Overview
To encourage businesses to redevelop land/facilities around abandoned or underutilized railroad depots, any Targeted Investment Community may request a Railroad Depot Zone designation.
Key Incentives for Businesses
Companies involved in manufacturing, research associated with manufacturing and distribution warehousing (new construction/expansion only) as well as certain service companies that develop properties within this zone may receive:
- a five-year, 80% abatement of local property taxes on qualifying real estate and personal property (note: the company must be new to the municipality’s grand list as a direct result of a business expansion or renovation); and
- a 10-year, 25% credit on the portion of the corporate business tax that is directly attributable to a business expansion or renovation project, as determined by the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services. The credit may increase to 50% based on number of new jobs created.
Newly formed corporations located in a zone qualify for a 100% corporate tax credit for their first three taxable years and a 50% tax credit for the next seven taxable years.
Eligibility for Businesses
Since these programs are designed to encourage capital improvements to land and/or buildings, businesses must be prepared to either renovate an existing facility by investing at least 50% of its pre-acquisition value in the renovation, OR construct a new facility, OR expand an existing facility, OR acquire a facility that has been idle (minimum period of idleness depends on average number of employees).
Note: if the applicant is leasing this qualifying facility, the lease must be for at least five years with the option at that point to either 1) renew the lease for an aggregate term of not less than 10 years or 2) buy the facility. If the business averages fewer than 10 employees, those requirements may be reduced to aggregate leases of not less than six years or the option to purchase after three years.
How to Apply
- A business must first submit a preliminary application to the Department of Economic and Community Development.
- If the applicant meets all requirements, a formal application will be provided.
- That application — along with any additional required documents — must be submitted prior to October 1 of the year in which the project will be completed.
- If approved, DECD will issue a Certificate of Eligibility within a few weeks.
Contacts
To date, the towns of East Hartford and Hamden as well as the city of Norwich have received a Railroad Depot Zone designation.
Eileen Buckheit
Development Director
Planning & Development
Town of East Hartford
740 Main Street
East Hartford, CT 06108
(860) 291-7303
Fax: (860) 291-7298
Dale Kroop
Director of Economic and Community Development
Hamden Government Center
2750 Dixwell Avenue
Hamden, CT 06518
(203) 287-7033
Fax: (203) 287-7035
Deanna Rhodes
City Planner
23 Union Street
Norwich, CT 06360
Phone: (860) 823-3767
drhodes@cityofnorwich.org