In evaluating applications for funding from the lignite research fund for North Dakota’s lignite research, development, and marketing program, the industrial commission and lignite research council shall give priority to those projects, processes, or activities that will preserve existing jobs and production, which will create the greatest number of new jobs and most additional lignite production and economic growth potential in coal-producing counties or those counties with recoverable coal reserves, which will attract matching private industry investment equal to at least fifty percent or more of the total cost, and which will result in development and demonstration of a marketable lignite product or products with a high level of probability of near term commercialization. For marketing applications, priority must be given to those projects, processes, or activities that develop baseline information, implement specific marketing strategies, and otherwise contribute to the effective marketing of lignite and its products. For reclamation applications, priority must be given to those projects, processes, or activities that will reduce unnecessary regulatory costs and assist in effectively reclaiming surface mined land to its original or better productivity as soon as possible. Any projects, activities, or processes selected by the commission for funding must achieve the priorities and purposes of the program, must have undergone technical review and be determined to have technical merit, must have generated matching private industry investment, and must have received a favorable lignite research council recommendation.