Businesses looking to relocate or expand in the Georgetown city limits may be eligible for a variety of incentive options. The Georgetown Economic Development Department has the experience and expertise to help determine which local, state, federal and other government entity incentives and programs best meet a business’ needs. In addition, Georgetown offers one of the lowest utility and tax rates in the Central Texas area.

City Incentives

Triple Freeport Exemption

In 1989, Texas voters approved a constitutional amendment giving local taxing jurisdictions the option to waive tax collection on specific personal property known as freeport goods. Freeport property includes goods, wares, merchandise, ores, and certain aircraft and aircraft parts. Freeport property qualifies for an exemption from ad valorem taxation only if it has been detained in the state for 175 days or less for the purpose of assembly, storage, manufacturing, processing, or fabricating. Businesses operating within the City of Georgetown may qualify for a Triple Freeport Exemption as the Georgetown Independent School District, Williamson County, and the City of Georgetown offer this exemption.

Utility and Transportation Infrastructure (GUS)

Georgetown Utility Systems (GUS), the municipally-owned power and water supplier, has adopted electric rate policies that permit reduced rates for customer rate classifications or categories based upon load factors and the efficiency of the user. In addition, agreements may be available to reduce utility rates for economic development prospects.

GUS has the capacity and flexibility to offer qualified companies infrastructure improvements and extensions at reduced cost. Such incentives may include improvements to curbs and gutters, street paving, water and sewer, electrical supply, and public lighting.

Property Tax Abatements

Personal and real property tax abatements are available to qualified businesses. For a list of all active agreements, visit the Texas Comptrollers Website.

Georgetown Transportation Enhancement Corp (GTEC) (Type B Sales Tax Corporation)

In 2000, Citizens of Georgetown approved the creation of a Type B Sales Tax Corporation, Georgetown Transportation Enhancement Corp (GTEC). GTEC awards funds to finance infrastructure improvements for qualified projects.

Georgetown Economic Development Corporation (GEDCO) (Type A Sales Tax Corporation)

In May 2005, the citizens of Georgetown approved the creation of a Type A Sales Tax Corporation, Georgetown Economic Development Corporation (GEDCO). GEDCO considers requests and grants funds for economic development projects under Section 2(11)(A) and Section 4A(i) of the Texas Development Corporation Act of 1979, (Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat., Ann., Art. 5190.6, 4A, as amended), and a delineated in Georgetown City Council Resolution 121404-JJ.

County Incentives

Triple Freeport Exemption

In 1989, Texas voters approved a constitutional amendment giving local taxing jurisdictions the option to waive tax collection on specific personal property known as freeport goods. Freeport property includes goods, wares, merchandise, ores, and certain aircraft and aircraft parts. Freeport property qualifies for an exemption from ad valorem taxation only if it has been detained in the state for 175 days or less for the purpose of assembly, storage, manufacturing, processing, or fabricating. Businesses operating within the City of Georgetown may qualify for a Triple Freeport Exemption as the Georgetown Independent School District, Williamson County, and the City of Georgetown offer this exemption.

Property Tax Abatements

Personal and real property tax abatements are available to qualified businesses.

State Incentives

Economic Development & Diversification In-State Tuition for Employees

The Economic Development and Diversification In-state Tuition incentive may be offered to qualified businesses that are in the decision-making process to relocate or expand their operations into Texas. The incentive allows employees and family members of the qualified businesses to pay in-state tuition fees if the individual files with a Texas institution of higher education. Without this incentive designation, a student must reside in Texas for a 12-month period to be entitled to pay the tuition fees of a Texas resident.

Permit Assistance

TCEQ and the Office of the Governor Economic Development & Tourism division have established a relationship to assist companies, which may experience unwarranted delays in their environmental permitting process for projects that could affect job creation or have a high economic impact.

Property Tax Rule 9.105

The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts offers a refund of State franchise and sales/use taxes paid by companies owning certain abated property. A company who meets the following three conditions may apply for a refund:

Paid property taxes to a school district on property that is located in a reinvestment zone established under Chapter 312. is exempt in whole or in part from property tax imposed by a city or county under a tax abatement agreement established under Chapter 312. is not in a tax abatement agreement with a school district.

The refund is equal to the amount of property taxes that would have been paid had the company entered into a school district abatement agreement with terms identical to the city or county abatement agreement, not to exceed the net state sales and use taxes and state franchise taxes paid or collected and remitted during that calendar year. The refund amount may also be limited by a statewide appropriation per year for this refund program.

