Statutes > Illinois Statutes > CHAPTER 20 EXECUTIVE BRANCH > 20 ILCS 655/ Illinois Enterprise Zone Act.

20 ILCS 655/ Illinois Enterprise Zone Act.

    (20 ILCS 655/1) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 601)
    Sec. 1. This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Illinois Enterprise Zone Act".
(Source: P.A. 82‑1019.)

    (20 ILCS 655/2) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 602)
    Sec. 2. The General Assembly finds and declares that the health, safety and welfare of the people of this State are dependent upon a healthy economy and vibrant communities; that the continual encouragement, development, growth and expansion of the private sector within the State requires a cooperative and continuous partnership between government and the private sector; and that there are certain depressed areas in this State that need the particular attention of government, business, labor and the citizens of Illinois to help attract private sector investment into these areas and directly aid the local community and its residents. Therefore, it is declared to be the purpose of this Act to explore ways and means of stimulating business and industrial growth and retention in depressed areas and stimulating neighborhood revitalization of depressed areas of the State by means of relaxed government controls and tax incentives in those areas.
(Source: P.A. 82‑1019.)

    (20 ILCS 655/3)(from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 603)
    Sec. 3. Definition. As used in this Act, the following words shall have the meanings ascribed to them, unless the context otherwise requires:
    (a) "Department" means the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
    (b) "Enterprise Zone" means an area of the State certified by the Department as an Enterprise Zone pursuant to this Act.
    (c) "Depressed Area" means an area in which pervasive poverty, unemployment and economic distress exist.
    (d) "Designated Zone Organization" means an association or entity: (1) the members of which are substantially all residents of the Enterprise Zone; (2) the board of directors of which is elected by the members of the organization; (3) which satisfies the criteria set forth in Section 501(c) (3) or 501(c) (4) of the Internal Revenue Code; and (4) which exists primarily for the purpose of performing within such area or zone for the benefit of the residents and businesses thereof any of the functions set forth in Section 8 of this Act.
    (e) "Agency" means each officer, board, commission and agency created by the Constitution, in the executive branch of State government, other than the State Board of Elections; each officer, department, board, commission, agency, institution, authority, university, body politic and corporate of the State; and each administrative unit or corporate outgrowth of the State government which is created by or pursuant to statute, other than units of local government and their officers, school districts and boards of election commissioners; each administrative unit or corporate outgrowth of the above and as may be created by executive order of the Governor. No entity shall be considered an "agency" for the purposes of this Act unless authorized by law to make rules or regulations.
    (f) "Rule" means each agency statement of general applicability that implements, applies, interprets or prescribes law or policy, but does not include (i) statements concerning only the internal management of an agency and not affecting private rights or procedures available to persons or entities outside the agency, (ii) intra‑agency memoranda, or (iii) the prescription of standardized forms.
(Source: P.A. 94‑793, eff. 5‑19‑06.)

    (20 ILCS 655/4) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 604)
    Sec. 4. Qualifications for Enterprise Zones. (1) An area is qualified to become an enterprise zone which:
    (a) is a contiguous area, provided that a zone area may exclude wholly surrounded territory within its boundaries;
    (b) comprises a minimum of one‑half square mile and not more than 12 square miles, or 15 square miles if the zone is located within the jurisdiction of 4 or more counties or municipalities, in total area, exclusive of lakes and waterways; however, in such cases where the enterprise zone is a joint effort of three or more units of government, or two or more units of government if situated in a township which is divided by a municipality of 1,000,000 or more inhabitants, and where the certification has been in effect at least one year, the total area shall comprise a minimum of one‑half square mile and not more than thirteen square miles in total area exclusive of lakes and waterways;
    (c) is a depressed area;
    (d) satisfies any additional criteria established by regulation of the Department consistent with the purposes of this Act; and
    (e) is (1) entirely within a municipality or (2) entirely within the unincorporated areas of a county, except where reasonable need is established for such zone to cover portions of more than one municipality or county or (3) both comprises (i) all or part of a municipality and (ii) an unincorporated area of a county.
    (2) Any criteria established by the Department or by law which utilize the rate of unemployment for a particular area shall provide that all persons who are not presently employed and have exhausted all unemployment benefits shall be considered unemployed, whether or not such persons are actively seeking employment.
(Source: P.A. 86‑803.)

