Commissioners Want to Create Enterprise Zones Throughout Polk County
By: Tom Palmer
THe LEDGER
County commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to pursue approval to establish an enterprise zone in unincorporated Polk County.
The vote follows approval of resolutions from other Polk cities seeking similar designations.
County Attorney Michael Craig said the exact boundaries of the enterprise zone must be based on a study to determine areas that qualify.
The program is intended to encourage development or redevelopment of economically depressed areas.
Under state law, the enterprise zone cannot be larger than 20 square miles.
The plan is to work jointly with city officials in Bartow, Eagle Lake, Fort Meade, Lakes Wales and Mulberry, which have already passed resolutions.
“This is important to attract jobs,” Commissioner Melony Bell said.
Commissioner Bob English, who owns a manufacturing plant in Lakeland’s enterprise zone, said there are certainly benefits.
“I received $10,000 in sales tax refunds for equipment I bought and if I hire people who live in the enterprise zone, I get help with paying their salaries,” he said.
Patrick Brett, executive director of the Bartow Community Redevelopment Agency, has been working to coordinate the efforts.
He said the next step will be for the Florida Legislature to approve a new state law authorizing the application.
Brett said the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity will provide an application to establish the zones, based on census tract data. He said each enterprise zone is supposed to have a separate governing board, but local officials have approved agreements to set up a consolidated board to make it easier for companies to make contacts with local officials to take advantage of the program.