Board backs 70% tax incentive for 50-acre tract near airport to spur industrial development

The Vermilion County Board voted to join the city of Danville and other local taxing bodies in requesting state support for an incentive package tied to a 50-acre tract north and west of the airport (north of West Noble Road and west of Owen Avenue).

Presenters said the city intends to extend sewer and infrastructure to the property to make it market-ready for commercial or industrial uses. The incentive under consideration is a 70% allowance on real estate taxes for improvements to that parcel (the abatement applies only to the improved value, not unimproved land). That level was described as higher than a 50% abatement used in other parts of the larger incentive area; the board was told the city hopes the larger abatement will attract employers and investment.

The transcript shows the city has already approved the measure and that most smaller taxing bodies have consented; the village of Tilling (appears as "Tello"/"Tilling" in the transcript) was reported to vote on it later in the week. A board member asked who owns the property; staff said they had visited the site but did not provide a definitive ownership record on the floor.

After discussion, the board recorded votes in favor (voice/roll-call as shown in the meeting record) and carried the motion to join the support request to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Development.

The motion does not itself change tax rates; it signals local joint support for state-level enterprise or incentive designation and commits the county to the request process. Staff noted the action resembles a prior resolution passed in October and asked members to view the action as consistent with that prior support.