Enterprise Zone Program Overview — 2020 Qualification Year Snapshot
Summary
A report on the Virginia Enterprise Zone (VEZ) program for the 2020 Qualification Year. It describes the program as a partnership between the Commonwealth of Virginia and local governments that offers a Real Property Investment Grant (RPIG) and a Job Creation Grant (JCG). Table 1, the Enterprise Zone Grant 2020 Summary, lists funds disbursed of $12,569,569 for RPIG and $1,930,431 for JCG, with a total of $14,500,000, and investment leveraged of $347,809,651. The report states that the Commonwealth's 45 enterprise zones encompass approximately 245 square miles. Appendices cover zone highlights, local incentives, an enterprise zone map and high unemployment areas.
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“Enterprise Zone Program Overview — 2020 Qualification Year Snapshot.”
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COVER PAGE
Table of Contents
Qualification Year 2020 Snapshot | pg. 1
Enterprise Zone Program Overview | pg. 2
Enterprise Zone Grant 2020 Summary | pg. 2
Real Property Investment Grant | pg. 3
Job Creation Grant | pg. 5
2020 Real Property Investment Grant Overview | pg. 8
Applications by Property End Use | pg. 10
Applications by Construction Project Type | pg. 11
Applications by Qualified Zone Investors | pg. 14
2020 Job Creation Grant Overview | pg. 15
Job Creation Grant Payouts by Wage Rates | pg. 16
Job Creation Grants by Sector | pg. 18
Local Enterprise Zones | pg. 20
Appendix A: Zone Highlights | pg. 21
Appendix B: State Incentive Usage by Zone, 2016-2020 | pg. 24
Appendix C: Local Incentives | pg. 25
Appendix D: Enterprise Zone Map | pg. 33
Appendix E: High Unemployment Areas | pg. 34
Cover photo: Blue Ridge Aquaculture
in Henry County, Virginia
1
2020 Qualification Year Snapshot
196 JCG & RPIG Grants Awarded
Job Creation Grant Real Property
Investment Grant
42 Businesses
154 Properties
$1,930,431 in
Total Awards $12,569,569 in
Total Awards
2,740 Jobs
Created / Retained $347,809,651 in
Qualified Investments
2
Enterprise Zone Program Overview
The Virginia Enterprise Zone (VEZ) program is a partnership between the Commonwealth of Virginia
and local governments designed to incentivize job creation and real property investment. The goal of
the program is to promote local and regional economic development and revitalization, particularly
in areas that are considered “economically distressed.”
The VEZ program was originally established as a tax credit program in 1982. In 2005, the General Assembly passed the Enterprise Zone
Grant Act, which replaced the former tax credit incentives with the Real Property Investment Grant (RPIG) and the Job Creation Grant
(JCG). These grants are performance-based, requiring firms to create jobs meeting specific requirements and/or place a real property
investment into service before applying for grant awards. The 2005 act allowed prequalified firms to continue accessing the former
general income and investment tax credit incentives. The tax credit program officially concluded in 2019. When used in conjunction
with other local, state and federal programs, the enterprise zone incentives can leverage substantial private sector investment for
economic development in localities across the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth’s 45 enterprise zones encompass approximately
245 square miles, and include boundaries in 20 cities, 34 counties, and 12 towns within those counties.
Table 1: Enterprise Zone Grant 2020 Summary
RPIG JCG TOTAL
Funds Requested $14,217,222 $1,930,431 $16,147,653
Funds Disbursed $12,569,569 $1,930,431 $14,500,000
Number of Grants Issued 154 42 196
Number of Entities* 144 41 185
Proration (RPIG only) $0.88 N/A $0.88
Jobs Created N/A 825 825
Investment Leveraged $347,809,651 N/A $347,809,651
Average QRPI per RPIG Grant $2,258,504 N/A $2,258,504
*Unique businesses and/or investors receiving grants
3
The Real Property Investment Grant
The Real Property Investment Grant (RPIG) provides grants to offset “hard” construction costs, referred to as Qualified
Real Property Investments (QRPI), incurred by property owners/developers for properties being constructed, expanded,
and/or rehabilitated in enterprise zones. For QRPI of less than $5 million, the program provides grants for up to 20% (not
to exceed $100,000 within a five-consecutive-year period) of the total amount of QRPI in a building or facility. For QRPI of
$5 million or more, grants of up to 20% per building or facility can be requested, up to $200,000. For rehabilitation and
expansion projects, a Zone investor must invest at least $100,000 in QRPI to be eligible for the RPIG. New construction
projects require Zone investors to spend at least $500,000 in order to qualify for the RPIG grant. Grant awards for all
property types are based on the amount of investment made in excess of the $100,000 and $500,000 eligibility
thresholds for rehabilitation and new construction, respectively.
In qualification year 2019, solar-only projects were added
to the program, as well as a lower threshold for other
projects that include solar panels. A zone investor must
invest in solar panels costing at least $50,000 to be
considered for the RPIG. New construction projects that
include solar panels that cost at least $50,000 require
zone investors to spend at least $450,000 in order to
qualify for the RPIG grant. Solar only projects of at least
$50,000 and no more than $100,000 do not have a QRPI
amount to meet in order to be eligible for grant funding.
Enterprise zone grants are subject to an annual
appropriation by the General Assembly. By statute, the
Staunton Innovation Hub completed over $4.13 million in a
Job Creation Grants (JCGs)receive funding priority. After
rehab/expansion project with solar panels and received $88,410 RPIG.
fully funding the JCGs, the remaining funds are allocated
to the Real Property Investment Grants (RPIG) and the Over 77 businesses co-work and utilize the building, creating jobs,
amount paid to each RPIG applicant is prorated accelerating economic growth, and spurring innovation in the region.
proportionally should grant requests exceed the Solar panels were included in the project and are utilized to power 42%
remaining funds. In 2020, RPIG requests were awarded at of the flex space/co-working building.
a rate of $0.88 on the dollar. Table 2 illustrates how grant
requests under the RPIG are calculated.
4
Table 2: RPIG Grant Threshold and Award Example
*Must meet all program requirements to be considered
Total Grant- Example
Type Investment Threshold Grant Rate Grant Request Grant Award
Eligible Funds* Proration
New Construction $1,000,000 $500,000 $500,000 20% $100,000 $0.88 $88,000
Rehab/Expansion $500,000 $100,000 $400,000 20% $80,000 $0.88 $70,400
New Construction
$1,000,000 $450,000 $550,000 20% $100,000 $0.88 $88,000
with solar
Rehab/Expansion
$100,000 $50,000 $50,000 20% $10,000 $0.88 $8,800
with solar
Solar-only $75,000 $0 $75,000 20% $15,000 $0.88 $13,200
CloudFit Software leveraged $2.69 million and
received $88,410 RPIG for rehabilitation of historic
Lynchburg building.
CloudFit Software, which works with Fortune 500
companies and the Department of Defense, helps its
customers leverage cloud technology to “empower
every business on the planet to successfully transform
at maximum velocity.” The company’s building is
adjoined to the famous landmark, Monument Terrace,
recognized for its cascade of stairs and tribute to
veterans. Known as the Carter Glass building, the new
hub was constructed in 1931 and don’s classic art deco
architectural elements.
5
The Job Creation Grant
The Job Creation Grant (JCG) provides grants to incentivize the creation of full-time
jobs with health benefits that pay well above minimum wage in enterprise zones.
Qualifying businesses can receive up to $800 for each net new, permanent, full-time position created above a
baseline four-position threshold for a maximum five-year period. Eligible firms can receive grants for up to 350
new positions created per year for a maximum of five years. Retail, food and beverage, personal service, and
nonprofit positions are not eligible for the JCG.
