Chapter 238

238.396(1m) (1m) Designation of zone; criteria.

238.396(1m)(a) (a) The corporation may designate not more than one electronics and information technology manufacturing zone in this state. The zone may not include any area outside this state.

238.396(1m)(b) (b) In determining whether to designate an area under par. (a), the corporation shall consider all of the following:

238.396(1m)(b)1. 1. Indicators of the area’s economic need, which may include data regarding household income, average wages, the condition of property, housing values, population decline, job losses, infrastructure and energy support, the rate of business development, and the existing resources available to the area.

238.396(1m)(b)2. 2. The effect of designation on other initiatives and programs to promote economic and community development in the area, including job retention, job creation, job training, and creating high-paying jobs.

238.396(1m)(d) (d) The corporation shall, to the extent possible, give preference to the greatest economic need.

238.396(2) (2) Time limit. A designation under sub. (1m) shall remain in effect for no more than 15 years.

238.396(3) (3) Certification. The corporation may certify for tax benefits a business that begins operations in an electronics and information technology manufacturing zone.

238.396(3m) (3m) Additional tax benefits for significant capital expenditures. If the corporation determines that a business certified under sub. (3) makes a significant capital expenditure in the electronics and information technology manufacturing zone, the corporation may certify the business to receive additional tax benefits in an amount to be determined by the corporation, but not exceeding 15 percent of the business’s capital expenditures. The corporation shall, in a manner determined by the corporation, allocate the tax benefits a business is certified to receive under this subsection over a period of 7 years. The corporation shall establish job creation thresholds for a business certified under sub. (3) for each year in the zone. The claiming of capital expenditure tax benefits under ss. 71.07 (3wm) (bm) and 71.28 (3wm) (bm) shall be tied to those job creation thresholds.

238.396(3s) (3s) Limitations on tax benefits.

238.396(3s)(a) (a) The corporation may not issue certifications to claim tax benefits under ss. 71.07 (3wm) (b) and 71.28 (3wm) (b) that total more than $1,500,000,000.

238.396(3s)(b) (b) The corporation may not issue certifications to claim tax benefits under ss. 71.07 (3wm) (bm) and 71.28 (3wm) (bm) that total more than $1,350,000,000.

238.396(3s)(c) (c) The corporation may not certify a business to claim tax benefits under ss. 71.07 (3wm) (b) and 71.28 (3wm) (b) for services performed outside this state.

238.396(4) (4) Other duties.

238.396(4)(a) (a) The corporation shall revoke a certification under sub. (3) if the business does any of the following:

238.396(4)(a)1. 1. Supplies false or misleading information to obtain tax benefits.

238.396(4)(a)2. 2. Leaves the electronics and information technology manufacturing zone to conduct substantially the same business outside the zone.

238.396(4)(a)3. 3. Ceases operations in the electronics and information technology manufacturing zone and does not renew operation of the business or a similar business in the zone within 12 months.

238.396(4)(b) (b) The corporation may require a business to repay any tax benefits the business claims for a year in which the business failed to maintain employment levels or a significant capital investment in property required by an agreement between the business and the corporation.

238.396(4)(c) (c) The corporation shall determine the maximum amount of the tax benefits that a certified business may claim and shall notify the department of revenue of this amount.

238.396(4)(d) (d) The corporation shall verify, under s. 238.03 (2) (e), the information submitted to the corporation by the person for the purpose of claiming tax benefits.

238.396(4)(f) (f) The corporation shall adopt policies and procedures defining “significant capital expenditure” for purposes of sub. (3m).

238.396(4)(fm) (fm) The corporation shall cooperate with the legislative audit bureau for purposes of the audit bureau’s performance of its duties under s. 13.94 (1) (u).

238.396(4)(fs) (fs) The corporation shall contract with a business certified under sub. (3).

238.396(4)(g) (g) The corporation shall, to the extent possible, attempt to include terms in any agreement negotiated between the corporation and a business under par. (fs) that encourage the business’s hiring of Wisconsin residents.