For more information and assistance on this incentive, contact the Comptroller of Public Accounts at 800/252-9121 or 512/305-9999.

Ad Valorem / Property Tax Exemption

A Texas constitutional amendment providing an exemption from property taxation for pollution control was approved in 1993. The intent was to ensure that compliance with environmental mandates, through capital investments, did not result in an increase in a facility’s property taxes. A facility must first receive a determination from the Texas Commission on Environment Quality (TCEQ) that property is for pollution control purposes. That positive use determination is then provided to the local appraisal district, which must accept the TCEQ’s decision and grant the property an exemption from property taxes. To be eligible for a positive use determination, the property must have been purchased, acquired, constructed, installed, replaced, or reconstructed after January 1, 1994 to meet or exceed federal, state, or local environmental laws, rules, or regulations.

Bonds

Sales Tax Bonds

Sales Tax Bonds do not fall under the volume cap and are eligible to communities that have passed the economic development sales tax. Ineligible projects include for-profit hospitals, multi-family projects and municipal services.

Tax-Exempt Industrial Revenue Bonds

Tax-Exempt Industrial Revenue Bonds are designed to provide tax-exempt financing to finance land and depreciable property for eligible industrial or manufacturing projects. The maximum bond amount is $10 million (which can include certain capital and administrative costs). These issues must receive a reservation under the State’s volume limitation (“volume cap”) managed by the Texas Bond Review Board. The Tax Reform Act of 1986 imposes a volume ceiling on the aggregate principal amount of “private activity bonds” that may be issued with the State during any calendar year. Generally, the reservation of state ceiling issues is allocated by lottery in October each program year. For more information on the “volume cap” or the lottery dates, contact the Texas Bond Review Board at 512/463-1741.

Texas Leverage Fund

The Texas Leverage Fund (TLF) is an “economic development bank” offering an added source of financing to communities that have passed the economic development sales tax. Approximately 500 communities in Texas have adopted the local economic development sales tax. EDT may loan funds directly to a local Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) to finance eligible projects. Sales tax revenues pledged by the IDC need only be sufficient to cover projected annual debt service as specified in the Texas Leverage Fund Program Guidelines. This allows cities to leverage their economic development sales tax and to pursue additional projects.

Natural Gas & Electricity (sales and use tax exemption)

Texas companies are exempt from paying state sales and use tax on electricity and natural gas used in manufacturing, processing, or fabricating tangible personal property. The company must complete a “predominant use study” that shows that at least 50% of the electricity or natural gas consumed by the business directly causes a physical change to a product.

State Sales & Use Tax Exemptions 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. Texas businesses are exempt from paying state sales and use tax on labor for constructing new facilities. Texas businesses are exempt from paying state sales and use tax on the purchase of machinery exclusively used in processing, packing, or marketing agricultural products by the original producer at a location operated by the original producer.

Clean Rooms: Clean rooms used in the production of semiconductor components or in the biotechnology industry are exempt as manufacturing equipment. That includes property affixed to or incorporated into realty, including integrated systems, fixtures, lighting, moveable partitions, piping and all property necessary or adapted to reduce contamination or to control airflow, temperature and humidity. However, this exemption does not include the structural shell to which these improvements are attached.

Texas Capital Fund Infrastructure Program

The Texas Capital Fund Infrastructure Program is an economic development tool designed to provide financial resources to non-entitlement communities. Funds from this program can be utilized for public infrastructure (water, sewer, roads, etc.) needed to assist a business, which commits to create and/or retain permanent jobs, primarily for low and moderate-income persons. The minimum award is $50,000 and the maximum is $750,000. The award may not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the total project cost. The Texas Department of Agriculture administers the Texas Capital Fund Program.

Texas Enterprise Zone

The Texas Enterprise Zone Program was created to help companies grow and expand their business in Texas. It is an economic development sales tax incentive partnering the state and local government to help local employment and support business investment. As a company grows, they are eligible to apply for a state sales tax refund. Projects nominated by the City and approved by the State may receive state sales and use tax refunds on qualified expenditures.

Self-Sufficiency Fund (TANF)

The Self-Sufficiency Fund is a job-training program that is specifically designed for individuals that receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). The program links the business community with local educational institutions and is administered by the Texas Workforce Commission. The goal of the Fund is to assist TANF recipients become independent of government financial assistance. The Fund makes grants available to eligible public colleges or to eligible private, non-profit organizations to provide customized job training and training support services for specific employers. A joint application from the employer and the eligible public college and/or eligible private, non-profit organization is required to be submitted to the Local Workforce Development Board for review and comment prior to approval. For detailed information regarding the application process and funding, please contact Travis Weaver with the Texas Workforce Commission at 512/936-3120.

