(1) the total number of jobs expected to be retained;

(2) the impact of the project on the community;

(3) the ratio of the number of jobs retained to the amount of assistance provided by the loan fund. In general, financing will not be approved for projects that anticipate a return of less than one job for every $20,000 of State financial assistance;

(4) the demonstrated need for such assistance, established by a showing of a short-term lack of liquidity of an existing solvent business;

(5) the existence of a company commitment to a business plan to turn around the financial condition of the business;

(6) the existence of an independent evaluation of the company, prepared by a certified public accountant or the equivalent retained by the corporation or undertaken by the corporation;

(7) evidence of participation in and support of the project by owners, managers, employees, suppliers, financial institutions and the community to the maximum extent possible;

(8) the existence of a completed company evaluation by the IEP or its equivalent, approved by the corporation, which outlines a plan to improve the competitive position of the company on an ongoing basis, or a commitment that such will be undertaken;

(9) the ability of the applicant to repay the State financial assistance;

(10) the credit-worthiness of the applicant;

(11) the existence of any actions or investigations of civil or criminal misconduct pending against an eligible business or business owner; and

(12) preference will be given to those applicants working in strategic industries.

(1) the degree of impact the downsizing or closing will have on a particular community;

(2) evidence that the grant will assist the community in ameliorating the impact of the downsizing or closing;

(3) the number of employees or residents of the community who will be assisted;

(4) evidence of the planned or actual downsizing or closing; and

(5) the degree of community, local and State support for the grant.