7-15-4279. Targeted economic development districts. (1) A local government may, by ordinance and following a public hearing, authorize the creation of a targeted economic development district in support of value-adding economic development projects. The purpose of the district is the development of infrastructure to encourage the location and retention of value-adding projects in the state.

(2) A targeted economic development district:

(a) must consist of a continuous area with an accurately described boundary that is large enough to host a diversified tenant base of multiple independent tenants;

(b) must be zoned:

(i) for uses by a local government under Title 76, chapter 2, part 2 or 3, in accordance with the area growth policy, as defined in 76-1-103; or

(ii) if a county has not adopted a growth policy, then for uses in accordance with the development pattern and zoning regulations or the development district adopted under Title 76, chapter 2, part 1;

(c) may not comprise any property included within an existing tax increment financing district;

(d) must, prior to its creation, be found to be deficient in infrastructure improvements as stated in the resolution of necessity adopted under 7-15-4280;

(e) must, prior to its creation, have in place a comprehensive development plan adopted by the local governments that ensures that the district can host a diversified tenant base of multiple independent tenants; and

(f) may not be designed to serve the needs of a single district tenant or group of nonindependent tenants.

(3) The local government may use tax increment financing pursuant to the provisions of 7-15-4282 through 7-15-4294 for the targeted economic development district. If the local government uses tax increment financing, the use of and purpose for tax increment financing must be specified in the comprehensive development plan required in subsection (2)(e). The plan must also describe how the expenditure of tax increment will promote the development of infrastructure to encourage the location and retention of value-adding projects in the targeted economic development district.

(4) For the purposes of 7-15-4277 through 7-15-4280:

(a) "secondary value-added products or commodities" means products or commodities that are manufactured, processed, produced, or created by changing the form of raw materials or intermediate products into more valuable products or commodities that are capable of being sold or traded in interstate commerce;

(b) "secondary value-adding industry" means a business that produces secondary value-added products or commodities or a business or organization that is engaged in technology-based operations within Montana that, through the employment of knowledge or labor, adds value to a product, process, or export service resulting in the creation of new wealth.