Business Friendly Climate

In addition to property adjacent to the best road, rail, water and utilities infrastructure, and an economic development tax abatement which is not restricted to manufacturing, Glades County offers a business friendly climate that is second to none.

Aggressive Local Option Economic Development Tax Abatement

Glades County offers an aggressive local option economic development tax abatement, which allows companies to apply to the Board of County Commissioners for an abatement of the county portion of projected ad valorem taxes from 10 percent to 100 percent for up to ten years, based on the number of jobs expected to be created, and the salaries associated with those jobs. Glades County’s commission may award the abatement for any new business which locates in the county, at their discretion. For a copy of the application, email info@gladescountyedc.com

Expedited permitting, fast track rezoning, impact fee waivers.

While other communities tout expedited permitting, Glades County delivers. A building permit can be secured based on stamped, engineered plans in ten days. Rezoning property can be accomplished in two months. Water management permits for properties in the Glades County Business and Commerce Park and Americas Gateway Logistics Center can be secured within a month; more complicated environmental permits secured within six months. And Glades County has waived impact fees indefinitely.

Low overall operating costs

According to a recent economic analysis by Site Selection Group, businesses locating in Glades County will enjoy a 12 percent cost savings in overall operating costs versus the Central or South Florida Markets. For a copy of the report, email info@gladescountyedc.com

Foreign Trade Zone Status

Glades County is one of six counties in the Florida Heartland Economic Region of Opportunity (FHERO). As such, industrial properties in Glades County will enjoy free trade zone status under FTZ 215 as a usage driven FTZ site.

A foreign-trade zone (FTZ) in the United States is a geographical area, in (or adjacent to) a United States Port of Entry, where commercial merchandise, both domestic and foreign receives the same Customs treatment it would if it were outside the commerce of the United States.

Merchandise of every description may be held in the Zone without being subject to Customs duties and other ad valorem taxes. This tariff and tax relief is designed to lower the costs of U.S.-based operations engaged in international trade and thereby create and retain the employment and capital investment opportunities that result from those operations.

And that’s not all…

• New Market Tax Credit census tract, allows businesses involved in manufacturing or other projects expanding in a rural community to qualify for a 39% federal income tax credit available over a 7-year compliance period.
• Contiguous with EB-5 Regional Center in Palm Beach County, making projects in Glades eligible for EB-5 investment – $500,000 in rural FL versus $1 million urban.

When you contact us concerning your company’s expansion or relocation plans, we will provide a custom-made response to your query, outlining the potential benefits to your company to be gained from siting your project in Glades County, subject to adjustment based on real costs going forward.