Eligible firms in High Unemployment Areas (HUAs) can receive JCGs of $500 per job created meeting program
requirements at a reduced wage threshold of 150% of the federal minimum wage ($7.25 per hour in 2020).
HUAs are localities with unemployment rates that are equal to or more than 150% of the state average
unemployment. A list of the HUA zones for the 2020 Qualification Year (QY) is included in Appendix E.
Qualifying positions paying at least 175% of the federal minimum wage are eligible for a grant of $500 per new
position created, and qualifying positions paying at least 200% of the federal minimum wage are eligible for a
grant of $800 per position created, as Table 3 shows:
Table 3: JCG Grant Wage Thresholds & Awards
Eligibility % of Minimum Hourly Pay Grant Award
Wage Minimum per Job*
HUAs 150% $10.88 $500
All Other EZs 175% $12.69 $500
Max. 200% $14.50 $800
*Jobs above the four-job minimum threshold
meeting all other program requirements
6
The VEZ program
JCG
was allocated
RPIG
in total funds for
Qualification Year
2020.
Figure 1: Share of Grant Funds Disbursed by Program, 2020
2020 was a year of unprecedented events around the world, as the global COVID-19 pandemic affected every
aspect of our lives. While the pandemic affected many sectors, construction continued, as zone investors
throughout the Commonwealth completed Real Property Investment projects in their communities. Grant
requests exceeded the amount of funding by just over $1.6 million; for this reason, proration for the RPIG was
at $0.88 on the dollar.
Overall, 196 grants were issued to 185 unique investors and businesses. Zone investors leveraged $347,809,651
in qualified real property investments to receive RPIGs, with the average QRPI per grant issued being
$2,258,504. There were 2,740 jobs that were awarded JCGs.
Figure 1 shows the approximate percentage of total grant funds disbursed by grant program type in 2020.
7
Figure 2: Enterprise Zone Funding Shortfall/Surplus History, 2010-2020
Figure 2 shows the difference
$2,000,000
between allocations and requests
$1,000,000 for VEZ grants over the last ten
Dollar Amounts
$0 years. 2011 was the last year that a
-$1,000,000
funding surplus existed, when $1.5
million remained after grants were
-$2,000,000
disbursed. 2015 had the largest
-$3,000,000 shortfall over the last decade, with
-$4,000,000
approximately $4.7 million more
funds requested than disbursed,
-$5,000,000
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
which required a proration of $0.67
on the dollar for grants disbursed.
Year
Thanks to increased program funding in 2020, the proration was lower in 2020 than it had been since 2013.
Based on the data, it is evident that there is and has been a high level of interest and participation in the VEZ
grant programs and demand for the program has significantly outpaced funding since 2015.
Press Glass invested $29 million in Henry County
in their industrial production facility and received
$176,821 in Real Property Investment Grants.
The company created 74 jobs to receive $56,538
in Job Creation Grants.
Press Glass, an architectural glass fabrication
company was founded in 1991 in Poland. The
company has 12 factories located in the U.S. and
Europe. Along with the headquarters in North
Carolina, the Ridgeway location in Henry County is
the company’s only production facility in the U.S.
8
2020 Real Property Investment Grant Overview
Table 4: RPIG Proration by Grant Year 2016-2020
Year 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Surplus/Shortfall -$3,878,710 -$4,571,915 -$3,696,572 -$2,215,484 -$1,647,653
Appropriation $12,650,000 $12,814,467 $13,500,000 $14,500,000 $14,500,000
Grant Requests $16,528,710 $17,386,382 $17,196,572 $16,715,484 $16,147,653
Proration 73.6803% 69.9705% 74.5061% 83.9320% 88.40%
Proration for the RPIG has varied, which is illustrated in Table 5. The highest proration was
$0.69 on the dollar in 2017. Grant Year 2020 had the lowest proration at $0.88 on the dollar.
Table 5: Percentage of Funds Awarded and Application County by QRPI Ranges, 2016-2020
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
QRPI Amount
% # % # % # % # % #
$100,000-499,999 12.2% 44 12.9% 45 15.3% 53 19.2% 56 12.0% 42
$500,000-$999,000 29.7% 51 39.2% 64 40.5% 63 27.0% 42 28.4% 43
$1 million-$2 million 26.9% 42 20.8% 33 19.7% 30 14.9% 22 20.0% 29
$2 million-$5 million 8.1% 12 6.6% 10 4.8% 7 11.4% 17 12.7% 20
$5 million-$10 million 19.0% 14 19.7% 15 18.3% 14 21.8% 15 19.9% 15
$10 million + 4.1% 3 0.8% 1 1.4% 1 5.8% 4 7.0% 5
Grant requests for RPIGs and JCGs
have exceeded funding levels for
the past five years (and beyond)
9
Figure 3: Percentage of Funds Awarded and Application Count by QRPI Ranges, 2016-2020
Real Property Investment grants are awarded to zone investors who make investments in widely varying amounts, ranging from
$100,000 (the required threshold for qualifying for an RPIG for rehabilitation of an existing structure(s)) up to more than $10 million,
with Table 5 and Figure 3 showing data for the last five years. Investments ranged from $133,860.37 to $36,804,228.00 in qualification
year 2020. Investments in the range of $500,000-$999,000 comprised 28.35% of the amounts of total QRPI. Investments $1 million-$2
million range comprised 20.05% of projects this year, which is about 5% more than 2019. The third largest share of investments was
close behind in the $5 million-$10 million range at 19.9%. Nearly 13% of investments were made in the $2 million-$5 million range.
Investments in the ranges of $100,000-$499,999 comprised about 12% of total QRPI, while projects exceeding $10 million made up the
smallest percentage of applications receiving RPIGs in 2020, as it had in previous years, as well.
Since the grant programs were created in 2005, the majority of VEZ funds have been utilized for RPIG awards. However, beginning with
QY 2010, JCG applications were given funding priority. JCG awards are funded at 100%, and then the remaining funds are prorated, if
necessary, among qualifying RPIG applicants. The demand for RPIG awards has consistently outweighed the demand for JCGs over the
last decade. In 2020, the ratio of RPIG to JCG requests was $7.36 in RPIG requests for every $1 in JCG requests.
10
Top RPIG Grantees by QRPI in 2020:
Church Hill North Holdings, LLC in the City of Applications by Property End Use
Richmond invested $36,804,228 in a new
Figure 4: RPIG Applications by Property End Use, 2016-2020
mixed-use facility.
Press Glass, Inc. invested $29,000,763 in their
100%
new production facility in Henry County.
1887 Holdings, Inc., Sauer Brands, in the City 80%
of Richmond invested $13,677,063 in 60%
rehabilitation of their industrial facility. 40%
Ridgewood Realty Partners, LLC invested 20%
$12,300,146 in their new commercial facility
0%
in Newport News. 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
River Ridge Mall JV, LLC invested $10,877,688 Commercial Industrial Mixed-Use
in the rehabilitation of commercial space to
build a Dick’s Sporting Goods in Lynchburg.
Blue Ridge Aquaculture invested $1.4 million in Henry
County and received $95,872 in Real Property Investment
Grant funds.
Blue Ridge Aquaculture, Inc. is the world’s largest producer
of tilapia using indoor recirculating aquaculture systems. In
2020, the company completed construction of a new, state-
of-the-art nursery facility to support its existing farming
operations and future growth plans. Company infrastructure
includes a 90,000ft. indoor aquaculture (RAS) facility used
for grow-out operations, a broodstock/genetics operation,
hatchery/nursery operation, feedmill/nutrition program, and
distribution company. The company currently produces five
million pounds of live tilapia per year.
