ENTERPRIZE ZONE

WHAT ARE ENTERPRIZE ZONES?

Enterprise Zones are designated areas of land in which businesses can receive tax incentives in the form of tax exemptions on eligible new investments. Enterprise Zones are not part of the traditional zoning program — which limits the use of land — instead they allow local officials to negotiate with businesses to encourage new business investment in the zone.

Enterprise Zones serve as an additional economic development tool for communities attempting to retain and expand their economic base. Because of the far-reaching effects of tax incentives, the Enterprise Zone should be used as a tool of the last resort. A community should attempt to satisfy the business’ needs through other assistance programs prior to considering tax incentives. In all cases, Enterprise Zone Agreements should be negotiated cautiously.

ELIGIBLE BUSINESSES

Only those businesses that are qualified by financial responsibility and business experience to create and preserve jobs within the zone may apply for the local tax incentives. Local officials may limit the type of businesses and projects which are eligible through policy guidelines. A business must make a substantial investment in either real or personal property.

Establishing a new business is defined as making a significant investment in land, buildings, machinery, or equipment. Expansion projects must make investments that equal at least 10% of the value of the existing facility. In addition, the law permits incentives for a business to renovate an existing facility if the renovations exceed 50% of the facility’s value. A business willing to occupy a vacant facility and invest at least 20% of the facility’s value to alter or repair the facility is considered eligible for tax incentives. Please note that retail operations are not eligible for tax exemptions, except in those urban areas which have been designated as impacted cities.

TAX INCENTIVES

Once a community receives an Enterprise Zone Certification, state law provides local officials with the ability to negotiate a tax incentive agreement with a prospective company. The Enterprise Zone Agreement is a contract between the community and the company. Care in developing the agreement will benefit both parties. This contract must be executed prior to any portion of the project beginning. The community and business must be in agreement on all Enterprise Zone details before continuing the project. Note that Ohio law requires specific references and commitments to be made within the agreement.

Only the minimum tax incentive necessary to bring about an investment should be considered. The amount and term of the tax exemption are negotiated between local officials and the company. Legislation must then be passed by the appropriate local legislative authorities to provide final approval of the agreement. A copy of the Enterprise Zone Agreement and appropriate legislation must be forwarded to ODOD and the Department of Taxation within fifteen days of final approval. Note that MSAs may act without county approvals if its certification is issued under Ohio Revised Code (ORC) Sections 5709.62 or 5709.632 (A)(1).

The Enterprise Zone law permits municipalities to offer the following incentives:

Exemption of real and/or personal property assessed values of up to 75% for up to 10 years or an average of 60% over the term of the agreement on new investments in buildings, machinery/equipment and inventory and improvements to existing land and buildings for a specific project.

Maximum exemption levels may be exceeded with approval by the affected board of education. Each Enterprise Zone Agreement submitted must include a $750 application fee payable to the Ohio Department of Development. In addition, each project is subject to an annual monitoring fee of 1% of the benefit received – a minimum of $500 and maximum of $2,500 payable to the local legislative authorities. The local legislative authorities may waive the annual monitoring fee. A business in compliance with an existing Enterprise Zone Agreement, which resulted in positive job creation, may be eligible for additional State tax incentives under the Enterprise Zone Program.

NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Board of Education

Local legislative authorities entering into Enterprise Zone Agreements with eligible companies are required to notify all local boards of education having jurisdiction over the project site at least fourteen days prior to taking any formal action on the request for tax exemption incentives. If the exemption requested exceeds the maximum allowable levels, the board(s) of education must be notified a minimum of forty-five business days prior to the community and/or county taking formal action on the tax exemption request. The board(s) of education is then required to respond back to the local authority no later than fourteen days prior to the scheduled local review approving, conditioning or rejecting the proposal. Upon formal approval of the project by the board of education, the local jurisdiction may immediately proceed with the local review meetings. In addition, the board of education may by resolution expressly waive all or part of the notice period, either in general or on a case-by-case basis.

Relocation

If a community is considering an intrastate relocation project, it is necessary to notify the community from which the business intends to depart and the Director of ODOD. This notification must be provided thirty days prior to any formal action being taken at the local level. This notification must be formal (personal service or certified mail).

If a business has an active enterprise zone agreement with a local jurisdiction and discontinues operations at that site prior to the expiration of that agreement, the business is prohibited from entering into a new enterprise zone agreement for five years with the new jurisdiction unless the ODOD Director issues a waiver.

Tax Sharing Provision

Local municipalities imposing a municipal income tax are required to enter into an income tax sharing agreement with the affected board of education on projects creating a minimum new annual payroll of $1,000,000. The community and board of education are encouraged to establish a procedure to document the tax sharing arrangements. If no agreement can be negotiated within six months of finalizing the Enterprise Zone Agreement, the new income tax is shared fifty-fifty. Tax sharing as stated in the agreement or required by the ORC will occur in each year the new payroll exceeds $1,000,000 and the Enterprise Zone Agreement remains in effect.

 For more information please review the Ohio Revised Code Section 5709.61-.69 or visit the Enterprise Zone Program website. 

Download Enterprise Zone Map Elyria, Ohio