- Industry Development ....
- Incentives ....
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- Data and Research ....
- Workforce Delegate Agencies ....
Incentives
The Economic Development Department (EDD) uses community resources and incentive programs to provide the catalyst for employment generating investments by the private sector. The goal of the City’s economic incentives and business development programs is to minimize the cost of expanding or locating a business in San Antonio. The City is focused on providing powerful new resources and incentives to grow the economy in the region, revitalize targeted areas of the City and promote strong, balanced growth throughout the community.
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Tax Abatement
Tax Abatement Guidelines (click here for Tax Abatement Application)--The City of San Antonio, the collaborative efforts of San Antonio’s economic development partners are refining strategies to attract and grow targeted industries in order to increase employment, expand the tax base, and create long-term investment and new wealth opportunities in the community. Tax Abatement (also known as Tax Phase-In) incentives may be offered to businesses in targeted industries based on job creation, investment, and wages paid to employees. more...Economic Development Incentive Fund
SanEnterprise Zone Designations
An enterprise project is a business that is nominated by City Council and approved by the State to receive state and local benefits. The business must commit to create or retain new permanent jobs, make capital investment at the qualified business site, hire at least 25% of its new jobs with individuals who are either economically disadvantaged or enterprise zone residents. Complete information, requirements, and an application can be found in the Office of the Governor. more...Empowerment Zone
The Empowerment Zone Development Corporation (EZDC) can issue Empowerment Zone Facility Bonds to Qualified Empowerment Zone Businesses to finance Qualified Zone Property. more...Foreign Trade Zone
San Antonio Foreign Trade Zone No. 80 offers a strategic geographic location with superb business and transportation infrastructure. Businesses can locate at existing sites or apply for designation as a new FTZ SubZone to take advantage of the incentives offered within an FTZ to include: (1) relief from inverted tariffs; (2) duty exemption on re-exports; (3) duty elimination on waste, scrap, and yield loss; and (4) duty deferral until merchandise is imported from the FTZ into the United States. more...Freeport Exemption
The City of San Antonio, Bexar County and two local City independent school districts (Judson ISD and San Antonio ISD), allow personal property tax exemptions for companies that deal with goods-in-transit or inventories used in the manufacturing process. Exemption of up to 100% of personal property taxes on goods-in-transit or inventories used in a manufacturing process and the inventory items are moved out of state within 175 days. See Freeport Exemption Guidelines and Application. For assistance please contact the Bexar County Appraisal District, Personal Property Department, at (210) 242-2468. more...Development Financing Programs
The Industrial Development Authority (IDA) can issue qualified tax-exempt bonds to acquire land and construct manufacturing facilities with a development cost under $10 million. The Health Facilities Development Corporation (HFDC) can issue tax-exempt bonds for non-profit organizations towards the development of health care facilities. The Education Facilities Corporation (EFC) may issue tax-exempt bonds for capital improvements at non-profit institutions of higher education, as well as non-public or state-authorized charter schools providing primary and/or secondary education services. Taxable bonds can also be issued without cap and few restrictions. more...Briefing Team
A group of professionals assigned to meet with business owners to streamline a business development, construction, or renovation process. more...Inner City Reinvestment Infill Policy Fee Waivers & SAWS Impact Fee Waivers
It is the intent of the City and the San Antonio Water System (SAWS) to support policies that promote growth and development in targeted areas of the City (Tier 1, 2, 3), as described in the City's Inner City Reinvestment/Policy Target Area Guidelines (ICRIP). more...Customized Workforce Training
The City offers customized training assistance through the Alamo Community Colleges, as an incentive to businesses seeking to relocate, retrain, or expand their operations within San Antonio. more...Historic Tax Exemption
The City of San Antonio’s Historic Preservation Office (HPO)reviews all exterior modifications to properties that a re designated San Antonio historic landmarks or are located within a city historic district The HPO provides incentives to encourage preservation, including City ad valorem (property) tax exemptions for “substantial rehabilitations of historic buildings in need of repair and for owner-occupied residences within new historic districts.Tax Increment Financing (TIF)
Tax Increment Financing (TIF) is used to publicly finance needed public improvements and enhanced infrastructure in a defined area. The cost of improvements to the area is repaid by the contributions of future tax revenues by each participating taxing unit that levies taxes against the property.Texas Enterprise Fund
The Texas Enterprise Fund (TEF) provides the state's leaders with a "deal closing fund" that has the flexibility and financial resources to help strengthen the state's economy. The fund can be used for a variety of economic development projects including infrastructure and community development, job training programs and business incentives. more...Skills Development Fund
Customized job-training program providing training dollars for Texas businesses and workers through state-funded, skills grants to ensure that workforce stays up-to-date, competitive and new workers trained with the skills that industry requires. more...Texas Emerging Technology Fund
The Texas Emerging Technology Fund (TETF) provides matching and grant funds to companies for research, development and commercialization of emerging technologies. Generally, awards are made in three specific areas: Institutional Research Superiority, Matching Awards and Commercialization. These grant funds help companies take ideas from concept, to development, to marketplace. Past grant allocations have ranged from $250,000 to $6 million. more...You can download the Business & Incentive Program Guide here and if you would like a consultation with staff on any of these incentives please call (210) 207-8080.