Economic Incentive Programs

The Mayor's Business Assistance Team 

Job Creation Incentive Program 

Infrastructure and Site Improvements 

Economic Development Transportation Fund 

Office of Permitting Services 

Orlando's Enterprise Zone Program 

Downtown Real Estate Resource Center 

Urban Job Tax Credit Program
Downtown Enhancement Economic District

Business Assistance Program

Arts and Culture Assistance Program

Business District Program

Film and Television

Mayor's Business Assistance Team

The Mayor's Business Assistance Team typifies the City's pro-business attitude. In 1995, the Business Assistance

 Team was created to ensure that businesses within our community have every opportunity to succeed. The Business Assistance Team is about more than accessibility; it's also about accountability. Each member of the Business Assistance Team will act as your "point person," leading you to the appropriate City Hall departments, serving as a liaison and ensuring that every effort is made to resolve any and all issues. Since the Business Assistance Team's inception, over 3,000 companies have been helped.

You can now submit your business assistance team request on-line.   

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Job Creation Incentive Program

The City offers incentives to qualifying companies to offset the costs related to relocation and/or expansion. The City may award grants for qualifying companies from its Job Creation Incentive Fund. The City has the ability to award grants alone or partner with the State of Florida under the Qualified Target Industry Tax Refund Program. The grant money may be used to offset such costs as:

• traffic and sewer impact fees associated with new construction;
• permitting fees;
• relocation costs;
• office equipment necessary for outfitting buildings for new jobs created;
• employee training; and
• employee benefits such as health insurance

Infrastructure and Site Improvements

Customized incentives are available for infrastructure and site improvements. The City may reimburse the client for a negotiated portion of any public right-of-way improvements made in support of the development of the site. Improvements include public roadways built to access the site, and sewer and water lines installed in the right-of-way. There is no specific criteria for this incentive program. Incentives are awarded on a case-by-case basis.

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Economic Development Transportation Fund

Relocation or expansion inducements are offered to companies through the alleviation of transportation problems.
This program is administered by Enterprise Florida and provides up to $2 million in grants to local governments as an inducement for manufacturing, headquarters or recycling facilities to locate or expand in Florida through the alleviation of transportation problems (i.e., access roads, signalization, road widening, etc.). Criteria include:

• Those companies that create less than 100 full-time jobs may be eligible to receive a grant up to $200,000.

• Those companies that create or retain more than 100 full-time jobs may be eligible to receive a grant between $200,000 and $1,000,000.

• Those companies that create or retain more than 200 full-time jobs may be eligible to receive a grant over $1,000,000.

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Office of Permitting Services

To Office of Permitting Services.    

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Orlando's Enterprise Zone Program
The Florida Enterprise Zone Program offers tax incentives to businesses in order to stimulate redevelopment in economically distressed areas. This program centers on partnerships among state agencies, local governments and the designated communities. The City of Orlando and Orange County have joined forces under the Florida Enterprise Zone Program.

Tax Credit Incentives:

• Jobs Tax Credit--up to $1,800 per job annually or $2,700 per job if 20 percent of the permanent employees are residents of the Enterprise Zone
• Property Tax Credit--up to $25,000 annual credit on Florida corporate income tax or $50,000 if 20 percent of permanent employees are residents of the Enterprise Zone
• Community Contribution Tax--credit on contributions of cash, real property or other donations up to $200,000 per year

• Sales Tax Exemption for Building Materials--up to $5,000 per parcel or $10,000 per parcel if 20 percent of the permanent employees are residents of the Enterprise Zone
• Sales Tax Exemption for Business Equipment--up to $5,000 or $10,000 per parcel if 20 percent of the permanent employees are residents of the Enterprise Zone

To apply for this program, contact Orange County Planning at 407.836.5600 or visit the Orange County website

Downtown Real Estate Resource Center

The Downtown Development Board's Real Estate Resource Center is a one-stop source of collective information on Downtown Orlando. The office recruits businesses to downtown, retains existing businesses and helps to facilitate the reuse of downtown properties. The Real Estate Resource Center works with real estate agents, investors and developers to:

• maintain a comprehensive listing of downtown commercial properties for sale or lease;

• provide a "space available" database;

• show development opportunities for loft, apartment, tandem and infill housing;
• give tours of downtown; and
• provide detailed information on locating a business downtown.

For more information, contact the Downtown Development Board at 407.246.2555 or visit www.downtownorlando.com
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Urban Job Tax Credit Program
The Urban Job Tax Credit Program is a program designed to encourage the creation of jobs in urban areas of Florida. An urban job tax credit ranges from $1,500 to $2,000 per qualified job and can be taken against either the Florida Corporate Income Tax or the Florida Sales and Use Tax. These tax credits are provided to encourage meaningful employment opportunities that will improve the quality of life of those employed and encourage economic expansion of new and existing businesses.

The minimum criteria for receiving a grant under the Urban Job Tax Credit Program includes:

• The business must be located within and expanding employment or relocating to the City of Orlando's designated urban area. 
• The business must have a minimum of ten employees who work in regular, full-time positions.
• The business must be predominately engaged in (or headquarters for) activities classified in one of the following Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Codes:

  01-09..........Agriculture, Forestry or Fishing;
  20-39.........Manufacturing;
  52-57.........Retail (General Merchandise, Food,
                   Auto, Apparel, Home Furnishing,
                    etc.)

