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FGCU is actively engaged with Southwest Florida through cultural activities, educational
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In addition to research, the Regional Economic Research Institute provides various
resources for residents, businesses and community leaders. Follow the links below
to learn more about some of the resources offered by the RERI.
Chambers and EDOs
Want to find more information regarding your county? Southwest Florida has a wealth
of resources available for residents, business executives and local leaders.
Is your business expanding or relocating? Southwest Florida has a wide variety of
incentives and grants available for job creation, capital investment, high performance
and many other criteria.
Southwest Florida offers a wide variety of incentives and grants for businesses interested
in either expanding or relocating to the region. From industrial development bonds
to enterprise zones, impact fees to tax credits, each county is committed to working
with individual businesses to meet their particular needs for expansion or relocation.
Select a county to learn more about the local business incentives offered.
The Charlotte County Economic Development Incentive Program was adopted by the Board
of County Commissioners to advance the mission of the County's Economic Development
Office. This program was specifically created to:
Produce high-wage value added jobs
Reduce the tax burden on residential properties by increasing non-residential tax
revenues
Reduce the impact of economic downturns by diversifying the local economy
The core of the Program is based upon two vehicles—incentives for job creation and
incentives for capital investment. A business that produces at least ten “Quality
Jobs” and meets program requirements is eligible to participate. Program participants
are eligible to receive both employment and capital incentives following approval
of their Program Application and Agreement.
Economic Development Incentive Program
This program can be used to provide incentives to qualified applicants for job creation,
capital investment or to offset infrastructure improvement costs.
Taxable Non-Recourse Economic Development Bonds
Finance many kinds of businesses.
Tax-Exempt Industrial Development Revenue Bonds (IDRB's)
Provides tax-exempt debt obligations issued by public corporations to support manufacturing,
processing, and utility type economic development projects. The Charlotte County Industrial
Development Authority issues these bonds in Charlotte County.
The Basic Industry Growth Promotion Incentive recognizes Collier County’s desire for
near-term job growth opportunities through the expansion of local companies and the
recruitment of new companies that meet targeted industry requirements. Grants will
be paid in installments over four years. The program is administered by the county
manager or his designee.
Advanced Long-term Productivity Strategy Incentive Program
The county Advanced Long-term Productivity Strategy Program (ALPS) is designed to
expand Collier County’s competitiveness by attracting extraordinary high-value economic
development projects that meet targeted industry requirements. Qualified applicants
may participate in the ALPS Incentive if the project creates at least 25 new jobs
whose average wage meets or exceeds 150 percent of the county’s average wage. The
program is administered by the county manager or his or her designee and award payments
are subject to the availability of funds.
Capital Investment for Diversification Incentive Program
Collier County offers qualifying applicant’s eligibility to the CID Incentive as an
inducement grant providing a benefit equivalent of up to 100 percent of the value
of the transportation impact fees actually assessed and remitted for business space
that directly houses the occupancy of a target industry business. The CID Incentive
provides four equal annual installments of the grant amount.
State of Florida Incentives
Florida offers bottom-line advantages for long term profitability for all types of
businesses, from corporate headquarters to manufacturing plants to service firms.
Industrial Development Revenue Bonds (IRDBs) are securities issued by the Collier
County Industrial Development Authority, for the purpose of financing capital projects
for companies. That debt is a liability of the respective company, not the local governmental
agency.
Aggressive Local Option Economic Development Tax Abatement
Glades County offers an aggressive local option economic development tax abatement,
which allows companies to apply to the Board of County Commissioners for an abatement
of the county portion of projected ad valorem taxes from 10 percent to 100 percent
for up to ten years, based on the number of jobs expected to be created, and the salaries
associated with those jobs. Glades County’s commission may award the abatement for
any new business which locates in the county, at their discretion. For a copy of the
application, email info@gladescountyedc.com
Expedited permitting, fast track rezoning, impact fee waivers
While other communities tout expedited permitting, Glades County delivers. A building
permit can be secured based on stamped, engineered plans in ten days. Rezoning property
can be accomplished in two months. Water management permits for properties in the
Glades County Business and Commerce Park and Americas Gateway Logistics Center can
be secured within a month; more complicated environmental permits secured within six
months. And Glades County has waived impact fees indefinitely.
Low overall operating costs
According to a recent economic analysis by Site Selection Group, businesses locating in Glades County will enjoy a 12 percent cost savings in overall operating costs versus the Central or South Florida Markets. For a copy
of the report, email info@gladescountyedc.com
Foreign Trade Zone Status
Glades County is one of six counties in the Florida Heartland Economic Region of Opportunity
(FHERO). As such, industrial properties in Glades County will enjoy free trade zone
status under FTZ 215 as a usage driven FTZ site.
A foreign-trade zone (FTZ) in the United States is a geographical area, in (or adjacent
to) a United States Port of Entry, where commercial merchandise, both domestic and
foreign receives the same Customs treatment it would if it were outside the commerce
of the United States.
Merchandise of every description may be held in the Zone without being subject to
Customs duties and other ad valorem taxes. This tariff and tax relief is designed
to lower the costs of U.S.-based operations engaged in international trade and thereby
create and retain the employment and capital investment opportunities that result
from those operations.
New Market Tax Credit
New Market Tax Credit census tract, allows businesses involved in manufacturing or
other projects expanding in a rural community to qualify for a 39% federal income
tax credit available over a 7-year compliance period.
