A corporation not for profit may be organized in the manner provided in section 1702.04 of the Revised Code, and as provided in sections 1724.01 to 1724.09, inclusive, of the Revised Code, for the sole purpose of advancing, encouraging, and promoting the industrial, economic, commercial, and civic development of a community or area.

Effective Date: 08-17-1961

In furtherance of the purposes set forth in section 1724.01 of the Revised Code, the corporation shall have the following powers:

(A) To borrow money for any of the purposes of the corporation; to issue therefor its bonds, debentures, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness, whether secured or unsecured, and to secure the same by mortgage, pledge, deed of trust, or other lien on its property, franchises, rights, and privileges of every kind and nature or any part thereof or interest therein;

(B) To make loans to any person, firm, partnership, corporation, joint stock company, association, or trust, and to establish and regulate the terms and conditions with respect to any such loans; provided the corporation shall not approve any application for a loan unless and until the person applying for said loan shows that the person has applied for the loan through ordinary banking or commercial channels and that the loan has been refused by at least one bank or other financial institution;

(C) To purchase, receive, hold, lease, or otherwise acquire and to sell, convey, transfer, lease, sublease, or otherwise dispose of real and personal property, together with such rights and privileges as may be incidental and appurtenant thereto and the use thereof, including but not restricted to, any real or personal property acquired by the corporation from time to time in the satisfaction of debts or enforcement of obligations;

(D) To acquire the good will, business, rights, real and personal property, and other assets, or any part thereof, or interest therein, of any persons, firms, partnerships, corporations, joint stock companies, associations, or trusts, and to assume, undertake, or pay the obligations, debts, and liabilities of any such person, firm, partnership, corporation, joint stock company, association, or trust; to acquire improved or unimproved real estate for the purpose of constructing industrial plants or other business establishments thereon or for the purpose of disposing of such real estate to others in whole or in part for the construction of industrial plants or other business establishments; and to acquire, construct or reconstruct, alter, repair, maintain, operate, sell, convey, transfer, lease, sublease, or otherwise dispose of industrial plants or business establishments;

(E) To acquire, subscribe for, own, hold, sell, assign, transfer, mortgage, pledge, or otherwise dispose of the stock, shares, bonds, debentures, notes, or other securities and evidences of interest in, or indebtedness of, any person, firm, corporation, joint stock company, association, or trust, and while the owner or holder thereof, to exercise all the rights, powers, and privileges of ownership, including the right to vote therein;

(F) To mortgage, pledge, or otherwise encumber any property acquired pursuant to the powers contained in divisions (C), (D), or (E) of this section;

(G) Nothing in this section shall limit the right of a corporation to become a member of or a stockholder in an improvement corporation formed under Chapter 1726. of the Revised Code;

(H) To serve as an agent for grant applications and for the administration of grants;

(I) To do all acts and things necessary or convenient to carry out the powers especially created in Chapter 1724. of the Revised Code.

Effective Date: 08-29-2003

Effective Date: 11-01-1965

When the articles of incorporation of any community improvement corporation, or any amendment, amended articles, merger, or consolidation which provides for the creation of such a corporation, are deposited for filing and recording in the office of the secretary of state, the secretary of state shall submit them to the attorney general for examination. If such articles, amendment, amended articles, merger, or consolidation, are found by the attorney general to be in accordance with Chapter 1724. of the Revised Code, and not inconsistent with the constitution and laws of the United States and of this state, he shall endorse thereon his approval and deliver them to the secretary of state, who shall file and record them pursuant to section 1702.07 of the Revised Code.

Effective Date: 08-17-1961

Each community improvement corporation shall prepare an annual financial report that conforms to rules prescribed by the auditor of state pursuant to section 117.20 of the Revised Code, that is prepared according to generally accepted accounting principles, and that is certified by the board of trustees of the corporation or its treasurer or other chief fiscal officer. The financial report shall be filed with the auditor of state within one hundred twenty days following the last day of the corporation’s fiscal year, unless the auditor of state extends that deadline. The auditor of state may establish terms and conditions for granting any extension of that deadline.

