(i) projects which are or will be located in empire zones designated pursuant to article eighteen-b of the general municipal law or in areas that meet, in accordance with the most recent census data available, the following criteria:

(A) the area must have a poverty rate of at least twenty percent for the year to which the data relate; and

(B) the area must have an unemployment rate of at least one hundred twenty-five percent of the statewide unemployment rate for the year to which the data relate;

(ii) projects involving companies in need of special assistance as determined by the findings of the members of the authority that such companies are unable to obtain a sufficient amount of financing at prevailing market rates of interest for businesses of similar size in the same industry in New York state.

(b) In determining eligibility for loans involving companies in need of special assistance pursuant to subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (a) of this subdivision, the members of the authority shall consider:

(i) the applicant's potential for creating jobs in New York state;

(ii) the benefits derived from the project in the community in which the project is or will be located;

(iii) the interaction of a project with economic development programs administered by the department of economic development, the New York state urban development corporation and the New York state science and technology foundation;

(iv) the meaningful participation of minority and women-owned business enterprises and minority group members and women in a project;

(v) the degree to which the project will support apprenticeship training;

(vi) compliance with the provisions of section eighteen hundred twenty-six of this chapter with regard to the project occupant; and

(vii) in consultation with the department of economic development, the eligibility of the applicant for assistance under the industrial effectiveness program pursuant to article seven of the economic development law.

(c) In addition to the rules and regulations promulgated with regard to loans made by the authority under other provisions of this title, the members of the authority shall also promulgate rules and regulations pertaining to the loans made under subparagraphs (i) and (ii) of paragraph (a) of this subdivision by December first, nineteen hundred ninety-two.

(d) On an annual basis, the authority shall compile and publish:

(i) in consultation with the department of economic development, a listing of economically distressed areas as defined in subparagraph (i) of paragraph (a) of this subdivision.

(ii) the criteria for determining the eligibility of a project that is in need of special assistance under subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (a) of this subdivision.

(e) All otherwise applicable requirements and restrictions of this title shall apply to projects that are described in paragraph (a) of this subdivision, provided, however, that in the case of projects which involve the relocation of economic activity from another municipality within New York state, the authority shall also find that the project occupant has made reasonable efforts to carry out the project within the municipality from which the project occupant intends to move an industrial, or manufacturing plant, or research and development facility, or other eligible business facility.