11
RPIG funding is only available for investments made to
commercial, industrial, or mixed-use properties (where a
minimum of 30% of the useable floor space is devoted to
commercial, office, or industrial use) in enterprise zones.
Retail and office properties are considered to be commercial properties for
the purposes of the RPIG. As illustrated in Figure 4, commercial projects
have consistently made up the largest share (more than 70%) of RPIG
applications over the last five grant cycles. Qualification years 2019 and Nine million investment in Compass Entertainment
2020 had slightly more RPIGs awarded for industrial properties, 11.5% and complex in Lancaster County.
12.34%, respectively. Mixed-use has consistently made up between 10- Compass Entertainment Center completed construction
12.5% of RPIGs for the last three years. of its new building and facilities in 2020. Compass is a
complex that includes a restaurant, six movie theaters, an
arcade, flip-zone bumper cars, three climbing walls,
virtual reality games and a kids’ play zone, along with an
Applications by Construction Project Type indoor high adventure course.
Figure 5: RPIG Applications by Project Type, 2015-2019
100% In 2020, 119 RPIGS were awarded for
80% commercial uses, followed by 19 for mixed-
60% use and 16 for industrial developments.
40% Similar to previous years, industrial use projects had the highest
average QRPI, with an average of $4,669,693, followed by mixed-
20% use projects with an average of $3,540,670, and commercial
0%
projects with an average of $1,719,950 in QRPI. Average grant
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 awards by property end use followed the same pattern. Industrial
uses had the highest average award of $102,069, followed by
Expansion Rehabilitation New Construction Rehabilitation/Expansion with Solar
grants for mixed-use properties, which averaged out to $93,569.
Commercial grants averaged out to $76,963, due to the high
number of awards in the category, and the wide range of QRPIs
invested to leverage grant funding.
12
Property improvements eligible for RPIGs include new construction, rehabilitation of an
existing building or facility, expansion of an existing building or facility, or solar projects.
Figure 5 shows the share of RPIG awards by type of property improvement over the last five grant cycles. Solar-only
projects were eligible for the first time in qualification year 2020, and this new regulation included a new, lower
threshold for projects that included solar. The largest share of grants awarded over the last five years was
consistently for rehabilitation investments, followed by new construction. Investors who were expanding existing
building/facilities and rehabilitation/expansion with solar projects had the smallest share of grants awarded. The
high number of rehabilitation projects demonstrates the revitalization goals of the program are being fulfilled.
BUILDING/FACILITY NEW CONSTRUCTION BUILDING/FACILITY REHAB/EXPANSION
REHABILITATION EXPANSION WITH SOLAR
2020 Awards by Project Type
There are multiple factors contributing to why rehabilitations of commercial spaces make up the bulk of RPIG
awards. Many Enterprise Zones encompass downtown areas and commercial corridors, and see a significant number
of small and midsize commercial rehabilitation projects for retail, restaurants, office space or other commercial uses.
Other resources in those areas, such as the Virginia Main Street program or local rehabilitation tax incentives, may
encourage rehabilitation and adaptive reuse over demolition/new construction. In the 2020 grant cycle, the average
QRPI was highest for new construction, at $5.3 million. This was followed by rehabilitation or expansion with solar at
$2.2 million and rehabilitation and expansion with averages of $1.5 million and $1.6 million, respectively. The
average award by property improvement type followed a similar trend: the average RPIG for new construction
projects was $108,014, the average rehabilitation award was $76,245, and the average RPIG for expansion was
$71,560. The average RPIG for rehabilitation and expansion projects with solar was the outlier with an average of
$61,781.
13
Figure 6: Average Grant by Property Improvement and Use, 2016-2020
$400,000.00
$350,000.00 Due to the higher threshold
requirement, the highest
$300,000.00
average RPIG was awarded
$250,000.00
for new construction
$200,000.00 projects. New construction
$150,000.00 mixed-use projects were
$100,000.00 awarded the highest average
$50,000.00 RPIG, with an average grant
of about $176,822, followed
$0.00
Commercial Industrial Mixed-Use All Uses by industrial and then
commercial new construction
New Construction Rehabilitation Expansion Rehab/Exp w/solar
projects, as Figure 6 shows.
The lowest average RPIG was awarded for
rehabilitation/expansion projects with solar and industrial $5.5 million investment to historic
expansion projects, followed closely by commercial building completes Danville’s first
rehabilitations. As previously noted, grants for smaller- boutique hotel Downtown.
scale commercial rehabilitations make up the bulk of
RPIGs awarded in enterprise zones, which tend to have Once home to The Danville Register
both lower QRPIs and therefore lower grant awards. There & Bee, the renovated building in the
were no grants awarded for the following projects in bustling River District of Danville is
2020: mixed-use expansion, mixed-use solar, industrial now the Bee Hotel. The Bee was
solar. renovated to mix old with new by
mixing the exterior architectural
details of the historic building with
“We are very excited to have the Bee Hotel as an amenity to the modern boutique style on the
our thriving downtown area. Visitors to our community can interior. The company received
enjoy the benefits of a boutique hotel that is in walking $176,821 in RPIG funds.
distance to many of the restaurants, retail shops, and walking
trails.”
–Kelvin Perry, City of Danville Economic Development
14
Applications by Qualified Zone Investors
Figure 7: Application by Type of Zone Investor, 2016-2020
“Qualified Zone Investors”
include property owners
(occupant or non-occupant), 2020
owners of space within a larger
2019
building or facility
(condominium), tenants leasing
2018
space and capitalizing any
improvements made to that 2017
space, and developers
capitalizing their investment 2016
before the property is sold.
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Tenant Non-Occupant Owner Owner Occupant Developer Owns space in building
Figure 8: Qualified JCG Businesses & Jobs Created, 2016-2020
As Figure 7 shows, non-occupant property owners have
been the most common type of qualified zone investor 2,200 70
over the last five years, followed by owner-occupants, 2,000 60
tenants improving leased space, developers, and owners 1,800 50
Job Count Businesses
of space within a larger building. The VEZ program 1,600 40
requires that investors capitalize/expense their 1,400 30
investment in order to qualify for RPIGs. The program is 1,200 20
not open to developers who will not be 1,000 10
expensing/capitalizing hard cost real property 800 0
investments, which is one reason why the percentage of 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
developers making up total qualified zone investors Year
tends to be lower.
Jobs Created (PFTPs) Qualified Businesses
15
2020 Job Creation Grant Overview
Table 6: Job Creation Grant Summary, 2016-2020
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Qualified Businesses 63 48 55 54 42
Jobs Created (PFTPs) 881 1,497 2,108 1,519 825
Total Awards $1,791,829 $2,161,632 $2,696,732 $2,927,324 $1,930,431
Award per Job Created $2,033.86 $1,443.98 $1,279.28 $1,926.58 $2,339.75
Average New Jobs per Firm 14 31 38 28 20
Total Qualified Jobs 3,049 3,443 4,543 4,676 2,740
Average Qualified Jobs per Firm 48 72 83 87 65
DHCD awarded a total of Over the five-year period, job creation peaked in QY 2018. Three companies applied for the maximum
number of positions (350) eligible for awards under the JCG program 350, and several existing firms
$1,930,431 in JCGs to 42 already receiving JCGs expanded in the Cities of Hampton, Newport News, Richmond and Lynchburg,
businesses in qualification and Prince George County. Most likely due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 had fewer new jobs
created by eligible firms from the previous three years. As in past years, firms in the Cities of Richmond,
year 2020, as Table 6 shows. Hampton, and Newport News were top job creators, along with firms in the City of Norfolk and Prince
JCG requests represent 12% George County.
of funds requested through
$3.69 million rehab of decommissioned
the VEZ program, and coal-fired power plant by Arts & Letters
approximately 13% of Creative in Richmond.
awarded funds. Figure 8
Arts & Letters Creative Co., an independent
shows the five-year trends in creative company working in advertising
qualified businesses applying and technology, renovated the location for
for JCGs and corresponding its second office in Richmond. The building,
a decommissioned coal-fired power plant,
job creation. once generated the power for Lucky-Strikes
production facility. The company received
$88,410 in RPIG funds.
