§ 956. Statement of legislative findings and declaration. It is
hereby found and declared that there exist within the state certain
areas characterized by persistent and pervasive poverty, high
unemployment, limited new job creation, a dependence on public
assistance income, dilapidated and abandoned industrial and commercial
facilities, and shrinking tax bases. These severe conditions require
state government to target for these areas extraordinary economic and
human resource development programs in order to stimulate private
investment, private business development and job creation. It is the
public policy of the state to offer special incentives and assistance
that will promote the development of new businesses, the expansion of
existing businesses and the development of human resources within these
economically impoverished areas and to do so without encouraging the
relocation of business investment from other areas of the state. It is
further found and declared that it is the public policy of the state to
achieve these goals through the mutual cooperation of all levels of
state and local government and the business community.