    (20 ILCS 655/5) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 605)
    Sec. 5. Initiation of Enterprise Zones by Municipality or County. (a) No area may be designated as an enterprise zone except pursuant to an initiating ordinance adopted in accordance with this Section.
    (b) A county or municipality may by ordinance designate an area within its jurisdiction as an enterprise zone, subject to the certification of the Department in accordance with this Act, if:
    (i) the area is qualified in accordance with Section 4; and
    (ii) the county or municipality has conducted at least one public hearing within the proposed zone area on the question of whether to create the zone, what local plans, tax incentives and other programs should be established in connection with the zone, and what the boundaries of the zone should be; public notice of such hearing shall be published in at least one newspaper of general circulation within the zone area, not more than 20 days nor less than 5 days before the hearing.
    (c) An ordinance designating an area as an enterprise zone shall set forth:
    (i) a precise description of the area comprising the zone, either in the form of a legal description or by reference to roadways, lakes and waterways, and township, county boundaries;
    (ii) a finding that the zone area meets the qualifications of Section 4;
    (iii) provisions for any tax incentives or reimbursement for taxes, which pursuant to state and federal law apply to business enterprises within the zone at the election of the designating county or municipality, and which are not applicable throughout the county or municipality;
    (iv) a designation of the area as an enterprise zone, subject to the approval of the Department in accordance with this Act;
    (v) the duration or term of the enterprise zone.
    (d) This Section does not prohibit a municipality or county from extending additional tax incentives or reimbursement for business enterprises in Enterprise Zones or throughout their territory by separate ordinance.
    (e) No county or municipality located within the Metro East Mass Transit District which adopts an ordinance designating an area within the District as an Enterprise Zone shall provide for any exemption, deduction, credit, refund or abatement of any taxes imposed by the Metro East Mass Transit District Board of Trustees under Section 5.01 of the "Local Mass Transit District Act", approved July 21, 1959, as amended.
    (f) The Department shall encourage applications from all areas of the State and shall actively solicit applications from those counties with populations of less than 300,000.
(Source: P.A. 85‑870.)

    (20 ILCS 655/5.1) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 606)
    Sec. 5.1. Application to Department. A county or municipality which has adopted an ordinance designating an area as an enterprise zone shall make written application to the Department to have such proposed enterprise zone certified by the Department as an Enterprise Zone. The application shall include:
    (i) a certified copy of the ordinance designating the proposed zone;
    (ii) a map of the proposed enterprise zone, showing existing streets and highways;
    (iii) an analysis, and any appropriate supporting documents and statistics, demonstrating that the proposed zone area is qualified in accordance with Section 4;
    (iv) a statement detailing any tax, grant, and other financial incentives or benefits, and any programs, to be provided by the municipality or county to business enterprises within the zone, other than those provided in the designating ordinance, which are not to be provided throughout the municipality or county;
    (v) a statement setting forth the economic development and planning objectives for the zone;
    (vi) a statement describing the functions, programs, and services to be performed by designated zone organizations within the zone;
    (vii) an estimate of the economic impact of the zone, considering all of the tax incentives, financial benefits and programs contemplated, upon the revenues of the municipality or county;
    (viii) a transcript of all public hearings on the zone;
    (ix) in the case of a joint application, a statement detailing the need for a zone covering portions of more than one municipality or county and a description of the agreement between joint applicants; and
    (x) such additional information as the Department by regulation may require.
(Source: P.A. 82‑1019.)

