Local Incentives

Local incentive proposals are determined based on an evaluation of the economic impact of development projects and recommendations by the Greene County Development Authority. The following represents potential local incentives for economic development projects. Other incentives may be available and are determined on a case-by-case basis: 

EXPEDITED PLAN REVIEW AND PERMITTING

Greene County, Greensboro and Union Point will commit to expediting all development and building permitting plan review for economic development projects upon recommendation of the Greene County Development Authority.

INVENTORY TAX EXEMPTIONS (FREEPORT)

Greene County has a voter approved Level 1 Freeport tax exemption for tangible personal property owned by businesses at 100% of inventory value.  In most states, business and industry are subject to ad valorem taxes on real property (land, building) and tangible personal property (inventory of raw materials, work in progress, and inventory of completed products). In Georgia, local communities have been granted the authority to provide a tangible personal property tax reduction or exemption if approved by the voters in a local referendum. For more details of the types of inventory covered visit this link:  https://dor.georgia.gov/freeport-exemption

PROJECT FINANCING 

For businesses seeking long-term, low-interest rate financing for the construction or improvements of manufacturing facilities, Industrial Revenue Bonds (IRB), also known as Industrial Development Bonds, or IDBs, are available through the Greene County Development Authority. IDB financing offers long- term, low-payment financing, with term matched to the useful life of the assets financed. We would be happy to discuss this option should there be interest. 

PROPERTY TAX INCENTIVES 

The ability to convey property tax incentives is limited in Georgia. In order to obtain ad valorem property tax savings for a company’s project or in order to obtain certain State grants of local incentives for the project, an industrial development bond (IDB) financed sale/leaseback is required. Such transactions are typically referred to as “bonds for title” transactions, and use of this technique involves the issuance of IDBs by a development authority to acquire or construct the project, with the title to the project vested in a development authority and with the company having the status of a lessee. The lease of the project to the company is typically at a rent equal to debt service on the bonds. Availability of property tax incentives is considered on a case-by-case basis.