| COUNTY TO APPLY FOR EMPIRE ZONE
The Board voted 9 -2 (11 members were present) to apply to the state for an economic development zone in Tompkins County. If approved, a total of two square miles would receive Empire Zone designation. Businesses and employers located or moving in to zones would be eligible for tax incentives and credits. To receive designation, Empire Zones must have vacant, buildable land with existing or potential power and water infrastructure, and the community must have the ability to supply a skilled workforce. Tompkins' Empire Zone is being designed to focus primarily on development of new and existing high-tech and manufacturing industry, and revitalization of aging or historic commercial districts. A smaller portion of the zone includes day care facilities which can take advantage of the benefits if they expand their facilities. The zone targets vacant or underutilized land that is already designated by local zoning laws as commercial or industrial, as well as older buildings that need upgrades in order to support modern industries. Benefits to qualified businesses include a potential 10-year exemption from sales and property tax. The state automatically drops it portion of sales tax and municipalities may do the same if they choose. The state reimburses municipalities forrevenue lost through property tax abatements. Areas being targeted include the Ithaca Commons and West State Street corridor, Carpenter and Cherry Street industrial parks, and the proposed Cayuga Green site. An area near the Ithaca-Tompkins Regional airport is also included, as are several areas in the villages of Trumansburg, Groton, Dryden, and Freeville. All municipalities were asked for suggestions for Empire Zones. Tompkins County does not meet the unemployment requirement for Empire Zone designation, but officials will ask for a waiver. One basis for the waiver is the large number of workers who commute to Tompkins from surrounding counties, all of which have qualified for Empire Zones. The application, which is being completed by Tompkins County Area Development, must be submitted by August 30. Reps. Frank Proto and Thomas Todd voted against applying for the zone. Reps. Barbara Blanchard, Tim Joseph, Michael Koplinka-Loehr, and Dan Winch were absent. Contact: Michael Lane, Chair, Economic and Workforce Development Committee, 844-8440; Martha Armstrong, Tompkins County Area Development, 273-0005. FOUR OPT FOR EARLY RETIREMENT
NAME CHANGE POSTPONED
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