Incentives
Local Incentives & Inducements
Ennis Economic Development (4-B) Sales Tax.
The Ennis Economic Development Corporation (EEDC) receives over $1,000,000 annually from the 4-B (1/2%) Economic Development Sales Tax. This fund can be used for industry recruitment, expansion, or community development.
Contact the Ennis Economic Development Department to receive an application for project funding:
The City of Ennis
Economic Development Department
P.O. Box 220
Ennis, TX 75120
Tel: 972.878.1234
Fax: 972.875.9086
E-mail: Ennis Economic Development
Tax Abatements
The City of Ennis exists to foster industrial growth and ensure economic success. To that end, the City of Ennis, in a partnership agreement with Ellis County, offers one of the most aggressive tax abatement programs in the State.
Tax abatements shall apply to real property and improvement valuation, and shall be applied to the increased value of the improvements in the tax abatement district over the value of the year in which the agreement is executed and an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the taxes assessed upon the increase in land value in the year in which the agreement is signed. Real property and "non-mobile" personal property improvements are eligible. A minimum of 15 new, permanent, full-time jobs must be created in addition to the capital investment. The term of the tax abatement is seven years.
During the past twenty (20) years, fifty-two (52) tax abatements totaling $636.1 million have been granted!
Tax Abatement Application
Download the 2012 Tax Abatement Application
This 2012 Tax Abatement Application form may be downloaded and/or printed-out. A completed and signed original copy with the required attachments must be submitted to the City of Ennis Economic Development Department. Address found at the top of the tax abatement application form.
Abatement percentages are determined by the amount invested as outlined below:
| F-a-s-t Facts: The City of Ennis Tax Abatement Program |
|
|---|---|
| Value of Improvement |
Percentage of Abatement |
| $500,000 to $3,000,000 |
66.67% |
| $3,000,000 to $6,000,000 |
69.00% |
| $6,000,000 to $10,000,000 |
72.00% |
| $10,000,000 or More |
75.00% |
| F-a-s-t Facts: The City of Ennis Tax Abatement Process Flowchart |
|
|---|---|
| Process |
Estimated Time Required |
| Tax Abatement Incentive Presented |
During Initial Site Visit |
| Application Requested by Prospect |
During Initial Site Visit |
| Completed Application Received by City |
Upon Receipt from Prospect |
| Survey Plat with Metes & Bounds Received |
Upon Receipt from Prospect |
| Abatement Review Committee Meeting Held |
3 Days After Receipt of All Information |
| Public Hearing Notice Published |
1- 2 Days After Review Committee Approval |
| First City Commission Reading & Public Hearing |
5 Days After Public Hearing Notice Is Published |
| Second Reading & Approval |
2 Weeks After First Reading |
| Agreement Signed by City and Company |
Immediately After Second Reading & Approval |
State of Texas Incentives & Inducements
Texas Enterprise Zone Program (TEZ)
The Texas Enterprise Zone Program is an economic development tool that municipalities and counties, in partnership with the State, can use when packaging local and state tax and regulatory benefits to offer new or expanding businesses in economically distressed areas of the state. The process seeks to remove unnecessary governmental regulatory barriers to economic growth and to provide tax incentives and economic development to communities and businesses.
Depending upon the the economic objectives established for the enterprise zone, the local jurisdiction determines what and whom will be designated as a "qualified business" in order for that business to be eligible for the state tax incentives offered in an enterprise zone. A qualified business must be nominated by the enterprise zone governing body as an enterprise project and approved by the Texas Economic Development (TxED).
Enterprise zone projects are granted a five-year designation, in which they may capture jobs created or retained and the capital investment made in the enterprise zone, for determining state benefits. Job retention benefits are available under limited circumstances, and are only applicable if approved as such by the TxED.
Enterprise projects are eligible for a refund of state sales and use taxes paid on machinery and equipment, building materials, labor for the rehabilitation of existing buildings, and electricity and natural gas purchased for use at the qualified business site. The refund is up to $2,500 for each permanent job the project creates or retains during the designation period. The number of jobs for which a refund may be received is based upon commitments made in the project application. Each project is limited to a maximum refund of $1.25 million or $250,000 per year over five years for a regular project designation.
Before any state benefits are realized, the qualified business must fulfill its commitment to create and/or retain jobs and invest capital in the community's enterprise zone.
The City of Ennis Enterprise Zone (EEZ) Projects totaling over $215 million have been approved during the past eight (8) years.
Presented in the table below are several of the financial benefits that are given to qualified businesses locating in the Ennis Enterprise Zone.
| Ennis Enterprise Zone Program: State of Texas Incentives |
||
|---|---|---|
| Type of Incentive | Overview of Purpose | Total Amount Available |
Sales or use tax refunds paid for building materials, machinery, labor, and equipment for the rehabilitation of existing buildings, and electricity, and natural gas purchased for use in the enterprise zone by a state designated enterprise project up to $2,500 for each permanent job the project creates or retains during the designation period. |
$1,250,000 (Up to $2,500 per permanent job) |
|
Public infrastructure development funding for eligible projects including electrical power grid, natural gas transmission mains, water mains, wastewater mains and lift stations, and roads and bridges. |
$750,000 | |
Program designed to help Texas public community and technical colleges finance customized job training for their local businesses by allowing companies to form with these community and technical colleges. |
$1,000 Per Employee |
|
City of Ennis, Texas Enterprise Zone
Benefits: The City of Ennis, in partnership with Ellis County and the State of Texas, packages local and state sales tax and economic development benefits to new or expanding businesses for choosing Ennis as home. The streamlined process removes unnecessary governmental regulatory barriers for industrial expansion projects and provides tax incentives to expanding businesses as well.
| Enterprise Zone Name/Zone Number | Name: Ennis Enterprise Zone Number: EZ295-040700-E |
|---|---|
| Zone Liaison/Liaison Phone/Liaison Fax | Liaison: Steve Howerton Phone: 972-875-1234 Fax: 972-875-9086 |
| Date Approved |
Approved: 04/07/00
|
| Zone Size (Sq. Mi.) % Jurisdiction | Size: 9.83 (Sq. Mi.) % Jurisdiction: 14.80% |
| Distress Criteria for Establishing Zone (in%) | Unemployment: 9.6% Poverty: 24.5% |
| Air, Rail, Highways, Port | Air, Rail, Highways |
| Local Benefits Available |
|