(a) On and after January 1, 1997, any municipality in which an enterprise zone designated under § 32-70 is located may designate an entertainment district within the municipality.

(b) Upon designation of an entertainment district under subsection (a) of this section, the municipality may apply to the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development for state approval of the designation. The municipality seeking the approval of the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development for the designation of an area of the municipality as an enterprise zone shall file with the commissioner a preliminary application. Not later than sixty days after receipt of such a preliminary application, the commissioner shall indicate to the municipality, in writing, any recommendations for improving the municipality’s application. Not later than sixty days after receipt of the commissioner’s written response, the municipality shall file a final application with the commissioner.

(c) In approving an entertainment district designation, the commissioner shall evaluate the effect of the proposal on the economic development of the municipality, the region and the state, taking into consideration market potential, specific development plans and private commitments in the area.

(d) The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development shall adopt regulations in accordance with chapter 54 to implement this section. Such regulations may establish additional criteria for approval of districts, including establishment of a zone size.

(e) Any plant, building, other real property improvement, or part thereof, which is located in a municipality with an entertainment district designated and approved under this section or established under section 2 of public act 93-311*, and which qualifies as a “manufacturing facility” under subsection (d) of § 32-9p in that it is to be used in the production of entertainment products, including multimedia products, or as part of the airing, display or provision of live entertainment for stage or broadcast, including support services such as set manufacturers, scenery makers, sound and video equipment providers and manufacturers, stage and screen writers, providers of capital for the entertainment industry and agents for talent, writers, producers and music properties and technological infrastructure support including, but not limited to, fiber optics, necessary to support multimedia and other entertainment formats, except entertainment provided by or shown at a gambling or gaming facility or a facility whose primary business is the sale or serving of alcoholic beverages, and for which the department has issued an eligibility certificate in accordance with § 32-9r, shall be entitled to the same benefits, subject to the same conditions, under the general statutes for which plants, buildings and other real property improvements located in an enterprise zone qualify.