100.255.  Definitions. — As used in sections 100.250 to 100.297, the following terms mean:

  (1)  "Board", the Missouri development finance board created by section 100.265;

  (2)  "Borrower", any person, partnership, public or private corporation, association, development agency or any other entity eligible for funding under sections 100.250 to 100.297;

  (3)  "Development agency", any of the following:

  (a)  A port authority established pursuant to chapter 68;

  (b)  The bi-state development agencies established pursuant to sections 70.370 to 70.440^*, and sections 238.010 to 238.100;

  (c)  A land clearance for redevelopment authority established pursuant to sections 99.300 to 99.660;

  (d)  A county, city, incorporated town or village or other political subdivision or public body of this state;

  (e)  A planned industrial expansion authority established pursuant to sections 100.300 to 100.620;

  (f)  An industrial development corporation established pursuant to sections 349.010 to 349.105;

  (g)  A real property tax increment financing commission established pursuant to sections 99.800 to 99.865;

  (h)  Any other governmental, quasi-governmental or quasi-public corporation or entity created by state law or by resolution adopted by the governing body of a development agency otherwise described in paragraphs (a) through (g) of this subdivision;

  (4)  "Development and reserve fund", the industrial development and reserve fund established pursuant to section 100.260;

  (5)  "Export finance fund", the Missouri export finance fund established pursuant to section 100.260;

  (6)  "Export trade activities" includes, but is not limited to, consulting, international market research, advertising, marketing, insurance, product research and design, legal assistance, transportation, including trade documentation and freight forwarding, communication, and processing of foreign orders to and for exporters and foreign purchases and warehousing, when undertaken to export or facilitate the export of goods or services produced or assembled in this state;

  (7)  "Guarantee fund", the industrial development guarantee fund established by section 100.260;

  (8)  "Infrastructure development fund", the infrastructure development fund established under section 100.263;

  (9)  "Infrastructure facilities", the highways, streets, bridges, water supply and distribution systems, mass transportation facilities and equipment, telecommunication facilities, jails and prisons, sewers and sewage treatment facilities, wastewater treatment facilities, airports, railroads, reservoirs, dams and waterways in this state, acquisition of blighted real estate and the improvements thereon, demolition of existing structures and preparation of sites in anticipation of development, public facilities, and any other improvements provided by any form of government or development agency;

  (10)  "Jobs now fund", the jobs now fund established under section 100.260;

  (11)  "Jobs now projects", the purchase, construction, extension, and improvement of real estate, plants, buildings, structures, or facilities, whether or not now in existence, used or to be used primarily as infrastructure facilities or public facilities.  When any entity provides a certified design or operation plan which is demonstrably less than the usual and customary average industry determination of cost for installation, construction, purchasing, extension, and improvement of real estate, manufacturing facilities, buildings, structures or facilities, including public facilities, then the entity or company providing such service may receive payment in an amount equal to the usual and customary fee for such project plus additional compensation equal to two times the percentage by which the cost of such aforementioned criteria of such facility is less than the usual and customary average industrial determination of cost for installation, construction, materials, extension and improvement of real estate, manufacturing facilities, buildings, structures, or facilities, including public facilities.  Such entity shall also pay to such company providing such aforementioned service compensation equal to twenty-five percent of the amount of any annual operational costs which are lower than the customary average industry determination of cost for operation for such facility, procedure, or service for a period of time equal to one-fourth the design lifetime of such entity or five years whichever is less;

  (12)  "Participating lender", a lender authorized by the board to participate with the board in the making of a loan or to make loans the repayment of which is secured by the development and reserve fund;

  (13)  "Project", the purchase, construction, extension, and improvement of real estate, plants, buildings, structures or facilities, whether or not now in existence, used or to be used primarily as a factory, assembly plant, manufacturing plant, fabricating plant, distribution center, warehouse building, office building, port terminal or facility, transportation and transfer facility, industrial plant, processing plant, commercial or agricultural facility, nursing or retirement facility or combination thereof, recreational facility, cultural facility, public facilities, job training or other vocational training facility, infrastructure facility, video-audio telecommunication conferencing facility, office building, facility for the prevention, reduction, disposal or control of pollution, sewage or solid waste, facility for conducting export trade activities, or research and development building in connection with any of the facilities defined as a project in this subdivision.  The term "project" shall also include any improvements, including, but not limited to, road or rail construction, alteration or relocation, and construction of facilities to provide utility service for any of the facilities defined as a project under this subdivision, along with any fixtures, equipment, and machinery, and any demolition and relocation expenses used in connection with any such projects and any capital used to promote and facilitate such facilities and notes payable from anticipated revenue issued by any development agency.  The term "project" shall also include any transfer, expenditure or working capital of the state, any agency or department of the state or any development agency;

  (14)  "Public facility", any facility or improvements available for use by the general public including facilities for which user or other fees are charged on a nondiscriminatory basis.