| This bill proposes to expand the employment tax increment |
| financing program by permitting businesses in high unemployment |
| labor markets to qualify for the Maine Employment Tax Increment |
| Financing Program with lower numbers of additional new qualified |
| employees. Under current law, at least 15 new qualified |
| employees are required. Under this bill, businesses in labor |
| market areas with above average unemployment may qualify for the |
| program with 10 additional qualified employees. Businesses in |
| labor market areas with unemployment greater than 150% of the |
| state average may qualify with 5 additional qualified employees. |