238.396(5) (5) No environmental impact statement required. The issuance of any permit or approval for a new manufacturing facility within an electronics and information technology manufacturing zone designated under this section is not a major action for the purposes of s. 1.11 (2) (c).

238.396 History History: 2017 a. 58, 369.

238.397 238.397 Enterprise development zone program.

238.397(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

238.397(1)(a) (a) “Environmental pollution” has the meaning given in s. 299.01 (4).

238.397(1)(aj) (aj) “Environmental remediation” has the meaning given in s. 71.07 (2dx) (a) 3.

238.397(1)(am) (am) “Full-time job” has the meaning given in s. 238.30 (2m).

238.397(1)(b) (b) “Project” means economic activity in the state.

238.397(1)(c) (c) “Target population” has the meaning given in s. 238.30 (6).

238.397(1)(d) (d) “Tax benefits” has the meaning given in s. 238.30 (7).

238.397(2) (2) Criteria for designation as an enterprise development zone.

238.397(2)(a) (a) Subject to pars. (c), (d), and (e), the corporation may designate an area as an enterprise development zone for a project if the corporation determines all of the following:

238.397(2)(a)1. 1. That the project serves a public purpose.

238.397(2)(a)2. 2. That the project will likely retain or increase employment in the state.

238.397(2)(a)3. 3. That the project is not likely to occur or continue without the corporation’s designation of the area as an enterprise development zone.

238.397(2)(a)4. 4. That the project will likely positively affect an area that meets at least 3 of the following criteria:

238.397(2)(a)4.a. a. The unemployment rate in the area is higher than the state average for the 18 months immediately preceding the date on which the application under sub. (3) was submitted to the corporation.

238.397(2)(a)4.b. b. The percentage of persons residing in the area who are members of households with household income levels at or below 80 percent of the statewide median household income is higher than the state average.

238.397(2)(a)4.c. c. The percentage of households in the area receiving unemployment insurance under ch. 108, relief funded by a relief block grant under ch. 49 or aid to families with dependent children under s. 49.19 is higher than the state average.

238.397(2)(a)4.d. d. In the 36 months immediately preceding the date on which the application under sub. (3) was submitted to the corporation, a number of workers in the area were permanently laid off by their employer or became unemployed as a result of a business action subject to s. 109.07 (1m).

238.397(2)(a)4.e. e. An employer in the vicinity of the area has given public notice under s. 109.07 (1m) (a) of either a business closing or a mass layoff of at least 25 employees, or 25 percent of the employees, of a business, whichever is greater, that will result in a number of workers in the area being laid off permanently.

238.397(2)(a)4.f. f. Property values in the area have been declining.

238.397(2)(a)4.g. g. There has been a decline in the population in the area.

238.397(2)(b) (b) In making a determination under par. (a), the corporation shall consider all of the following:

238.397(2)(b)1. 1. The extent of poverty, unemployment, or other factors contributing to general economic hardship in the area.

238.397(2)(b)2. 2. The prospects for new investment and economic development in the area.

238.397(2)(b)3. 3. The amount of investment that is likely to result from the project.

238.397(2)(b)4. 4. The number of full-time jobs that are likely to be created as a result of the project.

238.397(2)(b)5. 5. The number of full-time jobs that are likely to be available to the target population as a result of the project.

238.397(2)(b)6. 6. The competitive effect of designating the area as an enterprise development zone on other businesses in the area.

238.397(2)(b)7. 7. The needs of other areas of the state.

238.397(2)(b)8. 8. Any other factors that the corporation considers relevant.

238.397(2)(bg) (bg) Notwithstanding par. (a) and subject to pars. (c), (d), and (e), the corporation may designate an area as an enterprise development zone for a project if the corporation determines all of the following:

238.397(2)(bg)1. 1. That the project serves a public purpose.

238.397(2)(bg)2. 2. That the project is not likely to occur or continue without the corporation’s designation of the area as an enterprise development zone.