    (20 ILCS 655/5.2) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 607)
    Sec. 5.2. Department Review of Enterprise Zone Applications. (a) All applications which are to be considered and acted upon by the Department during a calendar year must be received by the Department no later than December 31 of the preceding calendar year.
    Any application received on or after January 1 of any calendar year shall be held by the Department for consideration and action during the following calendar year.
    (b) Upon receipt of an application from a county or municipality the Department shall review the application to determine whether the designated area qualifies as an enterprise zone under Section 4 of this Act.
    (c) No later than May 1, the Department shall notify all applicant municipalities and counties of the Department's determination of the qualification of their respective designated enterprise zone areas.
    (d) If any such designated area is found to be qualified to be an enterprise zone, the Department shall, no later than May 15, publish a notice in at least one newspaper of general circulation within the proposed zone area to notify the general public of the application and their opportunity to comment. Such notice shall include a description of the area and a brief summary of the application and shall indicate locations where the applicant has provided copies of the application for public inspection. The notice shall also indicate appropriate procedures for the filing of written comments from zone residents, business, civic and other organizations and property owners to the Department.
    (e) By July 1 of each calendar year, the Department shall either approve or deny all applications filed by December 31 of the preceding calendar year. If approval of an application filed by December 31 of any calendar year is not received by July 1 of the following calendar year, the application shall be considered denied. If an application is denied, the Department shall inform the county or municipality of the specific reasons for the denial.
    (f) Preference in Designation. In determining which designated areas shall be approved and certified as Enterprise Zones, the Department shall give preference to:
    (1) Areas with high levels of poverty, unemployment, job and population loss, and general distress; and
    (2) Areas which have evidenced with widest support from the county or municipality seeking to have such areas designated as Enterprise Zones, community residents, local business, labor and neighborhood organizations and where there are plans for the disposal of publicly owned real property as described in Section 10; and
    (3) Areas for which a specific plan has been submitted to effect economic growth and expansion and neighborhood revitalization for the benefit of Zone residents and existing business through efforts which may include but need not be limited to a reduction of tax rates or fees, an increase in the level and efficiency of local services, and a simplification or streamlining of governmental requirements applicable to employers or employees, taking into account the resources available to the county or municipality seeking to have an area designated as an Enterprise Zone to make such efforts; and
    (4) Areas for which there is evidence of prior consultation between the county or municipality seeking designation of an area as an Enterprise Zone and business, labor and neighborhood organizations within the proposed Zone;
    (5) Areas for which a specific plan has been submitted which will or may be expected to benefit zone residents and workers by increasing their ownership opportunities and participation in enterprise zone development;
    (6) Areas in which specific governmental functions are to be performed by designated neighborhood organizations in partnership with the county or municipality seeking designation of an area as an Enterprise Zone.
    (g) At least 2/5 of all new enterprise zones approved and certified by the Department during any calendar year shall be located wholly or partially within counties with unemployment rates of or above 8% for at least one month during the 12‑month calendar year preceding the calendar year in which the applications are to be considered and acted upon by the Department.
    (h) The Department's determination of whether to certify an enterprise zone shall be based on the purposes of this Act, the criteria set forth in Section 4 and subsections (f) and (g) of Section 5.2, and any additional criteria adopted by regulation of the Department under paragraph (d) of Section 4.
(Source: P.A. 85‑870.)

    (20 ILCS 655/5.3) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 608)
    Sec. 5.3. Certification of Enterprise Zones; Effective date.
    (a) Approval of designated Enterprise Zones shall be made by the Department by certification of the designating ordinance. The Department shall promptly issue a certificate for each Enterprise Zone upon its approval. The certificate shall be signed by the Director of the Department, shall make specific reference to the designating ordinance, which shall be attached thereto, and shall be filed in the office of the Secretary of State. A certified copy of the Enterprise Zone Certificate, or a duplicate original thereof, shall be recorded in the office of recorder of deeds of the county in which the Enterprise Zone lies.
    (b) An Enterprise Zone shall be effective upon its certification. The Department shall transmit a copy of the certification to the Department of Revenue, and to the designating municipality or county.
    Upon certification of an Enterprise Zone, the terms and provisions of the designating ordinance shall be in effect, and may not be amended or repealed except in accordance with Section 5.4.
    (c) An Enterprise Zone shall be in effect for 30 calendar years, or for a lesser number of years specified in the certified designating ordinance. Enterprise Zones shall terminate at midnight of December 31 of the final calendar year of the certified term, except as provided in Section 5.4.
    (d) No more than 12 Enterprise Zones may be certified by the Department in calendar year 1984, no more than 12 Enterprise Zones may be certified by the Department in calendar year 1985, no more than 13 Enterprise Zones may be certified by the Department in calendar year 1986, no more than 15 Enterprise Zones may be certified by the Department in calendar year 1987, and no more than 20 Enterprise Zones may be certified by the Department in calendar year 1990. In other calendar years, no more than 13 Enterprise Zones may be certified by the Department. The Department may also designate up to 8 additional Enterprise Zones outside the regular application cycle if warranted by the extreme economic circumstances as determined by the Department. The Department may also designate one additional Enterprise Zone outside the regular application cycle if an aircraft manufacturer agrees to locate an aircraft manufacturing facility in the proposed Enterprise Zone. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, no more than 89 Enterprise Zones may be certified by the Department for the 10 calendar years commencing with 1983. The 7 additional Enterprise Zones authorized by Public Act 86‑15 shall not lie within municipalities or unincorporated areas of counties that abut or are contiguous to Enterprise Zones certified pursuant to this Section prior to June 30, 1989. The 7 additional Enterprise Zones (excluding the additional Enterprise Zone which may be designated outside the regular application cycle) authorized by Public Act 86‑1030 shall not lie within municipalities or unincorporated areas of counties that abut or are contiguous to Enterprise Zones certified pursuant to this Section prior to February 28, 1990. Beginning in calendar year 2004 and until December 31, 2008, one additional enterprise zone may be certified by the Department. In any calendar year, the Department may not certify more than 3 Zones located within the same municipality. The Department may certify Enterprise Zones in each of the 10 calendar years commencing with 1983. The Department may not certify more than a total of 18 Enterprise Zones located within the same county (whether within municipalities or within unincorporated territory) for the 10 calendar years commencing with 1983. Thereafter, the Department may not certify any additional Enterprise Zones, but may amend and rescind certifications of existing Enterprise Zones in accordance with Section 5.4.
    (e) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if (i) the county board of any county in which a current military base is located, in part or in whole, or in which a military base that has been closed within 20 years of the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1998 is located, in part or in whole, adopts a designating ordinance in accordance with Section 5 of this Act to designate the military base in that county as an enterprise zone and (ii) the property otherwise meets the qualifications for an enterprise zone as prescribed in Section 4 of this Act, then the Department may certify the designating ordinance or ordinances, as the case may be.
(Source: P.A. 92‑16, eff. 6‑28‑01; 92‑777, eff. 1‑1‑03; 93‑436, eff. 1‑1‑04.)

