(a) Port Enhancement Zone Defined. – A port enhancement zone is an area that meets all of the following conditions:

(1) It is comprised of part or all of one or more contiguous census tracts, census block groups, or both, in the most recent federal decennial census.

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Terms Used In North Carolina General Statutes 143B-437.013

  • following: when used by way of reference to any section of a statute, shall be construed to mean the section next preceding or next following that in which such reference is made; unless when some other section is expressly designated in such reference. See North Carolina General Statutes 12-3
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, shall be construed to extend to and include the District of Columbia and the several territories, so called; and the words "United States" shall be construed to include the said district and territories and all dependencies. See North Carolina General Statutes 12-3

(2) All of the area is located within 25 miles of a State port and is capable of being used to enhance port operations.

(3) Every census tract and census block group that comprises the area has at least eleven percent (11%) of households with incomes of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) or less.

(b) Limitations and Designation. – The area of a county that is included in one or more port enhancement zones shall not exceed five percent (5%) of the total area of the county. Upon application of a county, the Secretary of Commerce shall make a written determination whether an area is a port enhancement zone that satisfies the conditions of subsection (a) of this section. The application shall include all of the information listed in this subsection. A determination under this section is effective until December 31 of the year following the year in which the determination is made. The Department of Commerce shall publish annually a list of all port enhancement zones with a description of their boundaries.

(1) A map showing the census tracts and block groups that would comprise the zone.

(2) A detailed description of the boundaries of the area that would comprise the zone.

(3) A certification regarding the size of the proposed zone.

(4) Detailed census information on the county and the proposed zone.

(5) A resolution of the board of county commissioners requesting the designation of the area as a port enhancement zone.

(6) Any other material required by the Secretary of Commerce. (2011-302, s. 5; 2012-74, s. 6(a); 2012-187, s. 15.2(a).)