Skills Development Fund

The Skills Development Fund is an innovative program created to assist Texas public community and technical colleges finance customized job training for their local businesses. The Fund was established by the Legislature in 1995 and is administered by the Texas Workforce Commission. Grants are provided to help companies and labor unions form partnerships with local community colleges and technical schools to provide custom job training. Average training costs are $1,000 per trainee; however, the benefit may vary depending on the proposal.

Texas Enterprise Fund

In 2003 the Texas Legislature established the Texas Enterprise Fund to provide financial resources to help strengthen the state’s economy. The Fund is used primarily to attract new business to the state or retain an existing business that is undertaking a substantial expansion. The Fund may also be appropriated for a variety of economic development projects, including infrastructure development, community development, job training programs and business incentives, as well as to attract technology and biotechnology businesses and support university research.

To be eligible for the Enterprise Fund, a project will go through a review process that examines a variety of factors, including job creation and wages, capital investment, the financial strength of the applicant, the project’s business history, analysis of the relevant business sector, and public and private sector financial support. In addition, the project must demonstrate a significant return on the state’s investment, strong local support, and the unanimous support of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Speaker.

Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas Grant (CPRIT)

CPRIT offers several funding opportunities for promising cancer research, product development, and prevention programs.

Freeport Exemption

In 1989, Texas voters approved a constitutional amendment giving local taxing jurisdictions the option to waive tax collection on specific personal property known as freeport goods. Freeport property includes goods, wares, merchandise, ores, and certain aircraft and aircraft parts. Freeport property qualifies for an exemption from ad valorem taxation only if it has been detained in the state for 175 days or less for the purpose of assembly, storage, manufacturing, processing, or fabricating. Businesses operating within the City of Georgetown may qualify for a Triple Freeport Exemption as the Georgetown Independent School District, Williamson County, and the City of Georgetown offer this exemption.

Texas Economic Development Sales Tax

The Texas Development Corporation Act (“Act”) authorizes Texas cities to impose sales taxes for economic development. Cities must be eligible under the Act and hold a sales tax election to adopt either a Type A or Type B (formerly 4A and 4B) sales tax. This sales tax is one of the most popular tools used by cities to promote economic development. The City of Georgetown has approved both Type A and Type B sales tax and the Georgetown Economic Development Corporation and Georgetown Transportation Enhancement Corporation to manage the funds.

Federal Incentives

Capital Investment

A corporation may use a capital investment credit to reduce its franchise tax liability. To take advantage of this credit a corporation must be a qualified business; pay an average-weekly wage that is at least 110 percent of the county-average weekly wage in the county where the job is located; offer a specified group health benefit plan to all full-time employees, for which the corporation pays at least 80 percent of the costs; and make a minimum $500,000 qualified capital investment (QCI).

Foreign-Trade Zone: Austin MSA

A Foreign-Trade Zone is a specially designated area, in or adjacent to a U.S. Customs Port Of Entry, which is considered to be outside the Customs Territory of the U.S.

The following is a partial list of the many benefits you can attain when using Foreign-Trade Zones or Foreign-Trade Zone Subzone:

• No Duty Is Ever Paid On Re-Exported Merchandise from a Foreign-Trade Zone
• If The Merchandise Is Sold Domestically, No Duty Is Paid Until It Leaves The Zone Or Zones
• Generally, No Duty Is Paid On Waste Or Yield Loss in a Foreign-Trade Zone or Subzone
• Duty On Scrap Is Eliminated Or Reduced in a Foreign-Trade Zone
• Generally, If Foreign Merchandise Is Manufactured within a Foreign-Trade Zone or Subzone Into A Product With A Lower Duty Rate, Then The Lower Duty Rate Applies On The Foreign Content When Duty Is Paid
• Merchandise In A Foreign-Trade Zone May Be Stored, Repackaged, Manipulated, Manufactured, Destroyed Or Otherwise Altered or Change

Economic Impact Form

To complete an economic impact analysis for your business and learn what types of incentives you may be eligible to receive, please contact Cameron Goodman, Director of Economic Development for the City of Georgetown.

Contact information:

Cameron Goodman
Director of Economic Development
Cameron.Goodman@georgetown.org