(1) The department of community, trade, and economic development shall:

     (a) Develop an application for designation of development projects as industrial projects of statewide significance. The application must be accompanied by a letter of approval from the legislative authority of any jurisdiction that will have the proposed industrial project of statewide significance within its boundaries. No designation of a project as an industrial project of statewide significance shall be made without such letter of approval. The letter of approval must state that the jurisdiction joins in the request for the designation of the project as one of statewide significance and has or will hire the professional staff that will be required to expedite the processes necessary to the completion of an industrial project of statewide significance. The application shall contain information regarding the location of the project, the applicant's average employment in the state for the prior year, estimated new employment related to the project, estimated wages of employees related to the project, estimated time schedules for completion and operation, and other information required by the department; and

     (b) Certify that the project meets or will meet the requirements of RCW 43.157.010 regarding designation as an industrial project of statewide significance.

     (2) The office of permit assistance shall assign a project facilitator or coordinator to each industrial project of statewide significance to: (a) Assist in the scoping and coordinating functions provided for in chapter 43.42 RCW; (b) assemble a team of state and local government and private officials to help meet the planning, permitting, and development needs of each project, which team shall include those responsible for planning, permitting and licensing, infrastructure development, workforce development services including higher education, transportation services, and the provision of utilities; and (c) work with each team member to expedite their actions in furtherance of the project.

[2003 c 54 § 3; 1997 c 369 § 4.]