Each community improvement corporation shall submit to audits by the auditor of state, the scope and frequency of which shall be in accordance with section 117.11 of the Revised Code as if the corporation were a public office subject to that section. However, a community improvement corporation may request in accordance with section 115.56 of the Revised Code, as if the corporation were a public office subject to that section, the performance of any of those audits by an independent certified public accountant.

The auditor of state is authorized to receive and file the annual financial reports required by this section and the reports of all audits performed in accordance with this section. The auditor of state shall analyze those annual financial reports and the reports of those audits to determine whether the activities of the community improvement corporation involved are in accordance with this chapter.

Effective Date: 03-12-2001

If any community improvement corporation fails to prepare an annual financial report as required by section 1724.05 of the Revised Code and to file that report with the auditor of state within ninety days of the time prescribed for that filing by that section, or if the auditor of state determines by applying the standards applicable to a public office under section 117.41 of the Revised Code that any community improvement corporation cannot be audited and declares it to be unauditable and the corporation fails to then prepare an annual financial report as required by section 1724.05 of the Revised Code and to file that report with the auditor of state within ninety days of the time that the auditor of state declared the corporation to be unauditable, the auditor of state shall certify that fact to the secretary of state. The secretary of state then shall cancel the articles of the community improvement corporation involved by filing and recording the certificate of the auditor of state or a true copy of it. All of the rights, privileges, and franchises conferred upon that community improvement corporation by those articles of incorporation then shall cease. The secretary of state shall immediately notify that community improvement corporation of the action taken. Reinstatement may be accomplished within two years after that cancellation upon proper filing of all delinquent annual financial reports to the satisfaction of the auditor of state and the filing of the auditor of state’s certificate reflecting that satisfaction with the secretary of state, who shall be entitled to a fee of ten dollars for recording the certificate in the corporate records. That filing may be made by any officer, member, creditor, receiver, lessee, or sublessee of the community improvement corporation involved, and any such person or agent of any such person shall be granted access to the books and records of the corporation for that purpose. The rights, privileges, and franchises of a community improvement corporation whose articles have been reinstated are subject to section 1702.60 of the Revised Code.

Effective Date: 03-12-2001

In the event of any voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation, or failure to reinstate the articles after cancellation of the corporation, any remaining assets shall be applied to such civic projects or public charitable purposes in the community or area as may be determined by the trustees with the approval of the court of common pleas of the county wherein the corporation has its principal place of business.

Effective Date: 08-17-1961

The provisions of Chapter 1702. of the Revised Code are applicable to corporations organized under Chapter 1724. of the Revised Code to the extent they are not inconsistent herewith.

Effective Date: 08-17-1961

Any corporation organized prior to August 17, 1961 and having similar purposes may be brought under Chapter 1724. of the Revised Code by the required vote of its members or shareholders adopting amended articles of incorporation. Said amended articles of incorporation shall provide for a change in the corporate title and powers in conformity with Chapter 1724. of the Revised Code and shall contain a statement that the amended articles supersede the existing articles of incorporation. In the case of any corporation organized with shares of stock, the amended articles of incorporation shall also provide for the cancellation of all outstanding shares and the terms and considerations, if any, for such cancellations.

Effective Date: 01-23-1963

A community improvement corporation may be designated by a county, one or more townships, one or more municipal corporations, two or more adjoining counties, or any combination of the foregoing as the agency of each such political subdivision for the industrial, commercial, distribution, and research development in such political subdivision when the legislative authority of such political subdivision has determined that the policy of the political subdivision is to promote the health, safety, morals, and general welfare of its inhabitants through the designation of a community improvement corporation as such agency. Such designation shall be made by the legislative authority of the political subdivision by resolution or ordinance. Any political subdivision which has designated a community improvement corporation as such agency may enter into an agreement with it to provide any one or more of the following:

(A) That the community improvement corporation shall prepare a plan for the political subdivision of industrial, commercial, distribution, and research development, and such plan shall provide therein the extent to which the community improvement corporation shall participate as the agency of the political subdivision in carrying out such plan. Such plan shall be confirmed by the legislative authority of the political subdivision. A community improvement corporation may insure mortgage payments required by a first mortgage on any industrial, economic, commercial, or civic property for which funds have been loaned by any person, corporation, bank, or financial or lending institution upon such terms and conditions as the community improvement corporation may prescribe. A community improvement corporation may incur debt, mortgage its property acquired under this section or otherwise, and issue its obligations, for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, improving, and equipping buildings, structures, and other properties, and acquiring sites therefor, for lease or sale by the community improvement corporation in order to carry out its participation in such plan. Any such debt shall be solely that of the corporation and shall not be secured by the pledge of any moneys received or to be received from any political subdivision. All revenue bonds issued under sections 1724.02 and 1724.10 of the Revised Code are lawful investments of banks, savings and loan associations, deposit guarantee associations, trust companies, trustees, fiduciaries, trustees or other officers having charge of sinking or bond retirement funds of municipal corporations and other subdivisions of the state, and of domestic insurance companies notwithstanding sections 3907.14 and 3925.08 of the Revised Code. Not less than two-fifths of the governing board of any community improvement corporation designated as the agency of one or more political subdivisions shall be composed of mayors, members of municipal legislative authorities, members of boards of township trustees, members of boards of county commissioners, or any other appointed or elected officers of such political subdivisions, provided that at least one officer from each political subdivision shall be a member of the governing board. Membership on the governing board of a community improvement corporation does not constitute the holding of a public office or employment within the meaning of sections 731.02 and 731.12 of the Revised Code or any other section of the Revised Code. Membership on such governing boards shall not constitute an interest, either direct or indirect, in a contract or expenditure of money by any municipal corporation, township, county, or other political subdivision. No member of such governing boards shall be disqualified from holding any public office or employment, nor shall such member forfeit any such office or employment, by reason of his membership on the governing board of a community improvement corporation notwithstanding any law to the contrary.

Actions taken under this section shall be in accordance with any applicable planning or zoning regulations.

Any agreement entered into under this section may be amended or supplemented from time to time by the parties thereto.

A community improvement corporation designated as the agency of a political subdivision under this section shall promote and encourage the establishment and growth in such subdivision of industrial, commercial, distribution, and research facilities.

(B) Authorization for the community improvement corporation to sell or to lease any lands or interests in lands owned by the political subdivision determined from time to time by the legislative authority thereof not to be required by such political subdivision for its purposes, for uses determined by the legislative authority as those that will promote the welfare of the people of the political subdivision, stabilize the economy, provide employment, and assist in the development of industrial, commercial, distribution, and research activities to the benefit of the people of the political subdivision and will provide additional opportunities for their gainful employment. The legislative authority shall specify the consideration for such sale or lease and any other terms thereof. Any determinations made by the legislative authority under this division shall be conclusive. The community improvement corporation acting through its officers and on behalf and as agent of the political subdivision shall execute the necessary instruments, including deeds conveying the title of the political subdivision or leases, to accomplish such sale or lease. Such conveyance or lease shall be made without advertising and receipt of bids. A copy of such agreement shall be recorded in the office of the county recorder of any county in which lands or interests in lands to be sold or leased are situated prior to the recording of a deed or lease executed pursuant to such agreement. The county recorder shall charge the same fee for the recording, indexing, or making of a certified copy thereof as provided in section 317.32 of the Revised Code.

(C) That the political subdivision executing the agreement will convey to the community improvement corporation lands and interests in lands owned by the political subdivision and determined by the legislative authority thereof not to be required by the political subdivision for its purposes and that such conveyance of such land or interests in land will promote the welfare of the people of the political subdivision, stabilize the economy, provide employment, and assist in the development of industrial, commercial, distribution, and research activities to the benefit of the people of the political subdivision and provide additional opportunities for their gainful employment, for the consideration and upon the terms established in the agreement, and further that as the agency for development the community improvement corporation may acquire from others additional lands or interests in lands, and any lands or interests in land so conveyed by it for uses that will promote the welfare of the people of the political subdivision, stabilize the economy, provide employment, and assist in the development of industrial, commercial, distribution, and research activities required for the people of the political subdivision and for their gainful employment. Any conveyance or lease by the political subdivision to the community improvement corporation shall be made without advertising and receipt of bids. If any lands or interests in land conveyed by a political subdivision under this division are sold by the community improvement corporation at a price in excess of the consideration received by the political subdivision from the community improvement corporation, such excess shall be paid to such political subdivision after deducting, to the extent and in the manner provided in the agreement, the costs of such acquisition and sale, taxes, assessments, costs of maintenance, costs of improvements to the land by the community improvement corporation, service fees, and any debt service charges of the corporation attributable to such land or interests.

