Incentives Are Available in Giddings, Texas

Local Incentives and Property Sales

LOCAL INCENTIVES

The GEDC offers cash grant incentives for qualifying projects and the City of Giddings may offer tax rebates or other assistance through a Chapter 380 agreement.

Award decisions are based on a variety of factors including amount of capital investment, type or number of jobs created or retained, median wages and other benefits, type of expenditures included in the request, amount of sales tax to be collected, local economic factors such as contribution to the  region's supply chain, industry demand or needs analysis. Consideration of an application and its acceptance or rejection is within the sole discretion of the Corporation and may include considerations not expressed or elaborated upon in this document. The corporation may also request certain changes be made to the funding amount or to pertinent details.

The amount of funding available and award criteria are subject to revision. Awards are subject to the availability of sales tax revenue, annual budget, project commitments, annual plan of work or focus area for the upcoming Fiscal Year and changes to the sales tax law.  The information below should be considered a guideline that is subject to change. 

#1 TYPE B FUNDS: ELIGIBLE PROJECTS 

The Type B sales tax may be used for any project eligible under Type A rules and several other project types. Type A rules allow for TYPE B corporations to assist with the purchase of land, buildings, equipment, facilities expenditures, targeted infrastructure and improvements for projects including:

  • manufacturing and industrial facilities, recycling facilities, distribution centers, and small warehouse facilities;
  • research and development facilities, regional or national corporate headquarters facilities
  • primary job training facilities operated by higher education institutions
  • job training classes, telephone call centers and career centers not located within a junior college taxing district;
  • certain infrastructure improvements that promote or develop new or expanded business enterprises;
  • aviation facilities;
  • commuter rail, light rail or commuter bus operations;
  • port-related facilities, railports, rail switching facilities, marine ports, inland ports; and
  • maintenance and operating costs associated with projects
  • Award Process for Projects in Category #1
    • Submit an application and/ or a business plan that includes the project description, contact informaiton, number of jobs to be created or retained, amount of capital investment, and other economic impacts.
    • GEDC approves award and posts 60 day notice
    • No public hearing required
    • GEDC finalizes award
    • CLIENT signs and returns SIGNED performance agreement outlining amount of capital investment, number of jobs created or retained, timeline of project, clawback provisions for failure to perform
    • Project funds may be confirmed an awarded after 60 days beyond initial public notice
    • If award is more than $10,000, project will require two readings of a resolution. If project is outside of city limits, City Council and County Commissioner's Court approval required

#2 Type B corporations may pay for land, buildings, equipment, facilities, targeted infrastructure and improvements for:

  • professional and amateur sports and athletic facilities, tourism and entertainment facilities, convention facilities and public parks;
  • related store, restaurant, concession, parking and transportation facilities;
  • related street, water and sewer facilities; and
  • affordable housing.
  • Award Process for Projects in Category #2
    • Submit an application and/ or a business plan that includes the project description, contact informaiton, number of jobs to be created or retained, amount of capital investment, and other economic impacts.
    • GEDC approves award and posts 60 day notice
    • GEDC hosts public hearing about project, if the project or category of projects have not been approved at the annual budget hearing
      1. If the project includes exterior site improvements including drainage, paving, parking, exterior signage, exterior utilities infastructure, the GEDC may waive the public hearing.  
    • GEDC finalizes award
    • CLIENT signs and returns SIGNED performance agreement outlining amount of capital investment, number of jobs created or retained, timeline of project, clawback provisions for failure to perform
    • Project funds may be confirmed an awarded after 60 days beyond initial public notice
    •  If award is more than $10,000, project will require two readings of a resolution. If project is outside of city limits, City Council and County Commissioner's Court approval required

#3 To promote and develop new and expanded business enterprises that create or retain primary jobs, a Type B EDC may fund:

  • public safety facilities;
  • recycling facilities;
  • streets, roads, drainage and related improvements;
  • demolition of existing structures;
  • general municipally owned improvements; and
  • maintenance and operating costs associated with projects.

Type B EDCs also may seek voter approval to spend Type B sales tax funds for a water supply, water conservation program or cleanup of contaminated property.

  • Award Process for Projects in Category #3
    • Submit an application and/ or a business plan that includes the project description, contact informaiton, number of jobs to be created or retained, amount of capital investment, and other economic impacts.
    • GEDC approves award and posts 60 day notice
    • No publlic hearing required
    • GEDC finalizes award
    • CLIENT signs and returns SIGNED performance agreement outlining amount of capital investment, number of jobs created or retained, timeline of project, clawback provisions for failure to perform
    • Project funds may be confirmed an awarded after 60 days beyond initial public notice
    • If award is more than $10,000, project will require two readings of a resolution. If project is outside of city limits, City Council and County Commissioner's Court approval required

#4 OTHER ELIGIBLE PROJECTS FOR SMALL CITIES (GIDDINGS); Type B EDCs created by cities such as GIDDINGS, TEXAS with a population of 20,000 or less and those classified as landlocked communities may use sales tax proceeds to fund project expenditures that promote new or expanded business development that DO NOT create or retain primary jobs.   The applicant, receipient and/ or beneficiary must be a registered business or authorized developer on a project located within the City of Giddings. Improvements may include construction and related expenses. The GEDC does not provide assistance with general operations or marketing, except for signage.  

  • Award Process for Projects in Category #4
    • Submit an application and/ or a business plan that includes the project description, contact informaiton, number of jobs to be created or retained, amount of capital investment, and other economic impacts.
    • GEDC approves award and posts 60 day notice
    • GEDC hosts public hearing about project, if the project or category of projects have not been approved at the annual budget hearing
      1. If the project includes exterior site improvements including drainage, paving, parking, exterior signage, exterior utilities infastructure, the GEDC may waive the public hearing.  
    • GEDC finalizes award
    • CLIENT signs and returns SIGNED performance agreement outlining amount of capital investment, number of jobs created or retained, timeline of project, clawback provisions for failure to perform
    • Project funds may be confirmed an awarded after 60 days beyond initial public notice
    • If award is more than $10,000, project will require two readings of a resolution. If project is outside of city limits, City Council and County Commissioner's Court approval required

CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL

  1. If project grant is more than $10,000, City Council must also provide a Resolution authorizing the project and two readings of the Resolution
  2. Per Texas State Law, the Giddings City Council is to approve all programs and expenditures of the GEDC and annually review any financial statements of the corporation; it is entitled access to all of the Corporation’s books and records at all times; (Texas Government Code, Section 501.073)


TYPE B PROJECTS OUTSIDE OF CITY LIMITS

  1. If an EDC undertakes a project outside city limits, it must receive permission to do so from the governing body of the entity with jurisdiction in that area. For example, if an EDC locates a project beyond the city limits, it should seek approval from the county's commissioners court.

BUSINESS PARK PROPERTY

The GEDC also owns 150 acres of property located within the Giddings 290 Business Park. Property is available for sale for qualifying projects and a price per acre will be determined based on project scope, with considerations to factors including amount of capital investment, type and number of jobs created, and the cost of ancillary services and infrastructure required to bring the project to fruition.

Category: Local Incentives