16
Top JCG Job Creators, 2020:
Numbers reflect new jobs created in addition to those created in previous grant years
Wisconsin BAE Systems
Pacific Life Morgan Olson Liebherr-America
Physicians Service Insurance Norfolk Ship Repair
Insurance Corp Pittsylvania County Newport News
City of Lynchburg Inc.
City of Hampton City of Norfolk
JCG Payouts by Wage Rates
Figure 9: JCG Payout by Wage Rates, 2016-2020 Liebherr-America in Newport
News completes fifth year of
JCG eligibility with 124 jobs
100%
added in 2020. Company
80% received $96,232 in Job
Creation Grants.
60%
40% Liebherr, a global
20%
manufacturer of products and
services for the construction
0% and mining sectors, as well as
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
refrigeration and freezing
200% Threshold 175% Threshold 150% Threshold products, added 124 jobs this
year alone to their North
American headquarters in
“In 2020 Liebherr, a German manufacturer of
Newport News. QY 2020 was
construction machinery and earthmoving equipment,
the company’s fifth
celebrated its 50th anniversary in the City of Newport
consecutive year receiving
News with yet another expansion on its campus in
JCGs; Liebherr has created a
Copeland Industrial Park,” said Mallory C. Butler,
total of 642 jobs at this
Local Zone Administrator. “For decades the City has
location.
worked closely with the family-owned business to
ensure the long-term success of its production facility
and USA headquarters,” continued Butler.
17
As previously noted, JCG award amounts are
Table 7: Qualifying Firms in HUA Localities
based on wage rates for new positions created by
grant-eligible firms. For new positions created by Qualifying
Total Awarded
Percent of Jobs
Awarded Jobs at
eligible businesses in HUAs, an award of $500 per Businesses
Jobs 150%
Qualifying at 150%
position is available for employees earning
City of Danville 4 164.9 61.59 37.3%
between 150% and 199% of federal minimum City of Hopewell 1 639.4 0 N/A
wage, and can receive a higher grant amount for TOTALS 5 804.3 61.6 7.7%
paying over 200% of minimum wage. For all other *Table includes jobs still qualifying within the 5-year grant period in previous HUAs no
areas outside of HUAs, businesses must pay at longer designated as such
least 175% of federal minimum wage, and can
Figure 9 shows that about 8% (62 jobs) of the total jobs in HUA
also receive a higher grant award for paying over
localities were given $500 grant awards for exceeding 150% of
200% of minimum wage.
minimum wage. 10% were awarded $500 grants for meeting or
exceeding 175% of federal minimum wage, and 89% of the total were
awarded $800 grants for jobs meeting or exceeding 200% of minimum
wage in 2020. Similar shares were awarded in previous years, with the
majority of grants being awarded at the 200% threshold level, with
less than 10% of jobs being awarded at the 150% level. QY 2020 was
the tenth grant cycle that localities could be classified as a HUA. Ten
localities (19%) of the 54 designated localities (not including towns
within these counties) were designated as HUAs for QY 2020. Only
firms in 2 of the 10 HUAs submitted JCG applications. Appendix E
shows complete list of QY 2020 HUA localities.
Clarkston-Potomac Group creates jobs in
Roanoke during the pandemic.
Clarkston-Potomac Group received $12,704 in “The enterprise zone has contributed to Roanoke being able to retain
JCGs for the 20 jobs created in 2020, its second the Clarkston-Potomac Group, Inc. and benefit from its physical presence
year receiving JCGs. The technology center, in our Downtown area, as well as the creation of new jobs offered at
competitive wages. The City's partnership with the Clarkston-Potomac
located in the heart of Roanoke, has 30 full-time
Group, Inc. is an example of how enterprise zones bring government
technical employees and plans to add 70 more
together with the private sector to grow the local economy."
over the next few years. -Aisha Johnson, City of Roanoke Office of Economic Development
18
Job Creation Grants by Sector
Figure 10: 2020 Job Creation Grants by Sector
Accommodations Finance and Insurance
14% Construction
and Food Service
17%
2% Health Care/Social
Admin. & Support; Assistance 3%
Waste Mgmt. &
Remediation 5% Information
Wholesale Trade 2%
7%
Professional/
Scientific
Services 7%
Manufacturing
43%
The industry sector of each entity receiving JCGs is tracked using the North American Industry
Classification System (NAICS) codes. As with previous grant cycles, the largest share of qualified
firms in QY 2020 were manufacturers (NAICS 300), representing 43% of all grantees. In 2020, Rehab of mixed-use building, 118 North
construction (NAICS 236-238) made up the second-largest share of JCG grantees, as Figure 10 and
Main Street in Farmville.
Table 8 show. None of the qualifying firms fell under utilities (NAICS 221) or management of
companies and enterprises (NAICS 551), which was also the case in the previous year.
The building, originally constructed in
1885 as the Farmville Opera House,
“The renovation of the 118 North Main building has brought new life to both that historic consists of commercial space on the
space and that end of historic Downtown Farmville. It has attracted new businesses who have first-floor and four luxury apartments
located there and renters in the second floor apartments who are not part of downtown life, that blend the history of the building
daily eating and doing business there.” with the latest amenities on the second-
– Chelsey White, Prince Edward County Department of Economic Development floor. The company invested $873,926
and received $88,410 in RPIG.
19
Table 8: Qualified Firms by Industry Sector, 2016-2020
Industry 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
# % # % # % # % # %
Construction 3 5% 2 4% 3 5% 5 9% 7 17%
Health Care/Social Assistance 3 5% 0 0% 0 0% 1 2% 1 3%
Information 1 2% 0 0% 1 2% 1 2% 1 2%
Manufacturing 36 57% 24 50% 26 47% 25 46% 18 43%
Other Services* 2 3% 7 15% 8 15% 0 0% 0 0%
Professional/Scientific Services 12 19% 10 21% 10 18% 7 13% 3 7%
Transport/Warehousing 1 2% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%
Wholesale Trade 1 2% 2 4% 4 7% 5 9% 3 7%
Admin. & Support; Waste Mgmt. &
3 5% 3 6% 2 4% 2 4% 2 5%
Remediation
Utilities 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%
Accommodations and Food Service 1 2% 0 0% 1 2% 1 2% 1 2%
Management of Companies and Enterprises 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%
Finance and Insurance 0 0% 0 0 0 0% 6 11% 6 14%
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 0 0% 0 0 0 0% 1 2% 0 0%
Total 63 100% 48 100% 55 100% 54 100% 42 100.00%
*Activities 522 and 531 grouped into Other Services
Over $4.25 million invested in historic renovation of acetylene gas factory in Norfolk.
IPConfigure is a global software development company specializing in video surveillance
software with their Orchid VMS and their SteelFin Server line. They recently completed
the historic renovation of an acetylene gas factory in the heart of Lamberts Point in
partnership with WPA Architects and PG Harris Construction Company.
The building still has many of the original features, including 40-ft ceilings, exposed brick
walls, and a now-glass-enclosed train loading station. The original blueprints were found
in the attic during renovations and are now framed in the building.
The campus was built to serve as a hiring draw in the ever-escalating talent wars and in
2021 alone IPC has hired over twelve employees both in Hampton Roads and
remote. The company received $88,410 in Real Property Investment Grant funds.
