Florida legislature OK's Gifford enterprise zone application

By Henry A. Stephens staff writer
May 10, 2005

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Victor Hart Sr. had some good news Monday for his fellow Gifford residents.
The state Legislature approved a bill allowing the county and Vero Beach to apply to Gov. Jeb Bush's office for a 4 1/2- square-mile Enterprise Zone centered on Gifford and the Vero Beach Municipal Airport.

"Oh man, this is good news. It's bread from heaven," said Hart, president of the county chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

The proposed zone is bounded by U.S. 1 to the east, the Main Relief Canal to the south, 43rd Avenue to the west and 49th Street to the north.
If the governor's Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development gives final approval, the Enterprise Zone designation would give state tax breaks to new businesses relocating there and to existing businesses for expansion in the zone, such as hiring residents who live there.

Also, homeowners and employers could receive a state sales tax refund for building materials used to repair properties in the zone.
"We're pretty excited about it," said Helene Caseltine, who is leading the project as economic development director for the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce.

Her next task, she said, will be to seek interlocal agreements from the County Commission and the City Council, because they are co-sponsors.
She said the chamber also is developing a strategic plan and will submit that with the application package to the state by early June.

Hart said he would help the chamber any way he can to complete the package.
The area's unemployment rate fluctuates from 10 percent to 55 percent, and about 30 percent of the 4,700 residents earn less than the county's average income wage of $28,585, Caseltine has said.

"It's really a win-win proposal," said Keith Drake, director of operations at Paris Air Inc. "We can hire local people. We're thinking of expanding right now and this is going to be a tremendous incentive for us."

He said his company, which employs 10 people at its one hangar at the city's airport, expects to build two more hangars and hire five or six new employees in fueling, accounting and other services.