CONTACT PERSON: Peggy Schaffer, Policy and Planning Specialist, 59 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333. Telephone: 287-8480

UMBRELLA-UNIT NUMBER: 19-100
AGENCY NAME: Department of Economic and Community Development, Office of Administration and Policy

EMERGENCY RULES ADOPTED SINCE THE LAST REGULATORY AGENDA: None

EXPECTED RULE-MAKING ACTIVITY:

CHAPTER 2: Tax Increment Financing Rules
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 30-A MRSA §5253E
PURPOSE: These rules update the Tax Increment Financing Rules as changed in PL 1999 Chapter 650.
ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE: Fall/winter of 2000.
AFFECTED PARTIES: Municipalities, businesses, communities

NEW RULE: Maine Biomedical Research Program
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 5 MRSA §13063
PURPOSE: These rules establish the criteria for grants to non-profit biomedical research labs in Maine.
ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE: Public hearing fall 2000, adoption winter 2001.
AFFECTED PARTIES: Non-profit in state biomedical research labs.

NEW RULE: Applied Technology Development Centers
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 5 MRSA § 15321
PURPOSE: These rules establish the criteria for grants and program operation for targeted technology incubators.
ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE: Public hearing and adoption fall of 2000.
AFFECTED PARTIES: Municipalities, economic development organizations, communities and businesses

CHAPTER 400: Employment Tax Increment Financing
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 36 MRSA §6759
PURPOSE: Align the rule with current statue and other technical adjustments
ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE: Fall of 2000
AFFECTED PARTIES: Companies using or eligible for ETIF, State Agencies, Economic Development Consultants.

AGENCY UMBRELLA-UNIT NUMBER: 19-498
AGENCY NAME: Office of Community Development

CHAPTER 20: Program Statement for Administering the 2001 Community Development Block Grant Program
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 5 MRSA §13058, subsection 3
PURPOSE: The rule outlines the procedures by which DECD will administer the Community Development Block Grant Program and allows DECD to administer the federal grant funds in a timely and efficient manner.
ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE: Notice of proposed rule in August 2000, public hearings in August of 2000 and adoption in September 2000.
AFFECTED PARTIES: The beneficiaries are Maine's cities and towns (excluding Auburn, Bangor, Lewiston and Portland) and primarily persons of low and moderate income.

CHAPTER 21: Program Statement for Administering the 2002 Community Development Block Grant Program
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 5 MRSA §13058, subsection 3
PURPOSE: The rule outlines the procedures by which DECD will administer the Community Development Block Grant Program and allows DECD to administer the federal grant funds in a timely and efficient manner.
ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE: Notice of proposed rule in August 2001, public hearings in August of 2001 and adoption in September 2001.
AFFECTED PARTIES: The beneficiaries are Maine's cities and towns (excluding Auburn, Bangor, Lewiston and Portland) and primarily persons of low and moderate income.

NEW RULE: Regional Economic Development Assistance Fund
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: MRSA § 13073
PURPOSE: These rules define the criteria and proposal process for application to the Regional Economic Development Assistance Fund to provide operational support to new and early stage economic development programs.
ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE: Late summer, early fall of 2000
AFFECTED PARTIES: New and early stage community based economic development organizations.

AGENCY UMBRELLA-UNIT NUMBER: 19-499
AGENCY NAME: Office of Business Development

NEW RULE: Maine Micro-enterprise Initiative
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 5 MRSA §13063 D-H
PURPOSE: The rule defines criteria and proposal process for the Maine Micro-enterprise Initiative to provide grants for community based non-profit organization to provide technical assistance and training assistance to businesses employing less than 10 people.
ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE: Rule adoption will be fall of 2000.
AFFECTED PARTIES: Community based non-profits who offer training and technical assistance to micro-enterprises.