Virginia Enterprise Zone (VEZ)

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Program Contacts
Jeff Sadler This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Competitive applications will be accepted by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to fill four Virginia Enterprise Zone (VEZ) designations that are due to expire at the end of this year. Applications will be accepted March 1-June 28.

Applications must be submitted through CAMS (DHCD’s Centralized Application and Management System)

Please review the 2014 EZ Designation Application Instruction Manual for more information.

To learn more about the application process, consider attending the “How-to-Apply” workshop near you.

The Virginia Enterprise Zone (VEZ) program is a partnership between state and local government that encourages job creation and private investment. VEZ accomplishes this by designating Enterprise Zones throughout the state and providing two grant-based incentives, the Job Creation Grant (JCG) and the Real Property Investment Grant (RPIG), to qualified investors and job creators within those zones, while the locality provides local incentives.

For a list of current zones, see the VEZ map.

Eligibility

Qualifications

State incentives are available to businesses and zone investors who create jobs and invest in real property within the boundaries of enterprise zones.

Qualification for the Job Creation Grant (JCG) is based on permanent full-time job creation over a four job threshold, wage rates of at least 175 percent of the Federal minimum wage (150 percent in HUAs*), and the availability of health benefits. Personal service, retail, food and beverage positions are not eligible to receive job creation grants.

*As of 2010, firms located in High Unemployment Areas (HUAs) may qualify for the JCG at the reduced wage rate threshold of $10.88 (150 percent of the Federal minimum wage). A list of HUAs is provided below in the Helpful Links section of this page.

Eligiblity for the Real Property Investment Grant (RPIG) is based on qualified investments made to commercial, industrial, and mixed-use buildings or facilities located within the boundaries of an enterprise zone. To be eligible for the RPIG, an individual or entity must invest at least $100,000 for rehabilitation or expansion projects and at least $500,000 for new construction projects.

For more information about state incentive eligibility criteria and grant awards please reference the Virginia Enterprise Zone Grant Matrix under the “Helpful Links “section.

Program Resources

Partners/Intermediaries

In addition to state incentives, each locality offers its own package of incentives tailored to their unique needs. To find out whether a business or real property is located within an enterprise zone, or to learn more about a specific zone’s local incentive package, see the contact list of Local Zone Administrators.
Information for Local Zone Administrators

Program Highlights

Funding Allocation Revisions
In an effort to prioritize job creation, Job Creation Grants will receive funding priority should grant request exceed available funds. In the event that grant requests exceed allocated funding, Real Property Investment Grants may be subject to proration.

Job Creation Grant Revisions
The Virginia Enterprise Zone (VEZ) Job Creation Grant (JCG) has reduced the wage rate threshold for job grants in areas with unemployment rates that are equal to or more than one and one-half times the state average to 150 percent of the federal minimum wage or $10.88 to receive grants. High unemployment area zones authorized by this new provision are listed on the link below.

Wage Rate Threshold*	Grant Per PFTE	Eligible Businesses
$10.88	$500	HUA Business
$12.69	$500	All Business
$14.50	$800	All Business

Helpful Links

FORMS

Applications for Grant Year 2012 are due April 1^st, 2013. To apply for Enterprise Zone incentives please visit the EZ Application Submission System website.