By: Beth Kirkland, Executive Director, Economic Development Council of Tallahassee/Leon County, Inc.
The Economic Development Council of Tallahassee/Leon County and the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce serve the local business community in different, but complementary ways. Each has specific programs that focus on providing opportunities for business success, and on May 20, two of them will intersect for a unique event.
Every two months, the Chamber offers its Business Nuts & Bolts program, a popular gathering of motivated business people looking for networking, discussion of best practices and a timely keynote address from an expert in a field relevant to helping small businesses be more successful.
While the Chamber’s 1600 members represent leaders in the business community, the Nuts & Bolts crowd has have been especially engaged in seeking opportunities in a challenging economy. That is why we were so excited about the prospect of introducing them to the incentives offered through our local Enterprise Zone Development Agency.
Administered through the EDC, the EZDA is a government business incentive program that encourages activity in areas targeted for economic revitalization. In our case, it is a 20-square-mile area in the central, southern and western portions of the community. The program offers various state tax incentives, including new employee tax credits and sales tax rebates on equipment and construction materials.
The problem has been that not enough companies are taking advantage of incentives that they could use to hire, train employees and grow their operations, which is why Nuts & Bolts is a perfect fit.
The program will feature keynote speakers Greg Gentry and Ken Machemehl, from ADP Tax Credit Services, discussing “Business Resources for Your Bottom Line.” Attendees will be presented with information on various tax incentives available to eligible businesses, including Florida’s geographically based incentives, such as those available within the local Enterprise Zone.
Now, more than ever, it is important to understand and take advantage of local, state and federal dollars, and this forum will present small-businesses owners with the know-how to cut costs through government incentives in these tough economic times.
All area businesses will benefit from attending this special event, which also will include extended networking opportunities and expanded exhibit space. And for those located within the Enterprise Zone, it could mean access to dollars they never knew were available.
So please join us on Thursday, May 20, at the Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center starting at 8:00 a.m. To register for the event, contact the Chamber at (850) 224-8116 or visit chamber.clientwebstage.com. For exhibit information, contact Nicole Singletary at nsingletary@taledc.com or (850) 521-3106.
