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Board agrees to let municipalities pursue two square miles of enterprise-zone acreage
Summary
Board discussed an enterprise-zone request; members agreed to let municipalities pursue two of five currently unallocated square miles in the northern zone and asked that municipalities prepare intergovernmental agreements and ordinance updates for later formal approval.
Tazewell County board members approved a motion to support municipalities seeking to partner in the county's enterprise zone and discussed how the remaining, unallocated acreage would be managed.
During discussion (motion by 'Mister Hall', second by 'Nancy'), Speaker 7 explained that the northern enterprise zone originally allocated 15 square miles among partners; the zone was increased to 20 square miles in 2023, leaving about five square miles unallocated. The county proposed offering two of those unallocated square miles to municipalities to share, with the partners responsible for preparing required applications and updated intergovernmental agreements. Speaker 7 said municipalities would bear the administrative work of applying to the state and providing updated ordinance text; the county would later return to the board with an updated intergovernmental agreement and ordinance for formal approval.
Board members asked whether local incentives or costs would be charged; Speaker 7 said partners are responsible for local incentive decisions and that state incentives are available to zone participants. Specific incentives referenced included a five-year property tax abatement on improvements, waived permit fees, an enterprise zone fee (described as a half-percent of total cost) and sales-tax waivers for qualifying projects.
Why it matters: enterprise zones and associated incentives can influence local economic development and where businesses choose to invest. Allowing municipalities to seek partnership can expand opportunities but shifts upfront administrative responsibility to the municipalities.
Next steps: municipalities that pursue partnership will submit applications to the state and the county will later bring a formal intergovernmental agreement and ordinance amendment to the board for approval.