    (20 ILCS 655/5.4) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 609)
    Sec. 5.4. Amendment and Decertification of Enterprise Zones.
    (a) The terms of a certified enterprise zone designating ordinance may be amended to
        (i) alter the boundaries of the Enterprise Zone, or
        (ii) expand, limit or repeal tax incentives or
     benefits provided in the ordinance, or
        (iii) alter the termination date of the zone, or
        (iv) make technical corrections in the enterprise
     zone designating ordinance; but such amendment shall not be effective unless the Department issues an amended certificate for the Enterprise Zone, approving the amended designating ordinance. Upon the adoption of any ordinance amending or repealing the terms of a certified enterprise zone designating ordinance, the municipality or county shall promptly file with the Department an application for approval thereof, containing substantially the same information as required for an application under Section 5.1 insofar as material to the proposed changes. The municipality or county must hold a public hearing on the proposed changes as specified in Section 5 and, if the amendment is to effectuate the limitation of tax abatements under Section 5.4.1, then the public notice of the hearing shall state that property that is in both the enterprise zone and a redevelopment project area may not receive tax abatements unless within 60 days after the adoption of the amendment to the designating ordinance the municipality has determined that eligibility for tax abatements has been established,
        (v) include an area within another municipality or
     county as part of the designated enterprise zone provided the requirements of Section 4 are complied with, or
        (vi) effectuate the limitation of tax abatements
     under Section 5.4.1.
    (b) The Department shall approve or disapprove a proposed amendment to a certified enterprise zone within 90 days of its receipt of the application from the municipality or county. The Department may not approve changes in a Zone which are not in conformity with this Act, as now or hereafter amended, or with other applicable laws. If the Department issues an amended certificate for an Enterprise Zone, the amended certificate, together with the amended zone designating ordinance, shall be filed, recorded and transmitted as provided in Section 5.3.
    (c) An Enterprise Zone may be decertified by joint action of the Department and the designating county or municipality in accordance with this Section. The designating county or municipality shall conduct at least one public hearing within the zone prior to its adoption of an ordinance of de‑designation. The mayor of the designating municipality or the chairman of the county board of the designating county shall execute a joint decertification agreement with the Department. A decertification of an Enterprise Zone shall not become effective until at least 6 months after the execution of the decertification agreement, which shall be filed in the office of the Secretary of State.
    (d) An Enterprise Zone may be decertified for cause by the Department in accordance with this Section. Prior to decertification: (1) the Department shall notify the chief elected official of the designating county or municipality in writing of the specific deficiencies which provide cause for decertification; (2) the Department shall place the designating county or municipality on probationary status for at least 6 months during which time corrective action may be achieved in the enterprise zone by the designating county or municipality; and, (3) the Department shall conduct at least one public hearing within the zone. If such corrective action is not achieved during the probationary period, the Department shall issue an amended certificate signed by the Director of the Department decertifying the enterprise zone, which certificate shall be filed in the office of the Secretary of State. A certified copy of the amended enterprise zone certificate, or a duplicate original thereof, shall be recorded in the office of recorder of the county in which the enterprise zone lies, and shall be provided to the chief elected official of the designating county or municipality. Decertification of an Enterprise Zone shall not become effective until 60 days after the date of filing.
    (e) In the event of a decertification, or an amendment reducing the length of the term or the area of an Enterprise Zone or the adoption of an ordinance reducing or eliminating tax benefits in an Enterprise Zone, all benefits previously extended within the Zone pursuant to this Act or pursuant to any other Illinois law providing benefits specifically to or within Enterprise Zones shall remain in effect for the original stated term of the Enterprise Zone, with respect to business enterprises within the Zone on the effective date of such decertification or amendment, and with respect to individuals participating in urban homestead programs under this Act.
    (f) Except as otherwise provided in Section 5.4.1, with respect to business enterprises (or expansions thereof) which are proposed or under development within a Zone at the time of a decertification or an amendment reducing the length of the term of the Zone, or excluding from the Zone area the site of the proposed enterprise, or an ordinance reducing or eliminating tax benefits in a Zone, such business enterprise shall be entitled to the benefits previously applicable within the Zone for the original stated term of the Zone, if the business enterprise establishes:
        (i) that the proposed business enterprise or
     expansion has been committed to be located within the Zone;
        (ii) that substantial and binding financial
     obligations have been made towards the development of such enterprise; and
        (iii) that such commitments have been made in
     reasonable reliance on the benefits and programs which were to have been applicable to the enterprise by reason of the Zone, including in the case of a reduction in term of a zone, the original length of the term.
    In declaratory judgment actions under this paragraph, the Department and the designating municipality or county shall be necessary parties defendant.
(Source: P.A. 90‑258, eff. 7‑30‑97.)

