Local Incentives

Enterprise Zone Program

• For businesses investing significant dollars in real property

• Qualifying applicants may be approved for up to 100% in tax abatements with the local school district’s consent.

• Board of County Commissioners must approve the Enterprise Zone Agreement before construction of real property occurs

• All businesses located in Defiance County, besides Adams Township, are located in an Enterprise Zone

• Enterprise Zone & CRA Application

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Community Reinvestment Area (CRA)

• Areas located within the City of Defiance, Village of Hicksville, Village of Ney and Village of Sherwood

• Includes remodeling and new construction

• Investment in qualifying areas is 100% tax exempt for 7-10 years, depending on building type

• Residential and business structures are eligible

• View City of Defiance CRA Brochure with Maps here

• View Hicksville CRA Brochure

• View Ney CRA Brochure

• CRA Application- Defiance

• CRA Application Residential- Hicksville

• CRA Application Residential- Sherwood

• CRA Application Residential- Ney

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Tax Increment Financing​

• Permits service payments in lieu of real property taxes to be used to finance public infrastructure improvements directly supporting an improvement project declared to have a “public purpose”

• Defiance County offers up to 75% exemption of real property taxed for up to 10 years, with an annual service payment in lieu of taxes required

• Payment in lieu of taxes cannot exceed the annual debt services of the notes or bonds used to finance the specified public infrastructure improvements

• Rate and term of the TIFs can be extended up to 100% for up to 30 years with local school board approval

• Defiance County Board of Commissioners must approve the TIF contract

• View TIF brochure here

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Energy Special Improvement District (ESID)​

• Public or private property owners within the ESID

• ESID provides owners the ability to finance energy efficient enhancements to their property

• An eligible project is funded through Property-Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing 

• 100% funded upfront with fixed rates and repaid over a set period of time

• View ESID brochure here

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Defiance County Infrastructure Revolving Loan Fund Program​

• Low-cost loans to assist with needed public infrastructure

• Available for industrial or distribution projects

• Can be combined with several state programs to fund infrastructure needs

• Defiance County RLF Application

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CIC Business Development Fund Revolving Loan Fund Program​

• Low-interest loans for financing of early-stage business development costs

• May include environmental surveys, business plans and engineering studies

• CIC BDLF Application

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City of Defiance Revolving Loan Fund Program

• Low-cost loans to assist with needed public infrastructure

• Available for industrial or distribution projects

• Can be combined with several state programs to fund infrastructure needs

• City of Defiance RFL Application

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City of Defiance Job Creation Incentive Program​

• Redirection incentive on new payroll tax

• Based on the income tax rate of 1.8%, the number of jobs created and the length of the term

• Company must pay wages 175% of the minimum wage

• Eligibility is determined by creating $250,000 of new payroll and/or 10 new jobs

• View City of Defiance JCIP brochure here

• JCIP Application

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Hicksville, Ohio, Job Creation Incentive Program

• Provides up to 50% of new payroll tax

• Based on the income tax rate of 1.5%, the number of jobs created and length of the term

• Company must pay wages 175% of the minimum wage

• Eligibility is determined by creating $200,000 of new payroll and/or 10 new jobs

• Incentive percentage and term is negotiable with the creation of 50 jobs or more

• View Hicksville Job Creation Program

• JCIP Application 

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Hicksville Land for Jobs Program​​

• Free acreage in a shovel-ready industrial park to companies that create 20 or more jobs

• Land is valued at nearly $20,000 per acre

• Features installed natural gas, electric, water and sewer infrastructure

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Sherwood Job Creation, Retention and Investment Program

• Grants tax credits against local income taxes to companies that create jobs in Sherwood

• Program is administered by the Defiance County Community Improvement Corporation

• View Sherwood JCRIP brochure here

• JCRIP Application

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State Incentives

Innovation Ohio Fund​​

• Created to help existing Ohio companies that develop next generation products and technologies

• Financing is available for the acquisition, construction, and related costs of technologies, facilities and equipment

• Can finance up to 75% of the project’s allowable costs to a maximum of $5 million and minimum of $250,000

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Ohio Enterprise Bond Fund

• Funding for land and building acquisition, construction, expansion or renovation and equipment for commercial or industrial projects between $1.5-10 million

• Bond provides a fixed rate for up to 20 years

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166 Direct Loan

• Provides loans for land and building acquisition, expansion or renovation, and equipment purchase

• Rate of the loan can be fixed at two-thirds of prime rate for a term of 5-15 years

• Company must create or retain 1 job for every $15,000 received

 

Minority Direct Loan

• Provides loans for the purchase or improvement of fixed assets for state certified minority-owned businesses

• Financing can be provided for up to 40% of total project cost at a 4.5% fixed rate for up to 15 years

• Company must be at least 51% minority owned and controlled and must be a state-certified minority business

• Company also must create one job for every $35,000 received

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LEARN MORE ABOUT THE STATE OF OHIO'S FINANCE AND INCENTIVE PROGRAMS

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TRAINING GRANTS 

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Ohio Investment in Training Program

• Provides grants directly to Ohio companies making investments that result in job creation or retention

• Funding formula based dependent on average hourly wage and number of employees

• Company must provide 50% matching funds.

• Eligible companies must pay wages 150% or more of the federal minimum wage

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Incumbent Workforce Training Program

• Grants will be up to $1,000 per employee trained and capped at $200,000 per business or trainer based on the actual cost of training

• Company must provide 50% matching funds

• 25% of the funding in each fiscal year will be reserved for businesses engaged in activities other than manufacturing and with fewer than 500 employees

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These are just some of the many incentive programs available. Tell us more about your project, and a member of our team will work to match you with the right resources.

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Training Cost Assistance​​

• Covers certain costs associated with hiring new employees

• Partial reimbursement through Defiance County Department of Job & Family Services

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