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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-07-11 - AGENDA REPORTS - ENTERPRISE ZONE PGM (2)NEW BUSINESS DATE: SUBJECT: DEPARTMENT: Agenda Item: — 16 CITY OF SANTA CLARITA AGENDA REPORT Carne Rogers City Manager Approval: Item to be presented by: July 11, 2006 ENTERPRISE ZONE PROGRAM OVERVIEW Community Development RECOMMENDED ACTION City Council receive the Enterprise Zone Program overview. BACKGROUND The purpose of the California Enterprise Zone Program is to target areas throughout the state to stimulate business and industrial growth. Special state and local incentives encourage business investment and promote the creation of new jobs through business attraction and expansion as well as business retention. The Enterprise Zone program is state's most significant tool to assist local governments in leveling the playing field with other states in the highly competitive field of business attraction. The Enterprise Zone program is a 15 -year partnership between local governments and private companies to generate new private sector investment and growth. The state provides performance-based tax credits and incentives to businesses located within the Enterprise Zone boundaries including: 1. Tax credits for sales and use taxes paid on qualified machinery or equipment 2. Tax credits for hiring qualified employees 3. Accelerated business expense deduction 4. Net operating loss carryover 5. Interest deductions for lenders on loan to companies within the EZ 6. Preference points on state contracts State law requires that 42 Enterprise Zones be maintained at all times. During the last quarter of RECEIVED 2006 and the first quarter of 2007, 23 Enterprise Zones will reach the end of their designation periods. This round of Enterprise Zone designations is the largest since the Program's inception and it is anticipated that it will be highly competitive, as a large number of those with expiring Zones are expected to reapply for designation. The heart of the application is the Economic Development Plan and the selection of the new Zones will be based heavily on the scoring of this section. The Plan includes marketing strategy and plan, available property and businesses, financing programs, job development and vouchering plan, planning and local incentives, unemployment and area income levels, enterprise zone program management, and infrastructure and capital improvement plan. The Santa Clarita Enterprise Zone application is a regional economic development effort. Partners in the application include College of the Canyons, Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce, Valley Industrial Association, financial institutions, WorkSource California One -Stop Career Center, job developers, brokerage firms and City staff from the Community Development, Public Works and Administrative Services Departments and City Manager's office. The proposed boundaries of the Santa Clarita Enterprise Zone include nearly all of the commercial and industrial property in the City. The Enterprise Zone application is due to the State Housing and Community Development Department, which also administers the Enterprise Zone Program, on September 6, 2006. ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS Other action as determined by Council. FISCAL IMPACT None by this action. ATTACHMENTS Enterprise Zone Map