    (20 ILCS 655/5.4.1)
    Sec. 5.4.1. Adoption of Tax Increment Financing.
    (a) If (i) a redevelopment project area is, will be, or has been created by a municipality under Division 74.4 of the Illinois Municipal Code, (ii) the redevelopment project area contains property that is located in an enterprise zone, (iii) the municipality adopts an amendment to the enterprise zone designating ordinance pursuant to Section 5.4 of this Act specifically concerning the abatement of taxes on property located within a redevelopment project area created pursuant to Division 74.4 of the Illinois Municipal Code, and (iv) the Department certifies the ordinance amendment, then the property that is located in both the enterprise zone and the redevelopment project area shall not be eligible for the abatement of taxes under Section 18‑170 of the Property Tax Code.
    No business enterprise or expansion or individual, however, that has constructed a new improvement or renovated or rehabilitated an existing improvement and has received an abatement on the improvement under Section 18‑170 of the Property Tax Code shall be denied any benefit previously extended within the zone pursuant to this Act or pursuant to any other Illinois law providing benefits specifically to or within enterprise zones. Moreover, if the business enterprise or individual presents evidence to the municipality within 30 days after the adoption by the municipality of an amendment to the designating ordinance the sufficiency of which shall be determined by findings of the corporate authorities made within 30 days of the receipt of such evidence by the municipality, that before the date of the notice of the public hearing provided by the municipality regarding the amendment to the designating ordinance (i) the business enterprise or expansion or individual was committed to locate within the enterprise zone, (ii) substantial and binding financial obligations were made towards the development of the enterprise, and (iii) those commitments were made in reasonable reliance on the benefits and programs that were applicable to the enterprise or individual by reason of the enterprise zone, then the enterprise or expansion or individual shall not be denied any benefit previously extended within the zone pursuant to this Act or pursuant to any other Illinois law providing benefits specifically to or within enterprise zones.
    (b) This Section applies to all property located within both a redevelopment project area adopted under Division 74.4 of the Illinois Municipal Code and an enterprise zone even if the redevelopment project area or the enterprise zone was adopted before the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1997.
    (c) After July 1, 1997, if (i) a redevelopment project area is created by a municipality under Division 74.4 of the Illinois Municipal Code and (ii) the redevelopment project area contains property that is located in an enterprise zone, the municipality must adopt an amendment to the certified enterprise zone designating ordinance under Section 5.4 that property that is located in both the enterprise zone and the redevelopment project area shall not be eligible for any abatement of taxes under Section 18‑170 of the Property Tax Code for new improvements or the renovation or rehabilitation of existing improvements.
    (d) In declaratory judgment actions under this Section, the Department and the designating municipality shall be necessary parties defendant.
(Source: P.A. 90‑258, eff. 7‑30‑97.)

