BROWNFIELD ZONE
Brownfield Community Redevelopment Bonus
The Brownfield Redevelopment Bonus is available to encourage redevelopment and job creation within designated brownfield areas. A pre-approved applicant may receive a tax refund equal to 20 percent of the average annual wage of the new jobs created in a designated brownfield area up to a maximum of $2,500 per new job created. Refunds are based upon taxes paid by the business, including corporate income, sales, ad valorem, intangible personal property, insurance premium, and certain other taxes. No more than 25 percent of the total refund approved may be paid in any single fiscal year. The Brownfield Development Bonus may be awarded in addition to the Qualified Target Industry (QTI) Tax Refund provided under s. 288.106, Florida Statutes.
“Brownfield sites” means sites that are generally abandoned, idled, or underused industrial and commercial properties where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by actual or perceived environmental contamination.
“Brownfield area” means a contiguous area of one or more Brownfield sites, some of which may not be contaminated, and which has been designated by a local government by resolution. Such areas may include all or portions of community redevelopment areas, enterprise zones, empowerment zones, other such designated economically deprived communities and areas, and Environmental-Protection-Agency-designated brownfield pilot projects. To qualify, an applicant must locate within a brownfield area and:
• Be certified as QTI business as defined in Section 288.106, F.S., or
• Be a business that can demonstrate a fixed capital investment of at least $2 million in mixed-use business activities in a brownfield area, including multiunit housing, commercial, retail, and industrial;
• Create at least 10 new permanent Florida full-time jobs with benefits (including health insurance at a minimum), excluding construction and site remediation jobs;
• Show that the project will diversify and strengthen the economy of the area surrounding the site;
• Show that the project will promote capital investment in the area beyond that contemplated for the rehabilitation of the site;
• Submission of a Brownfield Redevelopment Bonus application prior to making a relocation or expansion decision.
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