Effective Date: 07-01-1993

(A) When a community improvement corporation is acting as an agent of a political subdivision designated pursuant to section 1724.10 of the Revised Code, both of the following apply:

(1) Any financial and proprietary information, including trade secrets, submitted by or on behalf of an entity to the community improvement corporation in connection with the relocation, location, expansion, improvement, or preservation of the business of that entity held or kept by the community improvement corporation, or by any political subdivision for which the community improvement corporation is acting as agent, is confidential information and is not a public record subject to section 149.43 of the Revised Code.

(2) Any other information submitted by or on behalf of an entity to the community improvement corporation in connection with the relocation, location, expansion, improvement, or preservation of the business of that entity held or kept by the community improvement corporation, or by any political subdivision for which the community improvement corporation is acting as agent, is confidential information and is not a public record subject to section 149.43 of the Revised Code, until the entity commits in writing to proceed with the relocation, location, expansion, improvement, or preservation of its business.

(B)(1) When the board of trustees of a community improvement corporation or any committee or subcommittee of such a board meets to consider information that is not a public record pursuant to division (A) of this section, the board, committee, or subcommittee, by unanimous vote of all members present, may close the meeting during consideration of the confidential information. The board, committee, or subcommittee shall consider no other information during the closed session.

(2) Any meeting at which a decision or determination of the board is made in connection with the relocation, location, expansion, improvement, or preservation of the business of the entity shall be open to the public.

Effective Date: 05-17-2000

Middletown Economic Development Corp. will close its doors at the end of March.

Middletown officials have decided to cease funding the group, which acted as the city's economic development arm, as they rethink their approach to development, said Bill Becker, interim city manager. The city has provided between $100,000 and $150,000 annually for the group's budget for the more than three years since its inception, he said.

"City Council has directed that one of its priorities is economic development," he said. "They want to take a new approach."

He said council has appointed an independent committee to find the best way for the city to continue its economic development efforts, including possibly expanding the city's development department. Becker said the committee's report is expected within the next few weeks.

"I think there's some frustration within the Middletown community that they're not getting their piece of the economic development pie," said Brian Coughlin, Butler County's economic development director. "They're planning out and laying out their future. I think they just want a clean sheet of paper to work from."

Larry Wood, the development group's only director in its short history, was involved in creating the organization out of the previous 40-year-old Middletown Area Development Enterprise Corp. Middletown Economic Development Corp. started as a joint project between the city and The Chamber of Commerce Serving Middletown, Monroe and Trenton, though the city was the primary funding source.

Wood said he does not know what the city plans to do about its economic development efforts.

"I've only been told that they've decided to do something different," he said.

Becker said city leaders are hoping a change will boost development throughout the city at a time when it needs it most. In the past three to four years, Middletown lost nearly 1,000 jobs when several companies, including paper manufacturers Sorg Paper Co. and Crystal Tissue, closed their doors. And AK Steel has cut more than 200 workers in just the past few months.

"We're struggling here in Middletown, as are most other older cities," Becker said. "We need to look at different avenues to best support Middletown."

Coughlin said the potential development expected to follow the construction of the new Middletown Regional Hospital represents the future of Middletown. Hospital officials expect the new location to cost between $100 million and $200 million. Work is slated to begin this spring and to be completed by early 2008.

"(The city) is facing some financial difficulties and some difficult choices, but if they can hang on until the hospital opens, they'll have a tremendous, new development engine, especially with all the ancillary development that will spring up around it," he said. "I believe the future of Middletown is on the east side."