ARTICLE 11. MISCELLANEOUS INSTITUTES AND CENTERS.

§18B-11-1. Center for regional progress created; director powers; mission and purpose.

[Repealed].

§18B-11-2. Institute for public affairs; creation and purposes.

(a) There is hereby created as an independent entity the institute for public affairs, to be located and operated at West Virginia University. The institute shall be under the control and supervision of a director, which position is to be filled by an individual whose credentials include accomplishments in the interdisciplinary academic fields and government. The director shall be appointed by the president of West Virginia University. The institute shall engage faculty from institutions of higher education throughout the state and shall cooperatively develop a program with other such institutions. The terms of such participation may be by contract, loan, part-time basis or other such arrangement.

(b) The institute is directed to conduct independent research and propose strategies and options on public issues and policies upon its own initiative or as may be requested by the executive or the Legislature.

(c) The institute is directed to seek all other funds, grants, and other sources of assistance from other agencies of government as well as the private sector.

(d) The director shall have administrative control and supervision of the institute.

§18B-11-3. Institute for international trade development; creation and purpose.

[Repealed].

§18B-11-4

Repealed

Acts, 2018 Reg. Sess., Ch. 105.

§18B-11-5.

Repealed.

Acts, 2008 Reg. Sess., Ch. 72.

§18B-11-6

Repealed

Acts, 2018 Reg. Sess., Ch. 105.

§18B-11-7. Regional Brownfield Assistance Centers.

(a) For the purposes of this section, "eligible entities" means government entities as defined by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, at 42 U.S.C. §9604 or nonprofit organizations as defined by the federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act at 31 U.S.C. §6101.

(b) Marshall University and West Virginia University each shall establish a nonprofit Regional Brownfield Assistance Center through the corporations set out in article twelve of this chapter for the purposes of expediting the redevelopment of Brownfield sites. The Centers shall provide assistance to eligible entities on state and federal Brownfield programs, secure state and federal funding for Brownfield redevelopment and acquire property eligible for state and federal Brownfield assistance.

(c) The Center established by Marshall University serves the following counties:

(1) McDowell, Mercer, Monroe, Raleigh, Summers and Wyoming;

(2) Cabell, Lincoln, Logan, Mason, Mingo and Wayne;

(3) Boone, Clay, Kanawha and Putnam; and

(4) Braxton, Fayette, Greenbrier, Nicholas, Pocahontas and Webster.

(d) The Center established by West Virginia University serves the following counties:

(1) Calhoun, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Tyler, Wirt and Wood;

(2) Brooke, Hancock, Marshall, Ohio and Wetzel;

(3) Barbour, Doddridge, Gilmer, Harrison, Lewis, Marion, Monongalia, Preston, Randolph, Taylor, Tucker and Upshur; and

(4) Berkeley, Grant, Hampshire, Hardy, Jefferson, Mineral, Morgan and Pendleton.

(e) To accomplish the purposes of this section, the Regional Brownfield Assistance Centers each have powers and duties including, but not limited to, the following:

(1) Acquiring property that is eligible for state and federal Brownfield assistance pursuant to the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act (Public Law No. 107-118, 185 stat. 2356) and the West Virginia Voluntary Remediation and Redevelopment Act established in article twenty-two, chapter twenty-two of this code;

(2) Serving as the developer of property or entering into partnerships, agreements or other contractual arrangements with other public or private entities for the purposes of managing and coordinating remediation and redevelopment activities;

(3) Preparing an inventory of Brownfield sites within their respective geographic regions by July 1, 2006, and updating the inventory of sites annually;

(4) Promoting and coordinating the development of Brownfield property by providing training and technical assistance on Brownfield development, grant writing, site assessments, remediation, community involvement and site preparation to eligible entities;

(5) Administering federal Brownfield Job Training Grants, the Brownfields Revolving Fund, and other federal Brownfield financial assistance programs to assist eligible entities in their Brownfield development efforts;

(6) Coordinating efforts to secure federal Brownfield funding by establishing priority rankings and by other necessary measures to maximize federal financial assistance and eliminate overlapping competition for federal dollars;

(7) Coordinating the development and publication by July 1, 2006, of a website to provide education and appropriate information on Brownfields development in West Virginia; and

(8) Coordinating with the West Virginia Development Office and the Department of Environmental Protection to establish and track key Brownfield economic statistics and conduct Brownfield conferences, as appropriate.