  59..............Miscellaneous Retail 
                    (no eating/drinking)

  70..............Hotel or Lodging;
  422............Public Warehousing or Storage;
  7391..........Research and Development;
  7992..........Public Golf Course; or
  7996..........Amusement Park;
  000............Call Center (Serving Multistate or
                    International Market)

Business Assistance Program

Program Objective

The Business Assistance Program was designed to encourage location and/or expansion of small businesses in the City by assisting with small-scale infrastructure projects and offsetting development fees.

Program Description

The Business Assistance Program (BAP) is a matching grant program designed to encourage small businesses to locate, expand, or redevelop in the City.

BAP provides matching funds to new and expanding businesses in the City to assist in off-setting development fees, including sewer and transportation impact fees, building permit fees, and all elements of public right-of-way infrastructure within the City’s jurisdiction that may require new installation, repair, replacement, or relocation. Eligible improvements include, but are not limited to, streetlighting and fire hydrant installation/relocation, sidewalk repairs, traffic signalization, water and sewer line construction, removal or relocation, curb, gutter, street improvements and landscaping.

The program requires eligible business owners to pay 50% of the fees assessed against the business, while the program fund pays the remaining 50% up to $20,000.

Program Parameters

In order to be eligible for the matching grant, a business must meet the following criteria:

Program Process

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Arts and Culture Assistance Program (ACAP)

Program Objectives

The Arts and Cultural Assistance Program (ACAP) is designed to encourage arts and culture-related businesses and organizations to locate, expand, or redevelop in the Traditional City of Orlando.

Program Description

ACAP provides matching funds to new and expanding businesses in the Traditional City to assist in off-setting development fees, including sewer and transportation impact fees, building permit fees, and all elements of public right-of-way infrastructure within the City’s jurisdiction that may require new installation, repair, replacement, or relocation.

Public right-of-way infrastructure improvements include, but are not limited to, light pole and fire hydrant relocation, sidewalk repairs, traffic signalization, water and sewer line construction, removal or relocation; curb, gutter, street improvements; and landscaping.

ACAP requires eligible business or property owners to pay 50% of the fees assessed against the business, while the program fund pays the remaining 50% up to $20,000. The program will pay 100% of the first $1,000 of eligible fees.

Program Qualifications

• Not-for-profit or for-profit arts and culture-related organization, or a business/organization incorporating an arts component (i.e. art gallery within an establishment) is eligible for a grant to offset fees due to the City including development fees, impact fees, and infrastructure costs.
• A business/organization incorporating an arts component is eligible for a grant to offset fees associated with the art component only.
• All projects will require the applicant to share 50% of eligible improvement costs exceeding $1,000.
• The maximum grant the City will finance is $20,000.
• The Office of Economic Development and/or the Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs may process, without City Council approval, ACAP requests in the amount of $1,000 or less.
• Should the organization be in business for 90 or less, the grant will be forfeited back to the City.
• Both the business owner and property owner must jointly apply for ACAP assistance.
• The City will provide a standard three party agreement for the property owner and the business owner to sign.
• The Office of Economic Development will administer and monitor the program, as well as determine eligibility of applicants.
• The Economic Development Director and/or the Arts and Cultural Affairs Director will sign the agreement on behalf of the City.
• The business cannot take advantage of the Business Assistance Program if business/property owner takes advantage of the ACAP program for the subject site.

For more information contact: Desnee Young
407/246-3306

Business Assistance Program

The Business Assistance Program (BAP) provides matching funds to new and expanding businesses in the City to assist in off-setting development fees, including sewer and transportation impact fees, building permit fees, and all elements of public right-of-way infrastructure within the City’s jurisdiction that may require new installation, repair, replacement, or relocation.  

The program requires eligible business owners to pay 50% of the fees assessed against the business, while the program fund pays the remaining 50% up to $20,000. In order to be eligible for the matching grant, a business must meet the following criteria:

• A for-profit new or expanding business. 

• The business must be located within the City.

• Both the business owner and property owner must jointly apply for BAP assistance. The City will provide a standard three party agreement for the property owner and the business owner to sign. 

• Cannot take advantage of the Small Business Sewer Benefit Fee Matching Grant Program or ACAP if business/property owner takes advantage of the BAP program for the subject site.

Business District Program
The objective of the Business District Program is to encourage the formation and assist in the development of business associations within the City of Orlando by assisting with events sponsorships, which will result in the promotion and growth of the business district.
Program Parameters:

	The District must be located within the City of Orlando.
	A clearly defined business association must be in place.
	One application per business district per year is eligible for the program.
	The Business Association must be clearly represented by a selected person or group of persons. Fifty-one percent of the businesses in the defined association must be represented for the program consideration.
	For events, the City must be a recognized sponsor. City Logo is to be included on all electronic and printed materials and/or banner displays. The City must be granted booth/table access for marketing of City programs.

The City of Orlando will cover the following expenses:

	Acquisition and placement of all materials which will be located in the City's right of way to include but not limited to; benches, receptacles, planters, plants, etc. Marketing assistance and other requests shall be subject to city staff approval.
	The City will incur costs up to $2000.00 per business district event, to include work performed by the City.

Maintenance of plants will be the responsibility of the business association, however, the City of Orlando will provide assistance as needed.

The City of Orlando's Office of Economic Development will administer the Business District Program