President Barack Obama visits Arcadia, DeSoto County. See the video.
State of Florida Incentives
State of Florida Incentives, Qualified Target Industry
Tax Refund Program (QTI)
This program provides an inducement for targeted industries to locate new facilities in Florida or to expand existing facilities in Florida. The program provides tax refunds of $ 3 000 per new job created. The incentive is increased to $6,000 per job if the company is located in a rural county or in an Enterprise Zone. Higher awards are available to companies paying very high wages. To qualify for the "QTI" program, a company must create at least 10 new jobs (or a 10% increase for expanding Florida companies), pay an average of at least 115 % of area wages, have a significant positive impact on the community and have local support.
Quick Response Training Program (QRT)
The Quick Response Training Program provides grant funding for customized training to new or expanding businesses. The program is flexible and structured to respond quickly to meet business training objectives.
A local training provider - community college, area technical center, or university is selected and made available to assist in the application process and program development or delivery. If the business has a training program in place, a state training provider will supervise and manage the training program and serve as the fiscal agent for the grant funds. Reimbursable training expenses include: instructors' /trainers' salaries, curriculum development, textbooks/manuals, materials/supplies and training equipment.
Incumbent Worker Training Program (IWT)
The Incumbent Worker Training Program provides grant funding for customized training for existing businesses. Through this customer-driven program, Florida is able to effectively retain workers and keep business competitive through upgrade skills training for existing employees. Workforce Florida, Inc. administers the program. Established in 1999, the Incumbent Worker Training Program has provided customized training for over 8,000 employees for more than 140 businesses throughout the state. The program has been structured to be flexible to meet the business's training objectives. The business may use a public, private or in-house training provider, based on the nature of the training. Reimbursable training expenses include instructors' /trainers' salaries/tuition, curriculum development, textbooks/manuals, and materials/supplies.
Economic Development Transportation Fund
This grant program provides up to $2 million in grant funds to local governments for the construction or improvement of transportation infrastructure for qualified companies. The actual amount funded is based on specific job creation and/or retention criteria.
Expedited Permitting Assistance
State and local permit streamlining procedures are available to assist businesses in obtaining necessary permits and approvals in a quick, efficient and predictable manner.
Workforce Investment Act (WIA)
Through funding available from the Southwest Florida Workforce Development Board, Inc., companies may be eligible for employed worker training. WIA allows for training services for individuals who meet the eligibility requirements for the funding streams and who are determined to need training to obtain and/or retain self-sufficient employment. WIA is concerned with increasing the skills of workers for high skills/high wages jobs in order to increase earnings potential and provide competitive workers for the area's employers seeking a technologically advanced workforce.
On the job Training Reimbursement (OJT)
Job applicants are recruited and screened based upon the employer's requirement. Once the employer selects an applicant for training, the employer can be reimbursed for a portion of the new employee's wages during the training period. Types of training include remedial, pre-employment and technical skills training.
Florida Tax Advantages
Florida's stable and highly favorable tax climate provides advantages that make a Florida location profitable for every type of business. Eligible companies can take advantage of sales & use tax exemptions of:
* Goods manufactured or produced in Florida for export outside the state.
* Electricity used in the manufacturing process.
* Purchases of machinery and equipment used by a new or expanding Florida business to manufacture, produce, or process tangible personal property for sale.
* Aircraft parts, modification, maintenance and repair, sale or lease of qualified aircraft.
* Labor component of research and development expenditures.
DeSoto County Rural Area Designation
DeSoto County is a designated "Rural Area of Critical Economic Concern." This designation, through the Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI), allows for additional flexibility for companies relocating or located in DeSoto County when applying for economic development incentives. DeSoto County is part of a regional initiative that includes Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands and Okeechobee counties.
DeSoto County businesses receive special consideration when utilizing the following incentive programs:
Qualified Target Industry (QTI) Tax Refund Program Quick Response Training (QRT) Program
Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) Program
Rural Job Tax Credit
Rural Community Development Revolving Loan Program
Rural Job Tax Credit Program
A rural job tax credit is an incentive for eligible businesses located within DeSoto County that create new jobs. The tax credit ranges from $500 to $2,000 per qualified employee and can be taken against either the Florida Corporate Income Tax or the Florida Sales and Use Tax.
Heartland Career Connection Arcadia "One-Stop"
The cornerstone of the new workforce investment system is one-stop service delivery, which will unify numerous training, education and employment programs into a single, customer friendly system. The underlying notion of the "One-Stop" is the integration of programs, services and governance structures. The One-Stop facilities house a number of agencies whose mission is to serve our customers, employers and job seekers.