20
Local Enterprise Zones
As previously noted, the Commonwealth has 45 enterprise zones encompassing
approximately 245 square miles. These zones are located in 20 cities, 34 counties and 12
towns within those counties.
During QY 2020, 17 of the 45 were joint zones (including pre-2005 zones designated as
joint zones between counties and towns), and 12 localities had two enterprise zone
designations.
Unless noted otherwise, all data used in this report is generated from the Enterprise
Zone Administration Database and is based on information reported by Local Zone
Administrators (LZAs), businesses, and investors on the incentive applications.
The following sections of the annual report are a series of appendices that provide the
details of how our local partners are contributing to the success of the program.
• Appendix A: Zone Highlights
• Appendix B: State Incentive Usage by Zone, 2016-2020 Speyside Bourbon creates over 50 new jobs
in Smyth County, VA.
• Appendix C: Report on Local Incentives Governor Northam made a joint
announcement to welcome Speyside
• Appendix D: Enterprise Zone Maps Bourbon Cooperage and Speyside Bourbon
Stave Mill to Virginia. Speyside Bourbon
• Appendix E: 2020 High Unemployment Areas created over 50 jobs in 2020 with plans to
add more in upcoming years. The company
manufactures barrels locally from wood
purchased in the Commonwealth. The
company received a total of $30,566 in job
creation grants.
21
Appendix A: Zone Highlights
Accomack County – Northampton County Charlotte County
In 2020, Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport in the Wallops Research Park In 2020, Buckingham Branch Railroad purchased the 20-acre closed
constructed a new building to be occupied by Rocket Lab for launches. A railcar repair facility in Charlotte County’s Industrial Park to use as a
total of 54 new businesses opened in Accomack County in 2020 and over transload site, which is an asset to both the Industrial Park and the
$4.1 in private investments were made. In Northampton County, Coastal adjacent Heartland Industrial Park.
Precast Systems added 150 new jobs in 2020.
Danville (City) – Pittsylvania County
Alleghany County – Clifton Forge (Town) – Covington (City) Morgan Olson invested over $5.8 million in capital investment in
The City of Covington had nine new businesses open in their Enterprise renovating a furniture manufacturing plant into a 925,000 square foot
Zone in 2020 and over $1.5 million in private investments were made. state-of-the-art automotive manufacturing facility in Pittsylvania
The Rescue Squad of Clifton Forge invested over $1.3 million in their County’s enterprise zone in 2020. Danville had a high level of activity in
newly constructed building in the Enterprise Zone. 2020, with the Bee Hotel investing $5.5 million in the rehabilitation of
the Danville Register & Bee building, while PRA Group created 75 new
Bedford (Town) jobs in the Enterprise Zone.
16 new businesses opened in Bedford’s Enterprise Zone in 2020.
Additionally, the Ridge Bedford invested over $2 million in the Franklin (City) – Southampton County – Isle of Wight
rehabilitation of their building. County
Fifteen new businesses opened in the City of Franklin’s enterprise zone
Bristol in 2020 and created 72 new jobs. ST Tissue, LLC created 30 new jobs in
Bristol’s Enterprise Zone received more than $6.8 million in private 2020 in the Isle of Wight Enterprise Zone. Two new businesses opened
investment in 2020, creating an estimated 45 jobs in the Enterprise in Southampton County’s Enterprise Zone creating 15 jobs in 2020.
Zone.
Halifax County
Brunswick County – Mecklenburg County Halifax County’s enterprise zone saw significant development with over
Microsoft bought land in three business parks in Mecklenburg County in $9.6 million in private investment, including Golden Piedmont Labs, a
2020, expanding their data center campus. Nine businesses opened in hemp processing facility, which invested $8 million in equipment and
Mecklenburg’s enterprise zone, creating 36 new jobs. In Brunswick hired 14 employees. Mid-Atlantic Broadband Corporation, in partnership
County, four new businesses were established, creating 23 jobs in 2020. with Microsoft, constructed a new state of the art innovation hub in the
Enterprise Zone.
Hampton (City)
Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation created 300 jobs in
the City of Hampton Enterprise Zone in 2020; in addition, the enterprise
zone received $8.7 million in private investment.
22
Appendix A: Zone Highlights
Henrico County Norfolk (City)
Henrico County saw significant investment in its zone with 14 Eight businesses invested over $20.1 million in capital investments in the
businesses investing more than $24.8 million in capital investment in Norfolk enterprise zone in 2020, including Colley 24, LLC with an $8.9
2020, including The Faison Center, which invested over $5.3 million in million investment in the new construction of their commercial property.
the construction of its new building in the Enterprise Zone. BAE Systems created 266 this jobs and Colonna’s Shipyard created 103 jobs
in the enterprise zone this year alone, in addition to the jobs that both
Henry County – Martinsville (City) companies have created in past years in which they received job creation
Press Glass invested over $29 million and created 75 new jobs in their grants.
new industrial production facility in Henry County’s enterprise zone in
2020. Two businesses made over $1 million in capital investment in Northern Neck Zone (Counties of Lancaster, Northumberland,
2020 in the City of Martinsville. Richmond, Westmoreland, and towns of Warsaw and
Lunenburg Kilmarnock)
In the Lancaster County enterprise zone, Compass Entertainment invested
In the Lunenburg County enterprise zone, the Lunenburg Industrial
$9 million in capital investment in their newly constructed complex in 2020.
Development Authority is currently working on the demolition and site
In the Northumberland enterprise zone, Omega Protein invested $405,000
readiness of an abandoned school to be developed into a business park
in an industrial process upgrade and remodeling.
within the county’s enterprise zone.
Lynchburg Patrick County
Two new businesses opened in Patrick County’s enterprise zone in 2020
Fourteen businesses leveraged over $46.6 million in real property
and construction began of the ViaSat satellite for satellite internet service,
investments in 2020, including CloudFit Software’s $2.75 million
which will positively affect economic and community development in the
investment in the rehabilitation of a historic building in the Lynchburg
area.
enterprise zone.
Newport News (City) Petersburg (City)
Sycamore Street Properties invested over $948,000 in capital investment in
The Newport News enterprise zone had 12 companies invest over
the rehabilitation of mixed-use property in 2020 in the Petersburg
$22.4 million in capital investment in the enterprise zone in 2020. In
enterprise zone.
addition, five companies created 429 jobs, including Liebherr-America,
who created 124 jobs in its fifth year of Job Creation Grant eligibility in Portsmouth (City)
the Newport News enterprise zone in 2020.
W.F.Magann, a heavy industry and marine construction contractor, and
PER Associates, a concrete manufacturer, both responded to increasing
federal contract work by expanding employment within the City of
Portsmouth’s enterprise zone in 2020, creating 84 jobs and 18 jobs,
respectively.
23
Appendix A: Zone Highlights
Prince Edward County Smyth County
Prince Edward County had three businesses in the enterprise zone The Smyth County’s enterprise zone had 12 new businesses open and over
make over $800,000 in capital investment in 2020, including two $1.35 million in private investments made in 2020. In addition, Speyside
mixed-use buildings that were renovated on Main Street in historic Bourbon Stave Mill and Cooperage created over 50 new jobs in 2020 in
Downtown Farmville. the Smyth County zone.
Prince George County Staunton (City)
Three new businesses were created in the Prince George enterprise Staunton Innovation Hub invested over $4 million in the completion of
zone in 2020, including Amazon, who opened a fulfillment center, their rehabilitation project with solar panels in the City of Staunton’s
currently with 150 employees, and NVR, Inc., who created 119 jobs. enterprise zone in 2020. In addition, 62 new businesses were created in
the enterprise zone, creating 93 jobs in 2020.
