The Orange County Enterprise Zone Program facilitates the revitalization of economically distressed communities by providing tax incentives and rebates to businesses that locate and invest in these areas. This new investment creates new jobs and enhances the social and economic well-being of these neighborhoods.  Orange County has two Enterprise Zones.  The Orange County Enterprise Zone (PDF - 138 KB) is comprised of parts of unincorporated Orange County, the Town of Eatonville , and the City of Orlando. The South Apopka Enterprise Zone (PDF - 49 KB) in northwest Orange County includes parts of the City of Apopka and the unincorporated communities of South Apopka and Zellwood.

Since its inception in 1994, the Orange County Enterprise Zone Program has provided over $800,000 in incentives. A variety of businesses have benefited from the Enterprise Zone Program, including Bradford Botanicals, a Zellwood nursery; Sunshine Nursery and Preschool, a child care facility; and Workscapes, an office furniture store in downtown Orlando. To see the latest Enterprise Zone activity reports click here.

How can the Orange County Enterprise Zone Program help my business? The program offers a series of incentives to facilitate the relocation and expansion of your business. These incentives target businesses that invest in Enterprise Zone communities by creating jobs, buying equipment, renovating the properties. Also, licensed childcare facilities located within an Enterprise Zone area may qualify for ad valorem property tax exemption.

The following links provide information and forms for each of the available incentives. All forms are in .pdf format.

• Sales Tax Refund for Building Materials (261 KB) or Sales Tax Refund for Business Machinery and Equipment (297 KB): Purchases of equipment and building materials used in the Enterprise Zone may be eligible for sales tax refunds.
• Jobs Tax Credit for Corporate Income Tax (560 KB) or Jobs Tax Credit for Sales and Use Taxes (967 KB):  Businesses can receive a credit for each new full-time job created.  The credit is based on the wages paid to the employee and can be used for corporate or sales and use taxes.
• Child Care Facility Property Tax Exemption (1.1 MB): Licensed child care facilities located in Enterprise Zone may be eligible for an ad valorem property tax exemption.
• Property Tax Credit (1.5 MB): New or expanding businesses can take a credit on their Florida corporate income tax. The credit is up to 96 percent of the ad valorem taxes paid on the property.

The Community Contribution Tax Credit Program (295 KB) encourages Florida corporations to make donations toward approved community development projects by providing a tax credit of up to 50 percent of the value of the donation.  Businesses may take a credit on Florida corporate income tax, franchise tax, or insurance premium tax.  For a list of eligible organizations, contact Burt Von Hoff from Florida's Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development (OTTED) at (850) 487-2568 or vonhofb@eog.state.fl.us.

Non-profit organizations and units of state and local government that are interested in becoming a sponsor under this program should contact Akosua Cook from the Orange County Planning Division at 407-836-5600 or Akosua.Cook@ocfl.net.

Your business might be eligible for additional incentives if you are located in an Enterprise Zone area. Other links to business assistance may be found on the Economic Development Links webpage. The Networked Community of Central Florida CD is also an excellent a guide for doing businesses in Central Florida.

For more information or to see if a business or employee residence is in an Orange County Enterprise Zone, contact Manan Pathak from the Orange County Planning Division at 407-836-5600 or Manan.Pathak@ocfl.net.  You can also check if your property is located in one of Orange County's Enterprise Zones on InfoMap by checking the Enterprise Zone Program map layer within the Fiscal and Economic Development folder located on the right side of the screen.

Staff is also available to explain how your business can benefit from the Enterprise Zone incentives and also help you filling that forms.  Tax/finance professionals should contact staff before submitting any applications.

Bradford Botanicals, a Zellwood Nursery, specializes on indoor foliage and house plants. All their products are shipped throughout the United States and Canada. The Enterprise Zone program has helped them with their purchases of equipment and building materials. The Bradfords received about $8,000 in sales tax credits.

"My husband, Ned, and I have found this to be a wonderful program for business people."

Kimberly Bradford, Owner
Bradford Botanicals

Sunshine Nursery and Preschool is a child care facility for the Washington Shores community in unincorporated Orange County.  Currently, the center has 22 children between the ages of 2 and 5. However, after extensively renovating the property, Sunshine now has capacity for 43 children. This childcare facility received a property tax exemption as a facility located within the boundaries of the Orange County Enterprise Zone.

"We never imagined how good (the Enterprise Zone Program) might be. It has been great for us".

Elizabeth Ayotunde, Owner
Sunshine Nursery and Preschool

Workscapes is a full-service office furniture and space planning company. A key element in the company's growth was their move to a building in downtown Orlando, which allowed them to combine all local operations in a single building. Workscapes was able to use the Enterprise Zone's Business Equipment and Building Materials sales tax incentives to renovate the building.

"The Enterprise Zone program was a central factor in our decision to move to the downtown Orlando area".

Christine Hill, Operations Manager
Workscapes

Program at a Glance

2007-2008 Program at a Glance (PDF - 141 KB)

Annual Reports

2007-2008 Annual Report - Orange County/South Apopka Enterprise Zone Program  (PDF)
2006-2007 Annual Report - Orange County Enterprise Zone  (PDF)
2006-2007 Annual Report - South Apopka Enterprise Zone (PDF)
2005-2006 Annual Report - Orange County Enterprise Zone (PDF)
2005-2006 Annual Report - South Apopka Enterprise Zone (PDF)

Childcare

• English
• Espaņol
• Creole

General

• English
• Espaņol
• Creole

Nursery

• English

The Orange County Enterprise Zone Development Agency (EZDA) advises Orange County's Board of County Commissioners on the Enterprise Zone program. The EZDA also oversees the implementation of the Enterprise Zone program's strategic plan. The EZDA meets quarterly on the first Wednesday of the month (Calendar PDF - 271 KB).  The public is welcome to attend these meetings.


Meeting Minutes

• February 6, 2008 (PDF - 18 KB)
• May 7, 2008  (PDF - 16 KB)
• August 6, 2008  (PDF - 16 KB)
• December 9, 2008 (PDF - 28 KB)