RD680 - Virginia Enterprise Zone Program Grant Year 2018 Annual Report


Executive Summary:

The Virginia Enterprise Zone (VEZ) program is a partnership between state and local government that promotes economic development and revitalization through job creation and real property investment. When used in conjunction with other local, state and federal programs, enterprise zones can leverage substantial private sector investment in targeted areas throughout Virginia.

The Virginia Enterprise Zone program was first established in 1982 and has undergone several amendments over the years. The most significant change was in 2005 when the General Assembly passed the Enterprise Zone (EZ) Grant Act. It provided for the implementation of specific community and economic development policies: targeting zone designations to distressed localities, gradually reducing the number of zones statewide for deeper impact, and providing incentives for the creation of higher paying jobs with health benefits. The 2005 EZ Grant Act also replaced the former tax credit incentives with the Real Property Investment Grant (RPIG) and the Job Creation Grant (JCG). These grants are performance-based, and firms must create jobs and/or place a real property investment into service before applying for grant awards. However, the 2005 act allowed pre-qualified firms to continue accessing the former General Income and Investment Tax Credit incentives. The tax credit program officially concluded in 2019.