    (20 ILCS 655/5.5) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 609.1)
    Sec. 5.5. High Impact Business.
    (a) In order to respond to unique opportunities to assist in the encouragement, development, growth and expansion of the private sector through large scale investment and development projects, the Department is authorized to receive and approve applications for the designation of "High Impact Businesses" in Illinois subject to the following conditions:
        (1) such applications may be submitted at any time
     during the year;
        (2) such business is not located, at the time of
     designation, in an enterprise zone designated pursuant to this Act;
        (3) the business intends to do one or more of the
     following:
            (A) the business intends to make a minimum
         investment of $12,000,000 which will be placed in service in qualified property and intends to create 500 full‑time equivalent jobs at a designated location in Illinois or intends to make a minimum investment of $30,000,000 which will be placed in service in qualified property and intends to retain 1,500 full‑time jobs at a designated location in Illinois. The business must certify in writing that the investments would not be placed in service in qualified property and the job creation or job retention would not occur without the tax credits and exemptions set forth in subsection (b) of this Section. The terms "placed in service" and "qualified property" have the same meanings as described in subsection (h) of Section 201 of the Illinois Income Tax Act; or
            (B) the business intends to establish a new
         electric generating facility at a designated location in Illinois. "New electric generating facility", for purposes of this Section, means a newly‑constructed electric generation plant or a newly‑constructed generation capacity expansion at an existing electric generation plant, including the transmission lines and associated equipment that transfers electricity from points of supply to points of delivery, and for which such new foundation construction commenced not sooner than July 1, 2001. Such facility shall be designed to provide baseload electric generation and shall operate on a continuous basis throughout the year; and (i) shall have an aggregate rated generating capacity of at least 1,000 megawatts for all new units at one site if it uses natural gas as its primary fuel and foundation construction of the facility is commenced on or before December 31, 2004, or shall have an aggregate rated generating capacity of at least 400 megawatts for all new units at one site if it uses coal or gases derived from coal as its primary fuel and shall support the creation of at least 150 new Illinois coal mining jobs, or (ii) shall be funded through a federal Department of Energy grant before December 31, 2010 and shall support the creation of Illinois coal‑mining jobs, or (iii) shall use coal gasification or integrated gasification‑combined cycle units that generate electricity or chemicals, or both, and shall support the creation of Illinois coal‑mining jobs. The business must certify in writing that the investments necessary to establish a new electric generating facility would not be placed in service and the job creation in the case of a coal‑fueled plant would not occur without the tax credits and exemptions set forth in subsection (b‑5) of this Section. The term "placed in service" has the same meaning as described in subsection (h) of Section 201 of the Illinois Income Tax Act; or
            (B‑5) the business intends to establish a new
         gasification facility at a designated location in Illinois. As used in this Section, "new gasification facility" means a newly constructed coal gasification facility that generates chemical feedstocks or transportation fuels derived from coal (which may include, but are not limited to, methane, methanol, and nitrogen fertilizer), that supports the creation or retention of Illinois coal‑mining jobs, and that qualifies for financial assistance from the Department before December 31, 2010. A new gasification facility does not include a pilot project located within Jefferson County or within a county adjacent to Jefferson County for synthetic natural gas from coal; or
            (C) the business intends to establish production
         operations at a new coal mine, re‑establish production operations at a closed coal mine, or expand production at an existing coal mine at a designated location in Illinois not sooner than July 1, 2001; provided that the production operations result in the creation of 150 new Illinois coal mining jobs as described in subdivision (a)(3)(B) of this Section, and further provided that the coal extracted from such mine is utilized as the predominant source for a new electric generating facility. The business must certify in writing that the investments necessary to establish a new, expanded, or reopened coal mine would not be placed in service and the job creation would not occur without the tax credits and exemptions set forth in subsection (b‑5) of this Section. The term "placed in service" has the same meaning as described in subsection (h) of Section 201 of the Illinois Income Tax Act; or
            (D) the business intends to construct new
         transmission facilities or upgrade existing transmission facilities at designated locations in Illinois, for which construction commenced not sooner than July 1, 2001. For the purposes of this Section, "transmission facilities" means transmission lines with a voltage rating of 115 kilovolts or above, including associated equipment, that transfer electricity from points of supply to points of delivery and that transmit a majority of the electricity generated