Jul 26, 2006
Board established and ready to take applications.
A great deal of progress has been made since Governor Pataki announced an Empire Zone designation for Wyoming County on July 6, 2006. An Empire Zone Administrative Board (EZAB) of nine members has been appointed by the County. They have met on three occasions to conduct organizational activities such as adopting by-laws, gathering funding for the program, revising the development plan for zoned areas and contracting with the Wyoming County Business Center, Inc. (WCBC) for administering the Empire Zone Program. The WCBC is a not for profit local development corporation that was established earlier this year through Wyoming County to serve specific duties such as administering the Empire Zone program, assisting with development of business parks in Wyoming County and becoming the conduit for economic development funding.
Materials such as maps that will show what parcels are located in the 7 Empire Zoned areas in Wyoming County and an informational fact sheets about the Empire Zone benefits are being put together and will be available soon. These materials will also be used in community outreach presentations later this winter in municipalities where there is Empire Zone acreage. Those communities include the Town and Village of Arcade, Town and Village of Perry, Town and Village of Castile, Town of Gainesville, Village of Silver Springs, Village of Warsaw and the Village of Attica.
Businesses that are currently located in an Empire Zoned area and have an expansion project in the works that will include capital investment and job creation or retention will have to make application to the local EZAB to see if you qualify for Empire Zone benefits. If you are interested in learning more about the Empire Zone program or think you have a project that may qualify for Empire Zone benefits you are encouraged to call and speak with Jim Pierce at 237-0230.