Incentive Programs

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Basic Info

Utilizing a number of incentives, the Department of Community Affairs is able to provide ways to encourage the private sector to invest and fill a need that is important to a community, but which it cannot complete with available means. Tools such as tax credits, low-interest rate mortgages and down-payment assistance programs are in this category.

Programs/Resources
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State Opportunity Zones

Local governments which undertake redevelopment and revitalization efforts in certain older commercial and industrial areas can now qualify those areas for the State’s maximum job tax credit of $3,500 per job.

Federal Opportunity Zones

The Federal Qualified Opportunity Zone distinction was created by The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to spur economic growth in low-income communities by allowing investors to defer federal taxes by taking capital gains from other investments and investing in these designated areas. The U.S.

Georgia Agribusiness and Rural Jobs Act

Senate Bill 133, known as the “Georgia Agribusiness and Rural Jobs Act” (GARJA), was approved by the Georgia General Assembly during the 2017 legislative session, and subsequently signed into law by Governor Nathan Deal.  GARJA is intended to provide a mechanism whereby access to capital is avail

Job Tax Credits

Provides for a statewide job tax credit for any business or headquarters of any such business engaged in manufacturing, warehousing and distribution, processing, telecommunications, tourism, research and development industries or services for the elderly and persons with disabilities but does not include retail businesses. If other requirements are met, job tax credits are available to businesses of any nature, including retail businesses, in counties recognized and designated as the 40 least developed counties.

Less Developed Census Tracts

O.C.G.A. § 48-7-40.1(b) requires that DCA rank the state’s census tracts by December 31 of each year. The census tract detail is applicable to a tax year beginning on or after January 1 and includes “less developed” census tracts that are statistically similar to the bottom 71 (Tier 1) counties contiguous to at least nine other such tracts.  

Rural Zones

Recognizing that many small, rural downtown areas have experienced varying levels of economic distress, DCA worked with the Georgia General Assembly to secure passage of a bill calling for the development of “Rural Zones.” The establishment of up to 10 zones per year will enable businesses and investors to obtain tax credits for qualified activities occurring within designated Rural Zones. Credits will be available for job creation activities, investment in downtown properties, and renovation of properties to make them usable. 

Military Zones

The Job Tax Credit Program, as defined in O.C.G.A. § 48-7-40.1, provides additional benefits to specified census tracts or additionally designated areas which are considered to be less developed or have a higher rate of poverty.

Enterprise Zones

In 1997, the General Assembly enacted the Enterprise Zone Employment Act, recognizing the need for revitalization in many areas of Georgia.

Georgia Tourism Development Act

The Georgia Tourism Development Act (GTDA) will allow certain companies that build new tourism attraction projects within the State to maintain a portion of their sales tax revenues for 10 years.

Regional Economic Assistance Program (REAP)

Regional Economic Assistance Projects (REAP) provides a mechanism for local and state governments and the private sector to cooperate on large-scale tourism-related projects with multiple uses that will create jobs and enhance the local tax base.