Gifford to become Enterprise Zone

The designation would give state tax breaks to new businesses relocating there and to existing businesses for expansion in the zone.

By Henry A. Stephens staff writer
May 10, 2005

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The Gifford area has enough poverty, unemployment and physical deterioration to qualify for the job-creating incentives of an Enterprise Zone, county commissioners agreed Tuesday.

But other areas in the county didn't have quite enough poverty for the state program, they were told.
 
 "We looked at south Oslo, and there were some poverty rates, but they were not high enough to meet the threshold, surprisingly," said Helene Caseltine, economic development director for the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce.

"But we're looking at 2000 Census data, and that's 5 years old," she added.
In a 5-0 vote Tuesday, the County Commission nominated the Vero Beach Municipal Airport and Gifford to Gov. Jeb Bush's Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development as a 4 1/2-square-mile Enterprise Zone.
Earlier this month, the Legislature approved a bill allowing the county to apply for the designation.

The proposed zone is bounded by U.S. 1 to the east, the Main Relief Canal to the south, 43rd Avenue to the west and 49th Street to the north.
An Enterprise Zone designation would give state tax breaks to new businesses relocating there and to existing businesses for expansion in the zone, such as hiring residents who live there.

Also, homeowners and employers could receive a state sales tax refund for building materials used to repair properties in the zone.

"We're limited to 10 square miles, but the areas don't have to all necessarily be contiguous," Caseltine said. "A non-contiguous area needs a 30 percent poverty rate."

The commission could expand the zone if a future Census count shows more poverty, Caseltine said.

With the county's nomination, Caseltine said, she and Gifford Front Porch Chairman Freddie Woolfork are assembling a strategic plan as part of the state's approval process.

As part of its action Tuesday, the commission created an 11-member development agency to manage the proposed zone. Voting members would include:

• Three at-large county residents.
• A representative from the Chamber of Commerce.
• A banker or insurer from or serving Gifford.
• A Gifford resident.
• A businessman from Gifford or the Vero Beach Municipal Airport.
• A nonprofit agency official from the zone.
• A member of the Treasure Coast Workforce Development Board.
• A county sheriff's deputy or Vero Beach police officer.
• A member of the county or Vero Beach code enforcement board.

In addition, a county commissioner and Vero Beach council member would be nonvoting liaisons to their governments.

To apply for the development agency, call Caseltine at (772) 567-3491, ext. 121, or Kimberly Massung, the County Commission's executive aide, at (772) 226-1433.