Pulaski County – Radford (City)
Patton Logistics created 30 jobs and three companies invested a total Tazewell (County)
of over $1.2 million in capital investment in the Pulaski County Two businesses in the Tazewell County enterprise zone invested a total of
enterprise zone in 2020. over $1.7 million in capital investment in 2020.
Richmond (City) Waynesboro (City)
In the City of Richmond, 26 businesses invested more than $84 million In the City of Waynesboro’s enterprise zone, 24 new small businesses
in capital investment in the enterprise zone in 2020, including 1887 opened up, and over $1.3 million in private investments were made in
Holdings dba C.F. Sauer Foods, who invested more than $13.6 million 2021. Waynesboro High School, bordering the EZ, is nearing completion
in the rehabilitation of their industrial facility, and Church Hill North with a $21 million renovation with just over $6 million invested in 2020.
Holdings, who invested more than $36 million in the new construction
of their mixed-use property. Winchester (City)
In 2020, the City of Winchester saw significant investment in its zone with
Roanoke (City) eight new businesses and a total of more than $4.6 million in private
Over $25.5 million in capital investments were made by businesses in investment, including the rehabilitation of an old bank into a mixed-use
the City of Roanoke’s enterprise zone in 2020, including Monument space.
Roanoke, who invested over $9.7 million to renovate their mixed-use
building. Wise County
The Wise County enterprise zone had nine businesses open in 2020,
Scott County resulting in 21 new jobs created and a total private investment of $2.49
14 businesses invested a total of $498,000 in private investments in million.
the Scott County enterprise zone in 2020.
Wythe County
Governor Northam made two economic development announcements for
Wythe County, including Musser Lumber and Klockner Pentaplast. The
enterprise zone had $2.49 million in private investment in 2020.
24
Appendix B: EZ Incentive Usage by Zone, 2016-2020
Zone # Community Acreage Designation Expiration 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 $ Amt. % of Total
Charlotte County 773 0 1 0
48 Lunenburg County 405 2000 2024 0 0 0 6 8 $236,507.26 1.63%
Prince Edward County 2,859 3 2 6
Dickenson County 3,645 0 0 0
49 Town of Clintwood 237 2000 2024 0 0 0 0 0 $0.00 0.00%
Town of Haysi 163 0 0 0
Town of Warsaw 961 4 3 3
Lancaster County 3,696 1 0 0
Northumberland County 2,496 0 0 1
50 2000 2024 8 3 $669,740.68 4.62%
Richmond County 1,140 0 3 0
Westmoreland County 3,786 2 2 0
Town of Kilmarnock 374 0 1 0
Smyth County 3,572 2 3 5
Washington County 3,594 1 0 0
51 2000 2023 4 3 $125,824.86 0.87%
Town of Chilhowie 505 0 0 0
Town of Glade Spring 289 1 0 0
Alleghany County 3,608 0 3 0
53 Town of Clifton Forge 246 2001 2025 1 1 0 1 3 $284,366.17 1.96%
City of Covington 639 3 1 3
Henry County 2934 2 7 0
54 2001 2025 4 0 $362,938.66 2.50%
City of Martinsville 527 2 2 4
Lunenburg County 364 0 0 1
55 Town of Kenbridge 310 2001 2025 0 0 0 1 3 $0.00 0.00%
Town of Victoria 220 0 0 0
24
Appendix B: State Incentive Usage by Zone, 2016-2020
Pittsylvania County 3,428 4 0 1
57 2001 2025 4 5 $586,569.45 4.05%
City of Danville 1,608 3 1 2
Patrick County 3,621 0 0 2
22 2002 2021 1 0 $0.00 0.00%
Town of Stuart 176 0 0 0
City of Richmond (North) 3,588 22 35 34 34
28 2003 2022 42 $3,165,108.70 21.83%
Henrico County 3,811 17 12 16 16
1 City of Danville 1,911 2004 2023 8 9 5 5 7 $468,082.68 3.23%
2 City of Lynchburg 2,198 2004 2023 11 9 10 10 10 $1,322,931.83 9.12%
3 City of Newport News 3,839 2004 2023 15 14 12 12 14 $786,028.71 5.42%
5 City of Roanoke 1,904 2004 2023 11 7 11 11 16 $903,052.63 6.23%
Smyth County 619 0 0 0 0
6 2004 2024 0 $0.00 0.00%
Town of Saltville 357 0 0 0 0
8 City of Hampton 3,233 2005 2024 3 10 11 11 15 $237,035.43 1.63%
9 City of Hopewell 2,183 2005 2024 2 2 0 0 1 $82,220.43 0.57%
10 City of Petersburg 922 2005 2024 1 3 3 3 7 $88,410.86 0.61%
11 Wythe County 3,421 2005 2024 3 3 4 4 1 $183,525.73 1.27%
12 Town of Bedford 636 2005 2024 1 0 1 1 3 $88,410.86 0.61%
14 City of Waynesboro 608 2008 2027 2 2 1 1 2 $31,410.33 0.22%
15 Halifax County 2,853 2008 2027 4 6 3 3 7 $249,683.19 1.72%
52 Wise County 3,808 2008 2027 0 1 0 0 1 $0.00 0.00%
4 City of Portsmouth 1,468 2010 2029 3 4 4 4 2 $123,677.25 0.85%
7 City of Norfolk 2,371 2010 2029 13 14 8 8 11 $1,055,854.97 7.28%
16 Prince George County 3,754 2010 2029 1 4 2 2 2 $91,856.00 0.63%
17 City of Staunton 699 2010 2029 3 2 2 2 1 $229,827.16 1.59%
City of Franklin 878 0 1 2 2
18 Southampton County 3412 2010 2029 0 0 3 3 8 $20,568.00 0.14%
Isle of Wight County 2,438 1 1 1 1
24
Appendix B: State Incentive Usage by Zone, 2016-2020
24 Pittsylvania County 3,132 2010 2029 0 0 0 0 0 $0.00 0.00%
19 City of Richmond (South) 3,611 2013 2032 7 3 7 7 6 $533,329.18 3.68%
Greensville 3,280 0 0 0 0
43 2013 2032 2 $0.00 0.00%
City of Emporia 631 0 1 2 2
20 City of Portsmouth 3,659 2014 2033 2 3 1 1 2 $71,360.00 0.49%
21 City of Winchester 607 2014 2033 1 2 2 2 2 $43,456.06 0.30%
23 Scott County 3,133 2014 2033 0 0 1 1 0 $0.00 0.00%
Pulaski County 3,748 3 4 3
25 2014 2033 3 4 $438,559.82 3.02%
City of Radford 1,289 4 2 3
Accomack County 3,361 0 1 3
26 2015 2034 1 4 $13,338.55 0.09%
Northampton County 2,993 1 2 4
Carroll County 3,658 0 0 0
27 Grayson County 1,231 2015 2034 0 0 0 1 0 $265,232.59 1.83%
City of Galax 638 3 0 0
29 City of Bristol 634 2015 2034 4 5 1 0 1 $357,536.69 2.47%
30 Page County 2,084 2015 2034 4 0 0 5 3 $128,581.19 0.89%
31 City of Newport News 3,236 2015 2034 2 5 10 0 10 $181,968.38 1.25%
Mecklenburg County 2,738 1 1 0
32 2016 2035 8 1 $195,749.89 1.35%
Brunswick County 273 1 0 2
35 City of Hampton 3,636 2016 2035 2 10 7 6 3 $235,993.41 1.63%
Henry County 3,840 4 7 8
36 2016 2035 2 5 $211,604.95 1.46%
City of Martinsville 630 1 2 1
44 Tazewell County 3,786 2016 2035 2 1 2 4 1 $134,366.04 0.93%
46 City of Lynchburg 2,176 2016 2035 4 3 3 2 7 $295,291.42 2.04%
25
Appendix C: Local Incentives
Accomack County #26A Brunswick County #32B
• Accelerated permit processing and plan review • Accelerated permit processing
• Bond conduit issuer fee exemption • Building permit fee waiver
• Business personal property tax grant • Coordination with local banking services
• Discounted land buy-down • Discounted land buy-down
• Local job creation grants in the Accomack Industrial Park • Low-interest loans for fixed assets
• Local real property investment grants • Machinery and tools tax grant
• Marketing opportunities • Partial real estate tax exemption
• Permit fee and land fill rebates • Water and sewer connection fee waiver
Alleghany County #53A Carroll County #27A
• Building permit fee rebate • Building permit fee waiver
• Business license tax reduction • Local job creation credit program
• Machinery and tools tax reduction • Water and sewer connection fee waiver
• Partial real estate tax exemption
• Utility consumption tax reduction Charlotte County #48A
• Zoning fee rebate • Accelerated permit processing
• Discounted land buy-down
Bedford (Town) #12 • Machinery and tools tax grant
• Five-year business, occupational, license (BPOL) fee rebates • Technology assistance in industrial parks
• Five-year rehabilitated real estate tax exemption • Workforce training
• Accelerated permit processing
• Utility service improvements and reduction of connection fees Chilhowie (Town) #51C
• Zoning and signage fee waiver • Building permit fee waiver
• Business, professional and occupational
Bristol (City) #29 license fee waiver for businesses creating new jobs
• Accelerated permit processing • Partial real estate tax exemption
