Bainbridge and Decatur County offer several different levels of tax incentives for businesses that are considering locating to the area. Listed below are the various tax incentives available and the details or qualifications associated with each. Some of the incentives are based on the amount of investment from the perspective business or entity while other incentives, such as the "Retraining Tax Credit" are based upon required actions that must be undertaken in order for the incentive to become available for the interested business or entity.

FREEPORT INVENTORY TAX EXEMPTION

Originally enacted in 1976 and subsequently amended several times, Georgia's freeport law offers manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, and warehouse operations an attractive inventory tax exemption. A 100% exemption is in place in the City of Bainbridge and County-wide in Decatur County. The Freeport Inventory Tax Exemption applies to the following classes of personal property:

• Manufacturers' raw materials and good-in-process inventory.
• Manufacturers' finished goods held by the original manufacturer.
• Warehouse, distribution, or manufacturing firms with finished goods destined to be shipped outside Georgia.

JOB TAX CREDIT

Companies creating 5 or more jobs in Decatur County may receive a $4,000 per job tax credit for businesses engaged in manufacturing, warehousing and distribution, processing, telecommunications, tourism and research and development. Credits are allowed for each new full time employee job for 5 years. However, the total credit amount cannot be more than 50% of the taxpayer's state income tax liability for a taxable year.
 

INVESTMENT TAX CREDIT

Companies expanding in Decatur County must invest at least $50,000 to receive a 5% credit. The credit increases to 8% for recycling, pollution control and defense conversion activities. The credit is a percentage of the total value of all qualified property and cannot be more than 50% of the taxpayer's total state income tax liability for that taxable year.

 
OPTIONAL INVESTMENT TAX CREDIT

Companies investing $5 million or more in Decatur County may claim a 10% tax credit for ten years, providing that the qualifying property remains in service throughout that period.

 
RETRAINING TAX CREDIT

Employers who provide retraining for employees are eligible for a tax credit equal to 50% of the costs of retraining each full time employee up to $500. The credit cannot be more than 50% of the taxpayer's total state income tax liability for that taxable year.

For more information on the Georgia Retraining Tax Credit Guide, please visit the following web site:

http://www.georgiaquickstart.org/econdev/retrain.html

 
 
QUICK START PROGRAM FOR BUSINESSES

Georgia's Quick Start program is nationally recognized for providing high quality training services at no cost to new or expanding businesses in Georgia. Since 1967, Quick Start has provided customized training for hundreds of thousands of employees and for thousands of businesses and industries throughout the state.

The Quick Start program was with one thing in mind — creating a program that would provide flexible, relevant training designed to help new, existing and expanding companies begin quality operations as quickly as possible.

For complete information on Georgia's Quick Start program, including elibility requirements and a detailed description of the program, please visit the following web site:

http://www.georgiaquickstart.org/quickstart/menu.html

PORTS ACTIVITY TAX CREDIT

Companies that increase their port traffic tonnage by more than 10% over the previous year may increase their job tax credit by $500 per job or increase their investment tax credit by 5% or increase their optional investment tax credit by 10%. However, the total credit amount cannot be more than 50% of the taxpayer's state income tax liability for a taxable year.

 
INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY REBATES

Any industry buying property in one of the two community industrial parks is eligible for a rebate after one year of operations within the park. Earned rebates could be as much as 98% of the purchase price and are based upon job creation, investment and utility usage.

 
FINANCING - INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT BONDS

As the designated Industrial Development Authority for Bainbridge and Decatur County Georgia, we can assist industry in financing through issuing low interest tax free Industrial Bonds.