The Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce Growth Management Committee will be attending the City Commission meeting on Wednesday, December 9, when
the City will consider extending the Temporary Economic Emergency Concurrency Relief Program for another year.
The Concurrency Relief Program was initially adopted in April 2009, to allow developments to apply for a concurrency fee reduction for projects that are determined by the City commission to provide a public benefit by stimulating private sector development and job creation. The current program allowed for an application period through December 1, 2009, required construction to commence no later than December 31, 2010, and show continuous progress. The private sector has responded to the current program with three projects to date.
At the December 9 meeting, the Chamber will ask the City Commission to extend the application deadline to December 1, 2010, and require construction to commence no later than December 31, 2011, to encourage additional economic development.
Our ask is simple: One-year extension of application deadline and one-year extension to the commencement of construction for new applications.
Let the City Commissioners know where you stand: to email all City Commissioners, click here.
Talking Points
The City of Tallahassee’s economic stimulus program to reduce concurrency fees on qualifying business projects has been very successful and should be continued for one
more year. The program has been a model of positive collaboration between local government and the private business community.
Chamber position: One year extension of application deadline and one year extension to the commencement of construction for new applications.
• The application deadline sunsets on December 1, 2009. It should be extended to December 1, 2010.
• To take advantage of the concurrency reduction, all approved projects must commence construction by December 21, 2010. This should be extended to December 31, 2011.
Since it was implemented, the City’s concurrency reduction program has helped two projects and has three applications pending review. These planned construction projects were on hold because of the difficult economy, and because concurrency would have required multi-million dollar payments to the city.
Reducing concurrency fees has been a cost-effective way for the local government to stimulate the local economy, create jobs, and increase the property tax base.
Today, unemployment remains high and the economy remains sluggish. We believe that extending the program for one year will be an incentive for additional businesses to invest in our community.
