The City of Douglas has established five Enterprise Zones to encourage investment and revitalization in specific areas of the city. The incentive program, in accordance with the State of Georgia's Enterprise Zone Employment Act of 1997, offers tax abatement on business, commercial, and residential properties for ten years to property owners who successfully achieve and maintain the program's criteria within the designated Enterprise Zone geographic areas.
"We aim to encourage growth in the distressed or under-invested areas of Douglas," says Georgia Henderson, the Director of Community Development. "Our program is designed to motivate property owners to invest in their properties, which will help revitalize these areas in Douglas."
The areas that have been designated as Enterprise Zones are identified as properties north of W. Irwin Street, south of W. Franklin and between N. Daughtry Avenue and N. Elk Street; properties north of W. Baker Hwy, south of W. Bryan Street, between S. Grady Avenue and S. Elk Street; properties north of Jackson Street, south of McNeil Dr., between N. Madison Avenue and N. Dewey Avenue; properties north of Pine Street, south of E. Ross Street, between S. Pearl Avenue and S. Gaskin Avenue; and properties north of E. Baker Hwy., south of Spooner Rd. between Lakeview Avenue and Lupo Lane. For a map of the Enterprise Zone areas, www.cityofdouglasga.gov.
The criteria for job creation, land improvement, and EZ approved residential property-home ownership purchases are specified in detail on the Enterprise Zone Application for Incentives. To learn more about the Douglas Enterprise Zones, please call the Community Development Office at (912)383-0277, email ghenderson@cityofdouglasga.gov, or visit www.cityofdouglasga.gov.
