The Barry County Commission and Enhanced Enterprise Zone (EEZ) Board received notification from David Kerr, Director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development, that the Barry County EEZ application has been approved.
“This concludes a year-long process and is very important to the economic development of Barry County,” said Barry County Presiding Commissioner, Cherry Warren. “The County Commission wants to acknowledge the hard work of Bill Easley and the EEZ Board in creating a very workable structure and application. The mayors and city councils of the seven cities levying taxes in the county also were immensely helpful in getting this application through.”
The purpose of a Missouri EEZ is to enable a designated area to provide tax credits to new or expanding businesses. EEZs are specific geographic areas designated by local governments and certified by the Department of Economic Development (DED). Zone designation is based on certain demographic conditions, the potential to create sustainable jobs in a targeted industry and a demonstrated impact on local industry cluster development.
Currently, there are 104 EEZ designations in the state of Missouri. The Barry County EEZ encompasses all of Barry County except areas covered by the City of Monett and the Monett School District. The Commission also passed a resolution directing that the Jenkins Fire District be exempted from EEZ consideration, at the request of the fire district.
“The EEZ Board worked very well together to determine the industries and abatement levels for the district,” said EEZ Chairman, Bill Easley. “This will help make Barry County more competitive in securing new employers and jobs. One of the next steps will be to educate existing businesses in Barry County so they can take advantage of the tax credits available through this program.”
The seven member board members are: Richard Asbill, Superintendent of the Cassville School District, representing the county’s school districts; Dennis Baker, Barry County Health Department Vice Chairman, representing special taxing districts; Mike Bennett, representing the Purdy Community; Steve Decocq, representing the Wheaton Community; Bill Easley, representing the Cassville Community; Mark Shumaker, representing the Golden community; and Bob Stewart, representing the Shell Knob community.
The mayors and city councils in Barry County taxing cities that supported the application with resolutions were Butterfield, Cassville, Exeter, Purdy, Seligman, Washburn and Wheaton.
For detailed information on Missouri’s Enhanced Enterprise Zone program, go to www.missouridevelopment.org/Business Solutions/Financial and Incentive Programs/Tax Incentives/Enhanced Enterprise Zone.html
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