In Escambia County, tax incentives are used strategically to leverage significant business start-ups, expansions and relocations. The use of incentives is predicated on the benefits a project represents to the community. Criteria include the amount of investment, job creation and whether the project involves a targeted business sector or geographic area. Although tax incentives are tailored to fit each individual project, types of incentives could include:
- Economic Development Ad Valorem Tax Exemption, or EDATE, an incentive program renewed by Escambia County Voters in 2012 that authorizes the board to grant qualifying businesses an exemption in their county property taxes of up to 100 percent for up to 10 years. This program will remain in effect until December 2022.
- Historic Preservation Incentives, which encourage the preservation of historic buildings through a property tax exemption program.
- The Escambia County Land Purchase Incentive Program, which allows Escambia County to discount property prices for economic development projects that locate in county-owned commerce parks.
- The Escambia County Cash Incentive Program, which establishes an Economic Development Incentive Fund to provide grant monies to qualified businesses in order to defray costs incurred as a result of relocation or expansion.
- Escambia County Rebate Program, an incentive program that provides for refunding development fees and property taxes on existing structures, as well as the ability to provide a direct grant to eligible companies. Grants and refunds range between $1,000 and $5,000 per new job created and are dependent on the number of new jobs generated, wage rate and investment.
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