The Economic Development Incentive Programs can significantly reduce the cost of doing business for companies expanding or locating in Escambia County.

For general information on all economic development programs, contact:

Tonya Green
County Administration
221 Palafox Place, Suite 420
Pensacola, FL  32502
850-595-4949

 

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Economic Development Programs

Overview: Escambia County’s Economic Development Incentive Programs can significantly reduce the cost of doing business for companies expanding or locating in Escambia County.

Advantages: Escambia County’s Economic Development Incentive Programs can reduce the financial burden required to grow a company.

Our office can provide you with assistance in filing for exemptions and other incentive programs, such as:

QUALIFICATIONS
Some of the programs may require the following criteria to be met before consideration. The business must be an enterprise engaged in one of the following types of activities:

  • Information Technology
  • Building Systems
  • Manufacturing
  • Healthcare/Medical Devices/Life Sciences
  • Aerospace
  • Logistics/Distribution
  • Renewable Energy
  • Business and Professional Services

Other similar industry groups, uses or activities not listed in the above categories with the characteristics of preferred business enterprises for Escambia County are those with the following characteristics:

  • Provision for paid health insurance, retirement plans, and tuition reimbursement.
  • Pollution prevention and waste reduction.
  • Commitment to community evidenced by promoting volunteerism and financial support of local charities or events.
  • Willingness to locate or expand in County Community Redevelopment Areas, Enterprise Zones or Brownfield Areas.
  • Hiring from local population.
  • Minimum average wage.  New full-time jobs must pay at least the average annual wage.  Benefits shall not be counted as part of the wage.
  • Business enterprises must create or maintain in Escambia County a minimum of 10 full-time jobs during the year for which the rebate is sought.
  • Business enterprises must create a minimum of 25 full-time jobs during the year the exemption is sought.
  • Eligible business enterprises must have commenced operation with an established payroll for regular, full-time jobs during the first year for which a rebate is sought. Business enterprises engaged in construction and other actions in anticipation of commencing operations but which have not yet commenced operations and established a payroll for regular, full-time jobs, shall not be eligible. Business enterprises shall not be eligible for a rebate during any year in which it ceases operations in Escambia County.
  • Eligible business enterprise must provide health insurance and retirement benefits for employees holding full-time jobs.
  • Eligible business enterprises must generate at least 51 percent of their gross revenues from outside Escambia County.

This is a broad overview that includes some of the requirements for the incentives; all may not be applicable.  For specific requirements for each program, please reference the Ordinance and notify this office if you have any questions. All incentives must be approved by the Escambia County Board of Commissioners. Additionally, incentives may require companies to execute an economic development agreement that is performance based, requiring companies to create jobs prior to receiving incentives.

INCENTIVES:

Economic Development Ad Valorem Tax Exemption (EDATE): 

New and expanding businesses may qualify for the exemption of real and personal property taxes at the city and county government levels.  Qualifications are based on level of investment, number of new jobs created and average salaries to be paid.  Exemptions may be approved for up to 100 percent of county tax for a period of up to 10 years on the value of new construction and personal property. Existing facilities cannot be removed from the tax rolls.

ALL APPLICANTS REQUESTING AN EDATE EXEMPTION MUST INCLUDE THE LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPERTY FOR WHICH YOU ARE SEEKING THE EXEMPTION. The legal description can be found on the property appraiser’s web site or by contacting the office directly 850-434-2735. 

For more information, contact:
Tonya Green, County Administration, 850-595-4949.

Enterprise Zone: 

An area in which there is a predominance of buildings or improvements, whether residential or non-residential, which by reason of dilapidation, deterioration, age or obsolescence, inadequate provision for ventilation, light, air, sanitation, or open spaces, high density of population and overcrowding, the existence of conditions which endanger life or property by fire or other causes, or any combination of such factors, is conductive to ill health, transmission of disease, infant mortality, juvenile delinquency, or crime, is detrimental to the public health, safety, morals, or welfare; or

An area in which there are a substantial number of slum, deteriorated, or deteriorating structures, and in which conditions which endanger life or property by fire or other causes exist.

This program provides state financial incentives to residents and businesses located within the area. The program rewards job creation and private sector investment in the area. Incentives are claimed by improving properties, purchasing business machinery and equipment, and expanding or starting new businesses that create jobs. Incentives are available for anyone who has made these changes in the County's Enterprise Zone within the last six months

For more information, contact:
Tonya Green, County Administration, 850-595-4949.

Historical Preservation:

Historic buildings are tangible links with the past. They help give a community a sense of identity, stability and orientation. County government encourages the preservation of historic buildings through various means. One of these is the program of county tax incentives to support the rehabilitation of historic and older buildings. This incentive was created for individuals and entities to improve historic properties.

Click here to find out if your property qualifies (list of historic properties)

For more information, contact:
Pat Paterson at the West Florida Historic Preservation, Inc., 595-5985 x 109.

Historical Preservation Ordinance (pdf)
Historical Preservation Summary (pdf)

Economic Development Incentives - Jobs Based: 

Provides a program for refunding development fees and property taxes on existing structures and the ability to provide a direct grant to eligible companies. Program extends to new and existing companies in the area. Grants and refunds range between $1,000 and $5,000 per new job created dependent upon the number of new jobs generated, wage rate and investment.  Fees would be refunded over a five year period.  Note:  This is a refund program; the amount refunded cannot exceed the amount of fees and taxes paid to Escambia County.

For more information, contact:
Tonya Green, County Administration, 850-595-4949.

Economic Development Incentive Fund: 

Provides a program establishing an economic development incentive fund as part of the county’s economic development incentive program to provide grant monies to qualified businesses intended to defray costs incurred as a result of relocation or expansion.

For more information, contact:
Tonya Green, County Administration, 850-595-4949.

Land Purchase Incentive Program: 

The program allows Escambia County to discount property prices for economic development projects that locate in county-owned commerce parks.

For more information, contact:
Tonya Green, County Administration, 850-595-4949.

Qualified Targeted Industry Tax Refund Program (QTIP): 

The Qualified Targeted Industry Tax Refund Program is offered by the State of Florida as an incentive to new or expanding businesses which created new job opportunities paying an average wage of at least 115 percent of the local average.  The program offers an incentive of up to $5,000 per new job created for qualified projects.  To access this program, the company seeking a QTI refund must obtain prior approval, in the form of a resolution from local government including a commitment by the local government agency to participate in the refund.  The local government’s obligation is for 20 percent of the refund which is paid out over a four-year period.