Section 41-9-202.1
Section 41-9-202.1Project notification; applications.
(a)(1) The Secretary of Commerce shall be notified, either orally or in writing, about the general parameters of a project if an entity is considering locating or expanding a facility at a site within this state and intends to claim any of the incentives provided by the State of Alabama that are described in subdivision (2). The required notification should be made as soon as the project's parameters are generally known or when a site or sites have been identified by an investing entity or entities or a visit is made to the State of Alabama by the entity or its representative. The initial required notification may be made on an anonymous basis (i.e., "Project Alpha") in order to protect the confidentiality of a proposed project. Upon timely notifying the secretary within the time frame specified in this subdivision, the secretary shall transmit a letter to the company or its representative acknowledging receipt of the required notification (the "notification acknowledgment letter").
(2) The required notification set forth in subdivision (1) applies to (i) capital investment credits pursuant to Act 95-187, as amended; (ii) site preparation grants pursuant to Act 91-635, as amended; (iii) funding for access roads and bridges through the Alabama Industrial Access Road and Bridge Corporation pursuant to Act 85-549, as amended; (iv) training or other assistance from the Alabama Industrial Development Training Program where the annual expenditures of cash is estimated to be in excess of one million dollars ($1,000,000); and (v) any direct or indirect cash payment for a project from the State of Alabama, whether in the form of an in-kind contribution of a site, building, or equipment, or otherwise.
(b) All information concerning a proposed project which is provided to the secretary and the Department of Commerce shall be confidential. The secretary is authorized to enter into a confidentiality agreement with a prospective entity which prohibits the disclosure of the identity of the prospective entity and any information obtained, whether orally or in writing, about the entity's proposed project.
(c) All written statements of intent to claim the capital credit which may be filed with the Department of Revenue at anytime prior to the date on which a qualifying project is placed in service pursuant to Section 40-18-191, shall include the notification acknowledgment letter from the secretary.
(d) All applications to the State Industrial Development Authority for site preparation grants pursuant to Act 91-635, 1991 Regular Session, as last amended by Act 97-645, 1997 Regular Session, shall include the notification acknowledgment letter from the secretary.
(e) All applications to the Industrial Access Road and Bridge Corporation for funding for access roads and bridges shall include the notification acknowledgment letter from the secretary.
(f) All companies seeking training or other assistance from the Alabama Industrial Development Training Program shall file an application with the Secretary of Commerce if the annual expenditure of cash is estimated to be in excess of one million dollars ($1,000,000). The application shall include the notification acknowledgment letter from the secretary. The secretary shall be responsible for reviewing, coordinating, and processing each application. The secretary shall have 30 days to process each application.
(g) An application must be filed with the secretary before any direct or indirect cash payments are expended for a project from the State of Alabama, whether the payment is in the form of an in-kind contribution of a site, building, equipment, or otherwise. The application shall include the notification acknowledgment letter from the secretary. The secretary shall be responsible for reviewing, coordinating, processing, and approving each application for direct or indirect cash payments and shall have 30 days to approve or deny each application.
(Act 99-351, p. 532, §§1- 7; Act 2012-167, p. 249, §1.)
