systems.

(4) Transportation facilities. The term includes roads, parking facilities, sidewalks, bridges, rails, ports, waterways and airports.

(5) Pipelines for transporting natural gas.

(6) Facilities for the transmission of information. The term includes telecommunication and cable.

(7) Water supply facilities.

(8) Interests in land to construct a facility, pipeline or system listed in paragraphs (1) through (7).

(9) Engineering, design and inspection costs associated with the construction of a facility, pipeline or system listed in paragraphs (1) through (7).

"Issuing authority." Any of the following:

(1) An authority created under the act of May 24, 1945 (P.L.991, No.385), known as the Urban Redevelopment Law.

(2) An authority created under Article XXV-A of the act of July 28, 1953 (P.L.723, No.230), known as the Second Class County Code.

(3) Article XXIII(n) and (o) of the act of August 9, 1955 (P.L.323, No.130), known as The County Code.

(4) The Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority or an authority established under section 4 of the act of August 23, 1967 (P.L.251, No.102), known as the Economic Development Financing Law.

(5) An issuing authority as defined in section 3 of the act of July 11, 1990 (P.L.465, No.113), known as the Tax Increment Financing Act.

(6) An authority created under 53 Pa.C.S. Ch. 56 (relating to municipal authorities) or the former act of May 2, 1945 (P.L.382, No.164), known as the Municipality Authorities Act of 1945, for purposes related to convention centers.

(7) An authority created and continued under 64 Pa.C.S. Ch. 60 (relating to Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority).

"Manufacturer." An entity which is engaged in the giving of new shapes, new qualities or new combinations to matter by the application of skill and labor.

"Project." As follows:

(1) If the project user is an industrial enterprise or retail enterprise:

(i) Infrastructure.

(ii) Remediation of environmental hazards which were not caused or contributed to by the applicant or the project user.

(2) If the project user is a research and development enterprise, manufacturer, hospital, convention center or hotel establishment:

(i) Infrastructure.

(ii) Remediation of environmental hazards which were not caused or contributed to by the applicant or the project user.

(iii) Interests in land, buildings, structure or improvements required by the project user.

"Project user." An industrial enterprise, retail enterprise, research and development enterprise, manufacturer, hospital, convention center or hotel establishment, which owns, leases or uses all or any part of a project.

"Research and development enterprise." A for-profit business engaged in the discovery of new and the refinement of known substances, processes, products, theories and ideas.

"Retail enterprise." An entity or entities engaged in retail sales which created or will create at least 200 full-time jobs and occupies or will occupy at least a 200,000-square-foot facility.

"Secretary." The Secretary of Community and Economic Development of the Commonwealth.

"Year." The fiscal year of the Commonwealth.

(Nov. 30, 2004, P.L.1708, No.218, eff. imd.)

2004 Amendment. Act 218 amended the defs. of "project," "project user" and "retail enterprise" and added the def. of "research and development enterprise."

References in Text. The short title of the act of June 13, 1967, P.L.31, No.21, known as the Public Welfare Code, referred to in the definition of "hospital," was amended by the act of December 28, 2015, P.L.500, No.92. The amended short title is now the Human Services Code.