144.01     Establishment

There is hereby established a Department of Economic Development to be controlled and administered by a Director of Economic Development subject to the provisions of the Charter and ordinances of the City, and to the direction of the Mayor.
(Ord. No. 1655-80. Passed 7-31-80, eff. 8-4-80)

144.02     Duties of Director

The Director of Economic Development shall administer the Department and supervise the work of such divisions as may be established in the Department. The Director may appoint and employ such other officers and employees appointed by commissioners of divisions in accordance with the provisions of Section 79 of the Charter. The Director shall develop and implement policies, programs, and strategies for the retention, expansion and relocation of existing business and industry and for the attraction of new industry; coordinate, monitor and evaluate all municipal programs and procedures relating to economic development; prepare grant proposals for private, State and federal assistance programs in the area of economic development; and provide technical assistance to business, industry and neighborhood organizations regarding the availability of sites for development, public and private financing for development, and municipal procedures and programs regarding land use and land assembly for economic development.
(Ord. No. 1655-80. Passed 7-31-80, eff. 8-4-80)

144.03     Financial Assistance Fees

(a) The Director of Economic Development hereby is authorized to establish a schedule of and collect fees from loan and other financial assistance applicants to cover the cost of servicing loans and applications therefor under the various loan and financial assistance programs administered by the Department of Economic Development. Such fees may be refunded to applicant at the direction of the Director of Economic Development.

(b) The Director of Economic Development is hereby authorized to employ by contracts such professional services as may be required to prepare grant applications and to service loans made under the various loan and financial assistance programs administered by the Department of Economic Development, including, but not limited to, appraisal services, title insurance, survey costs, construction management, project identification materials and legal advertising. The costs of the contracts authorized herein shall be paid from the fees collected pursuant to this section.

(c) The Director of Economic Development is hereby authorized to pay a fee not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00) to area local development corporations that he determines have provided substantial assistance to applicants submitting proposals for financial assistance to the Department. The fee authorized herein shall be paid from the fees collected pursuant to this section.
(Ord. No. 2742-88. Passed 11-28-88, eff. 12-2-88)