Evans County Gives Blessing for ‘Military Zone Job Tax Credit’ Application

Evans County, through the Industrial Development Authority, will soon apply to the state to be classified as a military zone for the purposes of offering a job tax credit.

Mary Katherine Griffin of the Evans County Industrial Development Authority addressed Commissioners Tuesday night to ask for their support in applying for a military zone job tax credit status from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.

The state offers a tax credit to counties in Georgia in proximity of a military base. Evans County is eligible due to the presence of Fort Stewart in a portion of the county. The credit is for employers who own, operate, open, or expand a business and create news jobs. The business owners are eligible for upwards of $3,500 in credits for each job if their business is within the military zone. The credit may be applied against 100 percent of any corporate income tax liability on the Georgia Corporation Income Tax Return.

The tax credit is not industry specific and only requires two new jobs per tax year in order to qualify, according to the DCA website. The state agency also requires a certain pay requirement for the employees and health insurance benefits must be offered. Husband and wife couples are excluded from claiming the credit if self-identifying as the employees. Additional details of the requirements are at the bottom of the article.

The zone would start near the airport and continue down to the Tattnall County line while also expanding West on Highway 280 to the Bryan County line. This means a portion of Claxton would also be in the zone. The zone is determined by the state’s Department of Community Affairs.

The motion to support the act by the IDA was made by Commissioner Del Beasley and seconded by Commissioner Brian Croft. It passed unanimously 4-0. Commissioner Jill Griffin was not present.

The Industrial Park recently closed out its OneGeorgia Equity grant and completed the paving of the road at the Park, which Griffin said will help draw tenants. Currently, there is one tenant at the park – Red Sky Ag.