Business Assistance Programs
Business Expansion and Retention Assistance
Our Business Retention and Expansion Program works closely with existing
Mesa businesses to facilitate smooth, successful expansions and proactively identify and address any concerns.
Development Review
The City of Mesa is dedicated to providing excellent service throughout the
development process. A member of staff will be assigned to work closely with
your business and guide you through the planning, zoning, and permitting
processes.More on
Development Services
Enterprise Zone
Upon meeting certain criteria, employers may be eligible for compensation of up to $3,000 per qualified employment position and may also be eligible for a
reduced assessment ratio of 5%, versus a 25%, assessment ratio on all real and personal property.
More on the
Enterprise Zone
Enterprise Zone
Program Summary
Foreign Trade Zone #221
The Foreign Trade Zone provides a way for
importing companies to reduce or defer payment of customs duties. An
onsite U.S. Customs Office offers additional advantages to businesses
conducting international trade. Qualified businesses located within the Mesa
Enterprise Zone are eligible for an 80% reduction in state real and personal
property taxes.
More
on
Foreign Trade Zone #221
More on the
U.S. Customs Office
User fees & schedules
Light Rail Business Outreach
The City of Mesa formed a special team to assist businesses affected by
construction along the light rail corridor. Contact
Patrick Murphy for more information.
Military Re-Use Zone
Businesses located in a military re-use zone
that provide aerospace and aviation services or manufacturing may be
eligible for a reduced
assessment ratio of 5%, versus 25%, on all real and personal
property.
Military re-use zone
guidelines
Redevelopment Area
Upon meeting certain criteria, improvements
made in the Town Center Redevelopment Area may qualify for an abatement of
the government property lease excise tax for up to 8 years.
Town Center Development Office
Site Selection
Mesa's Office of Economic Development provides
detailed information on both "for sale" and "lease" opportunities
that are available in the City. We will help you select a site based
on a number of different criteria, including land space requirements,
building space needed, specific
location in the City and lease rate or sale price. Our relationships
with local real estate brokers, developers, and property owners combined
with an extensive database of available properties and up-to-date
demographics make Mesa the place to find the perfect site for your
business.
Work Force Development
The Arizona Job Training Program will contribute up to 75% of the training
costs for net new employees or up to 50% of the training costs for incumbent
employees. Recent awards have ranged from $300 to $1,000 per employee.
The state university system offers resident tuition rates for families
relocating to Arizona through company transfer. The benefit of tuition at
the resident rate applies to the dependents and spouses of relocated
individuals.
Accelerated Depreciation
The State of Arizona offers an accelerated depreciation schedule to
encourage new capital investment and reduce personal property tax liability.
The full class value of class three and class four personal property can be
reduced by 40% the first year, 56% of the scheduled depreciation value the
second year, 72% of the scheduled depreciation the third year, and 88% of
the scheduled depreciation value the fourth year. The schedule reverts to
original levels in the fifth year.
Economic Strength Project (ESP) Grants
The ESP program offers grants for new road construction and upgrading of
existing roads. Matching funds are required.
Information Technology (IT) Tax Credit
Encouraging employers to provide employees with continuing technology skills
training, the IT Tax Credit is available to businesses as a 50-50 match for
training up to 20 employees. The program is capped at $5,000,000 with half
of the fund available to C corporations, and the other half marked for sole
proprietorships, partnerships, sub-S corporations, and Limited Liability
Companies. The tax credit cannot exceed $1,500 per employee. If the total
awards exceeds the program budget, the per employee credit will be reduced
proportionately for all applicants.
Mesa Industrial Development Authority
Provides businesses with tax-exempt industrial revenue bonds for qualified
manufacturing projects located within the city of Mesa. The interest rates
on the bonds is typically lower than the prime interest rate, and the
interest earned on the bonds is exempt from federal and state income tax.
Research & Development Tax Credit
The State of Arizona provides corporate income tax credits for qualified
research and development conducted in the state.
For more information visit the Arizona Department of Commerce:
R&D
Tax Credit
Sales Tax Exemption
Arizona exempts the sales of machinery or equipment used directly in
manufacturing operations and R&D from the state transaction privilege tax
and the state use tax.
For information on
State
Incentives & Programs information, visit the
Arizona
Department of Commerce web site.
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