[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors
of Warren County 4-20-1999. Amendments noted where applicable.
It is the purpose of the technology zone to
foster high quality job creation and investment by technology related
businesses, pursuant to the authority granted by § 58.1-3850
of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended.
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
Except as provided in Subsection B below, a "technology business" includes any business that derives, in whole or part, gross receipts from computer software, hardware or telecommunication sales, leases, licenses; or services for which computers or telecommunications are used to provide sales, leases, licensing or services directly to the customer. Such businesses include but are not limited to the following:
Electronic information operations and providers.
Internet service providers.
Software design and development.
Computer and peripherals sales or assembly.
Content developers.
Internet-based sales and service.
Hardware design, manufacture, assembly and development.
Telecommunications-based video service providers.
Outbound or inbound call centers.
Telecommunications equipment manufacturing,
assembly or service.
"Technology business" does not include regulated
utilities, telephone companies or cable companies, nor does it include
a business that merely uses computers or telecommunications in its
internal operations.
A.
Determination of eligibility shall be made by public board action by the Industrial Development Authority of the Town of Front Royal and County of Warren trading as the Economic Development Authority, the administrator of the program. Upon approval, the Economic Development Authority shall submit a written report to the Warren County Director of Finance of such determination and include therein the name and address of the qualifying business, a description of the activities meeting the definitions of § 162-2 of this Code and the incentives for which the business is qualified.
B.
In order to qualify for local incentives pertaining
to business and occupational licenses under this chapter, a technology
business must be located within the boundaries of a Warren County
Technology Zone and conform to the zoning therein.
C.
A technology business located in a technology zone
must also make and maintain the following minimum job and capital
investments, after November 30, 2009, within 12 months of technology
zone application:
[Amended 4-20-2010]
(1)
Minimum job creation: two full-time jobs paying a
minimum of 2.0 times the minimum wage plus a health and benefit plan
valued equal to at least 10% of the base wage.
(2)
Minimum investment: $10,000 (improvements, equipment
or machinery). Inventory does not count toward minimum investment.
Notwithstanding the preceding, the minimum investment within the Downtown
Technology Zone shall be $3,000.
D.
A technology business must be, at the time of application,
and remain, during eligibility, current in all local, state and federal
taxes and appropriate user fees. The technology business must certify
the same to the Economic Development Authority at the time of application
and annually thereafter.
A.
Permit fee grants. The Economic Development Authority
shall provide cash reimbursements for the following local permits
and fees up to a maximum cumulative value of $500 for qualified technology
zone businesses, provided that the technology business' application
for reimbursement is filed with the Economic Development Authority
within the first 12 months of operation within the zone:
B.
Business professional and occupational license taxes.
Provided that they continue to remain qualified, qualified technology
businesses shall be entitled to a credit of business and occupational
license fees for that portion of their business classified as a "technology
business" for a ten-year period while the business is located within
a Warren County Technology Zone as follows: During the first five
years following application approval, the technology business shall
be entitled to a one-hundred-percent credit of its business and occupational
license fees. During the sixth year, the technology business firm
shall be entitled to an eighty-percent credit. During the seventh
year, the technology business firm shall be entitled to a sixty-percent
credit. During the eighth year, the technology business firm shall
be entitled to a forty-percent credit. During the ninth and tenth
years, the technology business firm shall be entitled to a twenty-percent
credit.
C.
Cash grants. Qualified technology businesses may be
eligible for annual cash grants to be determined on a case-by-case
basis by the County of Warren and Town of Front Royal during the negotiation
process based on job creation and investment. A minimum of 10 full-time
jobs paying at least 2.0 times the minimum wage and benefits as noted
above and a minimum investment of $10,000 shall be required to be
eligible for cash grants. Notwithstanding the preceding, in the Downtown
Technology Zone a minimum of three such full-time jobs and a minimum
investment of $3,000 shall be required to be eligible for cash grants.
[Amended 4-20-2010]
D.
All Warren County benefits are limited to that portion
of the business enterprise created and maintained for and qualified
under this technology zone program.
A.
Two distinct technology zones are included herein
as follows:
(1)
Happy Creek Zone. This zone generally focuses on the
Happy Creek Industrial Park and the northern portion of the Human
Life International site. These lands are Zone I-2, Industrial Employment
District. Technology-based businesses with a manufacturing component
are encouraged to locate in this zone, consistent with the provisions
of the I-2 Industrial Employment District.
(2)
Downtown Front Royal Zone. This zone is located within
the downtown area of Front Royal and is generally coincident with
the C-2 Downtown Business District. Technology-based businesses with
a service orientation are encouraged to locate in this zone. Ground-level
storefronts are strongly encouraged to be used for retail activities.
Due to the inherent size and capacity limitations of a downtown technology
business, qualification thresholds for total investment requirement
will be reduced from $10,000 to $3,000 and total full-time jobs created
at two times the minimum wage rate will be reduced from 10 to three
in this zone.
[Amended 4-20-2010]
B.
The boundaries of the zones are set forth on the maps attached to this chapter upon passage and which hereafter shall be maintained by the County Administrator.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Said maps are located at the
end of this chapter.
Each qualified technology business applying
for benefits in the Technology Zone Program will execute a contract
with the Economic Development Authority and the County of Warren that
will detail the specific terms and conditions of the technology business'
participation in the program. This contract must be fully executed
prior to award of any program benefits.