NEWS - Local Breaking News

Liberty County site boasts increased tax incentives

July 22, 2011 - Tradeport East Business Center, a Class-A business park located in Liberty County that is currently home to Target, Tire Rack and Firth Rixon and will house an additional 3.5 million-square-foot development by IDI, was recently designated an Opportunity Zone by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA).

This classification provides further tax incentives for businesses to locate their industrial facilities in Tradeport East, which already boasts a 10-year, 100 percent real estate tax abatement and Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) status.

The Opportunity Zone designation signifies that new or existing businesses that create two or more jobs in Tradeport East now qualify to receive the maximum state job tax credit of $3,500 per job for a period of five years. Additionally, businesses which are unable to use the credit against their Georgia Income Taxes may claim the excess credit against their withholding taxes. The designation is valid for 10 years, beginning in 2011.

"The chance to earn tax credits for job creation through the Opportunity Zone designation provides a valuable incentive for businesses to locate their operations in Liberty County," said Ronald E. Tolley, chief executive officer of the Liberty County Development Authority. "Coupled with the Class-A facility and prime build-to-suit sites available at IDI's Tradeport East Business Center, we hope to attract and retain more industry to this location in the coming years."

Located off Interstate 95 at Exit 76 in Liberty County, Tradeport East Business Center is a 3.5 million-square-foot industrial park jointly developed by IDI and the Liberty County Development Authority. The business park, which can accommodate flexible warehouse, distributing and manufacturing facilities, offers proximity to the Port of Savannah, the Port of Brunswick and the Port of Jacksonville. It also is only 76 miles north of the Georgia-Florida border via I-95 and provides one-day truck service to all Southeastern U.S. consumer markets, including Miami.

IDI's Tradeport East Building A, is a 502,854-square-foot, Silver LEED-certified cross-dock facility, which is expandable to 1.2 million square feet, features 36-foot clear height ceilings, tilt-up concrete construction, early suppression fast response (ESFR) sprinklers, cross-dock loading and abundant trailer parking. Sustainable features at Tradeport East include:

• A white TPO roof membrane and concrete truck courts instead of asphalt to reduce the "heat island" effect,

• Improved insulation (R-value),

• Skylights to reduce the need for artificial light,

• Abundant natural landscaping and re-claimed water to provide lower-cost irrigation and to replenish the aquifer,

• A comprehensive energy-efficient building design to cut utility costs.

"We hope that the Opportunity Zone will attract more businesses to Liberty County and create more jobs for this local economy," said Lisa Ward, vice president of leasing for IDI's Atlanta market office. "This designation, coupled with the other factors such as GRAD Certified Sites, Foreign Trade Zone and the ability to reach the largest population based within the Southeastern United States within a one-day truck drive, adds to the extensive attractive aspects of Tradeport East Business Center, including numerous sustainable, cost-reducing features. For many industrial clients, the existing incentive package can equate to three to five years of free rent - an outstanding advantage."