Deerfield rejects enterprise zone, move has no impact on other areas involved

By Steve Moyer

Nevada Daily Mail

Deerfield residents rejected inclusion in the enterprise zone being proposed for Vernon County.

The zone was to have included all of Nevada, including the industrial park, parts of Center and Washington townships and Coal townships between Nevada and the Kansas state line.

Molly McGovern, a consultant for the Vernon County Commis-sioners, said that the decision doesn't affect the plan for the rest of the zone, it just means Deerfield won't benefit from the project.

"It doesn't affect anything else," McGovern said. "Their area can be taken out of the zone without changing the rest of it."

McGovern said inclusion in the zone would have benefitted Deerfield.

"It's unfortunate, I do think the zone has benefits for Deerfield that they are giving up," McGovern said.

McGovern said the reasons given for the decision included fears of lowered property values and fear that taking part in the project would lead to zoning.

"Concerns were voiced that this would lead to zoning in the county and loss of property value," McGovern said. "They also said that businesses in Deerfield wouldn't receive any benefit from the enhanced enterprise zone."

The reason for the establishment of the enterprise zone is to provide property tax abatement and state tax credits for eligible businesses that locate or expand in the zone.

"The purpose on an enterprise zone is to help businesses already in the zone expand and to attract new businesses to the zone," McGovern said.

McGovern said that qualified businesses would be eligible for real property tax abatement on new construction of at least 50 percent for 10 years.

New jobs created by the companies would mean the company could be eligible for three state tax credits. Each new job created in the enterprise zone generates a $400-per-year tax credit for 10 years; if the new employee lives in the zone there is another $400 tax credit; and a third $400 tax credit is available if the job pays more than the county's average wage.

If an existing business located in the enterprise zone expands and adds two new qualifying jobs they can get those tax credits as well. They can also get a maximum 2-percent tax credit for 10 years, she said.