• Business and job training grants
• Design assistance
• Façade improvement grant
• Partial real property tax exemption
• Utilities connection fee credit
26
Appendix C: Local Incentives
Clifton Forge (Town) #53C Dickenson County #49A
• Business, professional and occupational license • Building and permit fee waivers
fee partial waiver • Grants based on real estate taxes paid
• Machinery and tools tax grant • Machinery and tools tax grant
• Partial real estate tax exemption • Partial real estate tax exemption
• Utility consumption tax reduction • Utility connection fee rebates
• Zoning and building permit fee rebate • Workforce training grants
Clintwood (Town) #49B Emporia (City) #43B
• Water and sewer connection fee waiver • Business incubation grant
• Workforce training opportunities • Business personal property grant
• Business, professional and occupational license fee waiver
Covington (City) #53B • Façade improvement grant
• Machinery and tools tax grant • Machinery and tools tax grant
• Partial business, professional and occupational • Partial real estate tax exemption
license fee waiver • Water and sewer connection fee waiver
• Partial real estate tax exemption • Zoning and building permit fee waiver
• Permit and zoning fee waiver
• Small business loan program Franklin (City) #18A
• Utility consumption tax reduction • Accelerated permit processing
• Discounted land buy-down
Danville (City) #1 & #57B • Electricity fee and tax rebate
• Dan River Businesses Development Center assistance • Regional Workforce Development Center assistance
• Discounted land buy-down • Free temporary office space for up to five persons
• Local job creation grant • Machinery and tools tax grant
• Machinery and tools tax grant • Partial real estate tax exemption
• Partial business, professional and occupational license • Permit fee rebate
fee waiver • Reduced fee for jobs skills assessment
• Partial real estate tax exemption
• Permit fee waiver Galax (City) #27C
• Regional Center for Applied Technology and Training • Building permit fee waiver
assistance • Water and sewer connection fee waiver
• Utility connection fee rebates
27
Appendix C: Local Incentives
Glade Spring (Town) #51D Henrico County #28B
• Partial real estate tax exemption • Accelerated permit processing and design assistance
• Business, professional and occupational license credit • Architectural Design Assistance Program for façade, exterior (landscaping)
improvements
Grayson County #27B • Building demolition and site preparation grant
• Building permit fee waiver • Crime prevention through environmental design
• Water and sewer connection fee waiver • Façade improvement grants
• Freestanding signage grants
Greensville County #43A • Offsite improvement grants for draining, water and sewer, extending
• Building and zoning permit fee waivers broadband, and construction or replacement of sidewalks
• Discounted land buy-down • Parking lot sealing and paving, and landscaping grants
• Grant based on real estate taxes paid • Partial real estate tax exemption
• Machinery and tools tax grant • Permit and plan review fee waivers
• Water and sewer connection fee waiver • Training seminars for businesses
• Workforce training opportunities
Halifax County #15
• Business, professional and occupational license fee waiver Henry County #46A & #54A
• Chamber of Commerce membership fee waivers • Building permit fee waiver
• Discounted land buy-down • Furniture, fixtures and equipment grant
• Furniture, fixtures and equipment grant • Machinery and tools tax grant
• Local real property investment grants • Partial real estate tax exemption
• Machinery and tools tax grant • Water and sewer connection fee waiver
• Partial permit fee waivers by the town of South Boston
• Partial sales tax exemption in the town of South Boston Hopewell (City) #9
• Utility tax grant on electricity and natural gas • Accelerated permit processing
• Workforce training opportunities • Crime prevention assessments
• Fire safety education seminars
Hampton (City) #8 & #35 • Land development and permit fee waivers
• Capital investment grants • Partial business, professional and occupational license fee waiver
• Business, professional and occupational license fee rebate • Partial real estate tax exemption
• Hampton Technology Incubator assistance • Public facility and infrastructure enhancements
• Hampton University Small Business Incubator assistance • Sewer connection fee waiver
• Revolving loan fund
• Utility tax grant
28
Appendix C: Local Incentives
Isle of Wight County #18C Lunenburg County #55A
• Accelerated permit processing • Accelerated permit processing
• Local job creation grant • Building permit fee waiver
• Machinery and tools tax grant • Business, professional and occupational license fee waiver
• Permit fee waivers • Discounted land buy-down
• Equipment investment grants
Kenbridge (Town) #55B • Industrial and commercial development grants
• Accelerated permit processing • Tax-exempt industrial revenue bonds
• Building permit fee waiver • Workforce training opportunities
• Business, professional and occupational license fee waiver
• Discounted land buy-down Lynchburg (City) #2 & #46
• Tax-exempt industrial revenue bonds • Discounted land buy-down
• Water and sewer connection fee waiver and reduced extension fees • Industrial training programs through CVCC
• Workforce training • Low-interest loan pool
• Partial real estate tax exemption
Kilmarnock (Town) #50A • Real estate redevelopment grants
• Auto decal fee waiver • Water and sewer connection fee financing
• Business, professional and occupational license fee waivers
• Capital investment and job creation incentives Martinsville (City) #46B & #54B
• Water and sewer connection fee waiver • Building permit fee waiver
• Zoning, permit and subdivision fee waivers • Business, professional and occupational license fee rebate
• Furniture, fixtures and equipment grant
Lancaster County #50B • Grant based on real estate taxes paid
• Capital investment and job creation incentives • Machinery and tools tax grant
• Façade improvement grants • Partial real estate tax exemption
• Micro-enterprise loan pool • Water and sewer connection fee waiver
• Partial real estate tax exemption
Mecklenburg County #32A
Lunenburg County #48B • Building permit fee waiver
• Accelerated permit processing • Coordination with local banking services
• Discounted land buy-down • Discounted land buy-down in the Airport Industrial Park
• Machinery and tools tax grant • Local job creation grant
• Real estate tax grants • Machinery and tools tax grant
• Technology assistance
• Workforce training opportunities
29
Appendix C: Local Incentives
Newport News (City) #3 Page County #30
• Business, professional and occupational license fee rebate • Accelerated permit processing
• Infrastructure improvements to the Oakland Industrial Park • Business, professional and occupational license fee rebate
and Carleton Farm Industrial Park • Capital investment grants
• Occupancy cost reduction for target industries • Development fee rebates
• Utility tax • Local sales, meals and lodging tax partial refund
• Partial real estate tax exemption
Newport News (City) #31 • Small business loan program
• Business assistance
• Business, professional and occupational license fee rebate Patrick County #22A
• Discounted land buy-down • Building permit fee waiver
• Loan guarantee assistance • Machinery and tools tax grant
• Low-interest loan pool • Partial real estate tax exemption
• Occupancy cost reduction for target industries
• Partial real estate tax exemption Petersburg (City) #10
• Utility consumption tax reduction • Architectural Design Assistance Program