238.397(2)(bg)3. 3. That the project will likely provide for significant environmental remediation.

238.397(2)(br) (br) In making a determination under par. (bg), the corporation shall consider all of the following:

238.397(2)(br)1. 1. The factors specified in par. (b) 1. to 8.

238.397(2)(br)2. 2. The environmental remediation that is likely to result from the project.

238.397(2)(c) (c) The corporation may not designate as an enterprise development zone, or as any part of an enterprise development zone, an area that is located within the boundaries of an area that is designated as a development opportunity zone under s. 238.395, the designation of which is in effect.

238.397(2)(d) (d) The corporation may not designate more than 98 enterprise development zones unless the corporation obtains the approval of the joint committee on finance to do so. Of the enterprise development zones that the corporation designates, at least 10 shall be designated under par. (bg).

238.397(2)(e) (e) The corporation may not designate any area as an enterprise development zone on or after March 6, 2009.

238.397(3) (3) Application and project plan.

238.397(3)(a) (a) A person that conducts or that intends to conduct a project and that desires to have the area in which the project is or is to be conducted designated as an enterprise development zone for the purpose of claiming tax benefits may submit to the corporation an application and a project plan.

238.397(3)(b) (b) A project plan under par. (a) shall include all of the following:

238.397(3)(b)1. 1. The name and address of the person’s business for which tax benefits will be claimed.

238.397(3)(b)2. 2. The appropriate Wisconsin tax identification number of the person.

238.397(3)(b)3. 3. The names and addresses of other locations outside of the area proposed to be designated as an enterprise development zone where the person conducts business and a description of the business activities conducted at those locations.

238.397(3)(b)4. 4. The amount that the person proposes to invest in a business; to spend on the construction, rehabilitation, repair, or remodeling of a building; or to spend on the removal or containment of, or the restoration of soil or groundwater affected by, environmental pollution; in the area proposed to be designated as an enterprise development zone.

238.397(3)(b)5. 5. The estimated total investment of the person in the enterprise development zone.

238.397(3)(b)6. 6. The estimated number of full-time jobs that will be created, retained, or substantially upgraded as a result of the person’s project in relation to the amount of tax benefits estimated for the person.

238.397(3)(b)7. 7. The person’s plans to make reasonable attempts to hire employees from the target population.

238.397(3)(b)8. 8. The estimated number of full-time jobs that will be filled by members of the target population.

238.397(3)(b)10. 10. The boundaries or legal description of the area proposed to be designated as an enterprise development zone.

238.397(3)(b)11. 11. Any other information required by the corporation or the department of revenue.

238.397(3)(c) (c) The corporation may not accept or approve any applications or project plans submitted under par. (a) on or after March 6, 2009.

238.397(4) (4) Designation, certification and additional duties.

238.397(4)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (h), if the corporation approves a project plan under sub. (3) and designates the area in which the person submitting the project plan conducts or intends to conduct the project as an enterprise development zone under the criteria under sub. (2), the corporation shall certify the person as eligible for tax benefits.

238.397(4)(c) (c) When the corporation designates an area as an enterprise development zone for a project, the corporation shall notify the governing body of any city, village, town, or federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in which the area is located of the area’s designation.

238.397(4)(d) (d) The corporation shall notify the department of revenue of all persons entitled to claim tax benefits under this section, except that the corporation shall notify the office of the commissioner of insurance of all persons entitled to claim the credit under s. 76.636.

238.397(4)(f) (f) The tax benefits for which a person is certified as eligible under this subsection are not transferable to another person, business, or location, except to the extent permitted under section 383 of the internal revenue code.

238.397(4)(g) (g) The corporation annually shall verify information submitted to the corporation under s. 71.07 (2dx), 71.28 (1dx), 71.47 (1dx), or 76.636.

238.397(4)(h) (h) No person may be certified under this subsection on or after March 6, 2009.

238.397(5) (5) Duration and limits.