EB-5 investment Eligibility
Contiguous with EB-5 Regional Center in Palm Beach County, making projects in Glades
eligible for EB-5 investment – $500,000 in rural FL versus $1 million urban.
Opportunity Zone
The Opportunity Zones incentive is a new community investment tool established by
Congress in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 to encourage long-term investments in
low-income urban and rural communities nationwide. Opportunity Zones provide a tax
incentive for investors to re-invest their unrealized capital gains into dedicated
Opportunity Funds.
There is no statutory cap on the amount of capital that can flow to Opportunity Zones
in any given year. As such, Opportunity Zones have the potential to help fuel economic
renewal in distressed communities on an unprecedented scale.
Hendry County
Last Updated: December 1st, 2021
Economic Development Ad Valorem Property Tax Abatement
The Hendry County Board of County Commissioners can offer an abatement of real and
personal property tax at a new business location or on an expanding business. Exemptions
may be granted for a period of up to 5 years.
Hendry County Permitting Process
Within ten days of an applicant submitting an application to Hendry County, the county
shall advise the applicant what information, if any, is needed to deem the application
properly completed in compliance with the filing requirements prescribed by the county.
A properly completed application is one that contains all the required materials prescribed
by the county.
Within 30 days after receiving a completed application, the county must notify an
applicant if additional information is required for the county to determine the sufficiency
of the application, and shall specify the additional information that is required.
Each time an applicant responds to a request for additional information, the 30-day
review period begins anew.
Opportunity Zone
Hendry County's opportunity zone is located in eastern Hendry and includes areas around
Airglades Airport and the communities of Harlem and Hooker's Point.
Governor Designated Area of Opportunity
The Governor designated Hendry County as a "Rural Area of Opportunity". Florida encourages
growth throughout the state by offering increased incentive awards and lower wage
qualification thresholds in its rural counties.
Foreign Trade Zone
Hendry County is one of six counties in the Florida Heartland Economic Region of Opportunity
(FHERO). As such, industrial properties in Hendry County will enjoy free trade zone
status under FTZ 215 as a usage driven FTZ site.
Sebring Airport Authority Foreign Trade Zone #215 128 Authority Lane, Sebring, FL USA 33870 Sebring Regional Airport
Rural Jobs Tax Credit (State of Florida)
The Rural Job Tax Credit Program provides an incentive for eligible businesses, located
within designated rural counties, to create new jobs. Find out more at Floridajobs.org.
The tax credit can range from $1,000 to $1,500 per qualified employee. A business
may receive up to $500,000 in tax credits during any one calendar year for its efforts
in creating jobs. The credit may be carried forward for five years. File a Rural Job
Tax Credit Program Application for Eligibility (Form FU-J) with the Florida Department
of Economic Opportunity. References: Sections 220.1895 and 212.098, Florida Statutes
(F.S.), and Tax Information Publication #01A01-06.
Industrial Development Revenue Bonds (IDRBs) are long-term, tax-exempt, low-rate financing
of capital requirements for new and expanding manufacturing facilities in Lee County.
IDRBs pay $3 million to $10 million, and the borrower is solely responsible for principal
and interest repayment. Contact the Lee County Industrial Development Authority for more details.
Gold Key Grant Program
The Lee County EDO and Lee County Industrial Development Authority offers financial assistance to small businesses leveraging in the US Commercial Services
Gold Key Matching service. For businesses that seek overseas agents, distributors,
sales representatives and business partners, the Gold Key Matching Service can arrange
connections with pre-screened trade partners and help with travel, accommodations,
interpreters, and clerical service. Visit the International Trade Administration’s website for more information on the Gold Key Matching service.
Develop North Fort Myers
The North Fort Myers Pilot Program is a reimbursement-based incentive program that
is paid after the completion of the qualified project. For those developing in the
North Fort Myers mixed-use overlay area and producing a significant increase in building
value, the following incentives may be available:
Reduced permit, impact, and water/sewer connection fees
Reimbursement of up to 50% of demolition costs
Reimbursement of up to 50% of eligible infrastructure improvements (stormwater retention,
water/sewer, landscaping, irrigation, sidewalks, exterior lighting)
Reimbursement of up to 50% of eligible flood-proofing costs (water-sealing building
openings)
Reimbursement of up to 50% of building exterior/façade improvements
Keystone grants of up to 20% of eligible costs for large projects
Opportunity Zones
15 Census tracts in Lee County are designated as Opportunity Zones. These zones are
designed to incentivize new equity investments. New business investments in these
areas may be eligible for preferential tax treatment.
For additional information on Opportunity Zones in Lee County visit the Lee EDO GIS HUB.
Capital Investment Tax Credit (CITC)
CITC is an annual credit against the corporate income tax, and is used to attract
and grow capital-intensive industries in Florida. Projects must create a minimum
of 100 jobs and invest at least $25 million in eligible capital costs. Eligible industries
include advanced manufacturing, clean energy, biomedical technology, financial services, information
technology, silicon technology, and transportation equipment manufacturing. CITC can
be provided for up to 20 years. Contact Enterprise Florida for more information.
Space Florida
Florida has long been known as America’s commercial space hub. Space Florida was created to strengthen Florida’s position as a global leader in aerospace research,
investment, exploration, and commerce, and is committed to driving Florida’s economic
development by attracting and expanding the next generation of aerospace industry.
Florida Power & Light Company
Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) is doing its part to encourage investment and
job creation in our state. PoweringFlorida is FPL’s Office of Economic Development. Through PoweringFlorida, FPL offers incentive
programs to encourage business growth in the Sunshine State.
