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Fredericksburg, Stafford could add incentive zones Date published: 10/5/2009 By Emily Battle CITY MAY ADD MORE INCENTIVE ZONES Fredericksburg has used technology and tourism zones to offer tax rebates to businesses, including Wegmans and Capital Ale House, in Celebrate Virginia and downtown. Later this year, the City Council could consider adding more of these zones to other parts of the city that it wants want to redevelop. A new tourism zone could give the city a legal mechanism to offer tax-based incentives to lure businesses to Central Park, where the recession has left a trail of large empty storefronts. A technology zone could be considered for the U.S. 1 corridor from the Falmouth Bridge south to Cowan Boulevard, to encourage technology-based businesses to help redevelop this area. Acting Economic Development Director Karen Hedelt told the city's Economic Development Authority recently that city officials are working on plans for these zones, which the City Council would have to adopt as new ordinances. STAFFORD CONSIDERING TECHNOLOGY ZONES A subcommittee made up of Supervisors Cord Sterling and Harry Crisp is in the process of drafting a technology zone ordinance for Stafford County. If passed, it would allow the Department of Economic Development to discuss incentive packages with businesses and present them to the board in closed session. Economic Development Director Tim Baroody hopes to take the proposal to the board in the next couple of months. The ordinance would outline a more formal process for companies seeking incentives to locate in the county. Baroody views technology zones as another tool in the county's toolbox. He said that current discussions anticipate the technology zone could encompass the entire urban services area--generally the center of the county, where public water and sewer are available. A number of industries could be targeted, but the goal is to attract good-paying, family-supporting jobs to Stafford. --Emily Battle and Jonas Beals
instead of competing FOR the region.
Why not collaborate to draw jobs to the REGION?
We have these arbitrary boundaries that drive us to do
things that ultimately actually can work against our
collective interests.
Falmouth to Cowan Blvd along Rt1 is a tough drive. The new UMW retail area makes it harder. Maybe small companies will take advantage, but a big company will be enticed by the empty old Capital One bldg near the I95 exit, not the mess up near Cowan.
I know almost every business along Caroline St,, many of which are teething mad that Capital Ale House got tax rebates all the other businesses DID NOT GET! For that reason I hope Capital Ale House goes bankrupt, and I will take my business to another establishment not "blessed" by the City Government.
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