Collier County offers business incentives to attract jobs

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. – It’s your money and Collier County is using it to lure certain businesses to the area in hopes of bringing new jobs. Under their basic incentive program, the county is offering companies double the money for each job created.

“We believe this will better fit the profiles of the companies that we want to attract to create jobs in Collier County,” said Bruce Register, Director of Collier County’s Business and Economic Development Department.

In August 2013, the county created a program that would give certain companies $1,500 for every 10 jobs they created.

However, not one business ever applied for the incentive money, so Register said they decided to make some minor adjustments.

“To attract the kind of companies that will be providing jobs, equality jobs for Collier County citizens.”

Now, the county will shell out $3,000 for every 5 jobs created. Those jobs must meet the county’s minimum wage for that career.

“This goes to the semi-skilled, skilled labor force that makes up a lot of the bread and butter of a production economy that is growing in Southwest Florida.”

This incentive program is geared toward small companies that have sophisticated operations because of advances in technology. Industries like medical supplies, aviation, defense, electronics, along with food and beverage production.

“We very much expect that a better match for what their needs are will hopefully result in some positive results in our economic development.”

The incentive money will be paid out to the companies over four years.