• Building and land disturbance permit and zoning fee waivers
Norfolk (City) #7 • Discounted land buy-down
• Building permit fee waiver • Façade improvement grants
• Business assistance • Machinery and tools tax grant
• Business, professional and occupational license fee rebate • Partial real estate tax exemption
• Free tax consultations • Water and sewer connection fee reduction
• Marketing opportunities • Water and sewer permit fee waivers
• Norfolk Redevelopment Housing Authority technical and
research assistance and access to free meeting space Pittsylvania County #24 & #57A
• Partial real estate tax exemption • Dan River Businesses Development Center assistance
• Utility consumption tax reduction • Discounted land buy-down
• Local job creation grant
Northampton County #26B • Machinery and tools tax grant
• Accelerated permit processing and plan review • Partial business, professional and occupational license fee waiver
• Micro-enterprise loan pool • Partial real estate tax exemption
• Partial real property tax exemption • Permit fee waiver
• Regional Center for Applied Technology and Training assistance
Northumberland County #50C • Utility connection fee rebates
• Capital investment and job creation incentive
30
Appendix C: Local Incentives
Portsmouth (City) #20 Pulaski County #25B
• Business personal property investment grant • Accelerated permit processing
• Façade improvement grants • Off-balance sheet financing
• Machinery and tools tax grant • Stimulus Grant for job creation and capital investments
• Mixed-use development incentives • Tax-exempt industrial revenue bonds
• Partial real estate tax exemption • Water and sewer connection fee waiver
• Permit fee waivers • Reduced consumption charges for water and sewer
• Streetscape improvement grants
Radford (City) #25A
Prince Edward County #48C • Machinery and tools tax grant
• Accelerated permit processing • Partial real property tax exemption
• Architectural design fee rebate in Farmville Historic District • Utility connection fee waiver
• Building permit fee waiver
• Business security audit Richmond (City) #19 and #28A
• Crime Prevention through Environmental Design • Brownfield development rebate
• Discounted land buy-down in Prince Edward Business Park • Business relocation rebate
• Machinery and tools tax grants in select business parks • Employment assistance grant for job creation
• Partial real estate tax exemption • Industrial development fee rebate
• Permit fee waiver for select properties • Loan fee rebate up to $1,000
• Water and sewer connection fee reduction in the town of • Machinery and tools tax grant
Farmville • Partial real estate tax exemption
Prince George County #16 Richmond County #50E
• Business, professional and occupational license fee rebate • Capital investment and job creation incentives
• Machinery and tools tax grant • Partial real estate tax exemption
• Utility consumption tax reduction
• Zoning fee waiver Roanoke (City) #5
• Business security grant
• Development fee rebates
• Façade, parking and landscaping improvement grants
• Fire suppression retro-fit grant and connection fee rebate
• Neighborhood parks and recreation grant
• Partial real estate tax exemption
• Water and sewer and fire connection fee rebates
31
Appendix C: Local Incentives
Saltville (Town) #6A Staunton (City) #17
• Broadband access connection reimbursement • Five-year business grant
• Business personal property investment grant • Crime prevention through environmental design
• Downtown revitalization grants and loans • Labor pool information
• Tourism marketing mini-grant • Local job creation grant
• Low-interest loan pool
Scott County #23 • Machinery and tools tax grant
• Building permit and zoning fee waiver • Partial real estate tax exemption
• CPA fee refund for EZ incentive attestation • Permit fee waivers
• Grant based on real estate taxes paid • Public property enhancement and beautification program
• Lodging tax grant • Water and sewer connection fee reduction
• Machinery and tools tax grant • Workforce training assessment
• Merchant capital tax grant • Zoning modification consideration
Smyth County #6B & #51A Stuart (Town) #22B
• Loan assistance • Business, professional and occupational license fee reduction
• Partial real estate tax exemption • Machinery and tools tax grant
• Stimulus grant for job creation and equipment investments • Partial real estate tax exemption
• Water and sewer connection fee reduction • Water and sewer connection fee waiver
• Workforce training opportunities
Tazewell County # 44
Southampton County #18B • Industrial development grant programs
• Accelerated permit processing • Partial real estate tax exemption
• Building permit fee waiver
• Discounted land buy-down Victoria (Town) #55C
• Labor pool information • Accelerated permit processing
• Machinery and tools tax grant • Business, professional and occupational license fee waivers
• Partial real estate tax exemption in the Kilmarnock Business and Technology Park
• Temporary office space • Discounted land buy-down
• Utility tax grant for electricity • Tax-exempt industrial revenue bonds
• Workforce training • Water and sewer connection and extension fee reduction
32
Appendix C: Local Incentives
Warsaw (Town) #50F Wise County #52
• Capital investment and job creation incentives • Building permit fee waiver
• Façade improvement grants • Discounted land buy-down and reduced development costs
• Partial real estate tax exemptions • Machinery and tools tax grant
• Partial real estate tax exemption
Washington County #51B • Workforce training at UVA Wise and MECC
• Building and zoning permit fee waivers or reductions
• Discounted land buy-down Wythe County #11
• Partial real estate tax exemption • Accelerated permit processing
• Tax-exempt industrial revenue bond application fee waiver • Business, professional and occupational license fee reduction
• Dining and lodging establishment grants
Waynesboro (City) #14 • Discounted land buy-down in Progress Park
• Local job creation grants in the Accomack Industrial Park • Local job creation grants for high-wage businesses
• Partial real estate tax exemption • Permit fee waivers
• Sidewalk and landscape enhancement grants • Revolving loan fund
• Sewer connection fee reduction
Westmoreland County #50D • Water consumption rate reduction
• Capital investment and job creation incentives
Winchester (City) #21
• Business development grants
• Commercial and mixed-use property rehabilitation grant
• Development fee rebates
• Entrepreneurship grant
• Façade improvement loans
• Professional job creation grant
• Major mixed-use development incentive
• Micro-enterprise loan pool
• New or expanding technology-driven business grant
• Partial real property tax exemption
• Residential real estate improvement grant
• Exterior Improvement Grant Program
• Revolving loan fund
33
Appendix D: Enterprise Zone Map
34
Appendix E: High Unemployment Areas (HUAs)
Locality Zone #
Brunswick County 32B
Northumberland County 50C
City of Danville 1 &57B
Dickenson County (Clintwood & Haysi) 49A
City of Emporia 43B
City of Hopewell 9
Tazewell County 44
Northampton County 26B
City of Petersburg 10
Wise County 52
*The following communities in joint zones are NOT HUAs: Mecklenburg, Lancaster,
Richmond, Westmoreland, Pittsylvania, Greensville, and Accomack Counties and the
towns of Kilmarnock and Warsaw. Businesses in these communities are not eligible
for the reduced wage threshold. Source: DHCD, based on the LAUS Unit and Bureau
of Labor Statistics 2020 annual Virginia Unemployment Report.
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