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Incentives

Federal Quality Opportunity Zones Walker County includes Qualified Opportunity Zone Numbers 48471790102, 48471790400, 48471790500, and 48471790600. To stimulate private participation in revitalization of economically distressed areas, taxpayers who invest in Qualified Opportunity Zones are eligible to benefit from capital gains tax incentives available exclusively through this new legislation. More Information	Federal Foreign-Trade Zones Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZ) are secure areas under U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) supervision that are generally considered outside CBP territory upon activation. Located in or near CBP ports of entry, they are the United States' version of what are known internationally as free-trade zones. More Information
State Texas Enterprise Fund To be eligible for Texas Enterprise Fund support, a project must demonstrate a significant return on the state's investment and strong local support. The review process will consider a variety of factors associated with each project, including job creation and wages, capital investment, the financial strength of the applicant, the applicant's business history, analysis of the relevant business sector, and public and private sector financial support. More Information	State Texas Enterprise Zone The Texas Enterprise Zone (EZ) Program provides State Sales & Use Tax benefits to targeted businesses located within an Enterprise Zone. Select companies can receive from $2,500 to $7,500 in sales tax refunds per job they create and/or retain, depending on the amount of capital investment made at the project location. More Information
State Manufacturing Machinery & Equipment Leased or purchased machinery, equipment, replacement parts, and accessories that have a useful life of more than six months, and that are used or consumed in the manufacturing, processing, fabricating, or repairing of tangible personal property for ultimate sale, are exempt from state and local sales and use tax. More Information	State The Skills Development Fund The Skills Development Fund is Texas' premier upskilling program. SDF grants provide site-specific, customized training opportunities for Texas businesses and their employees to increase skill levels and wages of the Texas workforce. Success comes through collaboration among business partners; eligible grant applicants, which include Public community or technical colleges, the Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), community-based organizations in partnership with one of these entities, or a local workforce development board; and economic development partners. More Information
State The Work Opportunity Tax Credit The Work Opportunity Tax Credit is a federal income tax benefit administered by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) for employers who hire individuals from specified target populations. WOTC reduces a business’s federal tax liability, serving as an incentive to select job candidates who may be disadvantaged in their efforts to find employment. The main objective of this program is to enable individuals to become employed, earn a steady income and become contributing taxpayers. WOTC joins other workforce programs that help provide incentives for workplace diversity and improve access to good jobs for American workers. More Information	State Fidelity Bonding The fidelity bonding service helps at-risk job applicants get and keep a job. Texas Work Commission and the Workforce Development Boards offer free fidelity bonding services to reduce employers’ concerns about hiring at-risk job applicants who cannot be bonded through other sources. For this bonding, Union Insurance Group issues an insurance policy that protects the employer against employee acts of dishonesty such as larceny, embezzlement, and theft. More Information
Local Tax Abatements (City of Huntsville) The city will, on a case-by-case basis, give consideration to providing incentives as a stimulus for economic development in Huntsville. Tax abatement for the City of Huntsville will be considered for projects that can demonstrate higher development standards, aesthetic improvements added, and/or other development and community goals achieved through the use of abatement. Tax abatements are granted to owners of improvements on real property and/or business and personal property.	Local Tax Abatements (Walker County) The County will consider, on a case-by-case basis, participating in economic development projects and developments that serve to advance the County’s goals that diversify the County’s overall economy, and that provide economic opportunities for the citizens of Walker County. The County will utilize tax abatements, participation in tax increment reinvestment zones (“TIRZ”), and Chapter 381 agreement as its primary tools. The choice of tool will be determined by the amount and duration of investment proposed.
Local Job Creation Incentives The City may consider an incentive for the creation and maintenance of jobs within the City by offering a grant for companies that create or relocate full-time or part-time jobs. The company must maintain the number of jobs created and/or relocated for a specified period to receive the total grant payment. Each job eligible for grant payment must pay at least 100% of the average annual wage for Walker County, as determined by the United States Dept. of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.	Local Infrastructure Participation Provision of, or participation may be considered for qualified projects when improvements or extension are required to meet the site requirements. Infrastructure may include roads, water, wastewater, drainage or road requirements.
Local Fast Track City Services & Fee Waivers Huntsville prides itself on a fast tracking process for our industrial and commercial projects during pre-development meetings, permitting and construction processes. Reduction or elimination of any city fees associated with the development of the project may also be given consideration.	Local Triple Freeport Exemption This business incentive is designed to exempt some of a company’s entire inventory from property taxes. To be eligible, property must be assembled, stored, manufactured or fabricated locally and then exported out of the state within 175 days after the property was acquired or imported into the state.