HomeMy WebLinkAboutSTATMENT BY DUSTIN WHITE OCTOBER 21,2019 Benefits of the Jeffersonville Urban Enterprise Zone.
1. Tax breaks for Zone businesses. Not renewing the UEZ will increase taxes on
new businesses wanting to open or relocate into the Zone;
a. Pfau Chemical, Marriott Town Place Suites and various other small
businesses take advantage of this incentive;
2. Tax breaks for Zone residents living and working in the Zone. Not renewing
the UEZ will increase income taxes for those Jeffersonville residents;
3. The UEZ assists small businesses:
a. Referrals to the SBDC;
b. Grants for space renovations, marketing, facade improvements;
4. Primary funder of Jeff Main Street to the sum of approximately
$120,000/year; this also helps their Downtown Merchant's Association
partnership when it comes to planning events. Funds the Main Street Front
Porch Program;
5. Catalyst for the Spring Street Enhancement Project; This project would have
never started without the initial investment of the UEZ; Engineer
Study/Design work;
6. Historic lighting on Pearl Street between Court and Maple;
7. Assisted in the renovation of the nationally designated Spring Hill EnVision
Center project, the only one in Indiana and one of sixteen nationwide;
8. Help save the Masonic Lodge on Spring Street;
9. $4,000 annual grants available to neighborhood associations within the Zone
to help better their neighborhoods;
10. Seed funding for the Fresh Start Market making fresh produce available for
those in a food desert;
11. 4-year college scholarships for Zone residents attending college in good
standing;
12. One of the initial co-funders of the Arts Administrator;
13. Claysburg Front Porch Project. Two to three projects funded to-date;
14. Contributed funds to security at Big 4 Station, daily cleanup of downtown,
and sidewalk shaving, which reduced the hazards for pedestrian traffic;
15. Sponsored Claysburg Days, Women's Empowerment Power Breakfast Series,
ISBDC, YMCA (SaturPlay program), Farm to Table Dinner, Progressive
Dinner;
16. LouVelo Bike Share-Big4 Station has been the most used station in the entire
regional network;
17. Downtown Tree Walk.
This is, by no means, all of the good work done by the JUEZ over the past four to
eight years but it is a good snapshot. Over the past twenty years, the JUEZ has been
vital to the sustainability of a vibrant and verdant downtown for the citizens of
Jeffersonville to enjoy, as they do, every day.
The previous extension was done in May of 2014. Today,we are late to the
game. This should have been done earlier this year. I frequently asked the
Executive Director to clarify how the JUEZ was to be extended and when it would be
done. Nothing was done, so here we are at the 11th hour trying to save this vital
state program.
Since 2012, the Jeffersonville Urban Enterprise Association has had regular
monthly meetings, which were open to the public. Some Councilpersons attended
from time to time, others did not. Even the Mayor attended meetings at times.
Information was always available to the public and everyone on this Council, if they
chose to attend.
The people need to know that this Council stands for continuing Urban
Enterprise Zone incentive program for as long as the State of Indiana allows. As of
today, that is for another five years. Our duty is to do what is good and right for the
citizens of Jeffersonville, and extending the Jeffersonville Urban Enterprise Zone for
another five years is just that; making our citizens lives better tomorrow, than they
are today.
I encourage my fellow colleagues to vote in favor of this Resolution extending
the Jeffersonville Urban Enterprise Zone for an additional five-year period, without
any further delay.
(016-
Dustin T. White
Councilman-District 1
cc:
City Clerk
Council President