(1) For the purposes of this section:
(a) "Eligible area" also means a designated community empowerment zone approved under RCW
43.31C.020.
(b) "Eligible investment project" also means an investment project in an eligible area as defined in this section.
(2) Until July 1, 2020, the department shall issue a sales and use tax deferral certificate for state and local sales and use taxes due under chapters
82.08, 82.12, and
82.14 RCW, on each eligible investment project that is located in an eligible area, if the applicant establishes that at the time the project is operationally complete:
(a) The applicant will hire at least one qualified employment position for each $750,000 of investment for which a deferral is requested; and
(b) The positions will be filled by persons who at the time of hire are residents of the community empowerment zone. As used in this subsection, "resident" means the person makes his or her home in the community empowerment zone or the county in which the zone is located. A mailing address alone is insufficient to establish that a person is a resident for the purposes of this section. The persons must be hired after the date the application is filed with the department.
(3) All other provisions and eligibility requirements of this chapter apply to applicants eligible under this section.
(4) The qualified employment position must be filled by the end of the calendar year following the year in which the project is certified as operationally complete. If a person does not meet the requirements for qualified employment positions by the end of the second calendar year following the year in which the project is certified as operationally complete, all deferred taxes are immediately due.