The Enterprise Zone program is a partnership between the Commonwealth of Virginia and individual localities to offer targeted incentives to stimulate business development and job growth. The Henrico County Enterprise Zone boundaries and incentives are set by the County and approved by the State; Henrico’s EZ boundaries include contiguous areas identified for commercial revitalization. Businesses within the Enterprise Zone can take advantage of State and County financial and technical assistance and other incentives for physical improvements to buildings, parking areas, and signage. EZ designation does not change the zoning of a property.
Local Incentives
For qualifying projects, Henrico County will provide financial assistance, accelerated development processing, permit and fee waivers, a partial tax abatement, commercial and industrial rehabilitation grants, employment and training assistance, and technical assistance.
State Incentives
There are two state grants: Job Creation and Real Property Investment. These are available in addition to County incentives, and can be used in conjunction with Henrico County incentives or separately.
For additional information on State incentives, contact the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (804 371-7040) at [email protected].
Job Creation Grant
Depending on the wage paid and benefits provided, grants are available for up to $800 per job per year for five years.
Real Property Investment Grant
Businesses making real property improvements in excess of $100,000 for rehabilitation and $500,000 for new construction are eligible for grants up to 20% of the value of the improvement. Maximum amounts available are $100,000 for rehabilitation and $200,000 for new construction.
Map of the Henrico County Enterprise Zone
Maps of the EZ can be accessed through the County GIS, or through the Virginia Economic Development Partnership’s database.
To determine whether your business falls within the Enterprise Zone using the County GIS viewer:
-
- Select the Search box (top left corner).
- Click the down arrow button and select Henrico Address.
- Type the business location address or parcel address in the Search box – Once the address is entered; click the Search icon (magnifying glass).
- A map with Search Result box will appear, pointing to your address.
- Next, click the Layers button (located directly below the Down Arrow of the Search box).
- After selecting the Layers button, click the down arrow left from “External GIS Data”. (If the “External GIS Data” layers do not appear, simply refresh the web browser.)
- A list of options will appear, click the radio button on the left of “Community Revitalization”.
- Again click the down arrow left of “Community Revitalization” and select the radio button on the left of “Enterprise Zones”.
- After selecting the appropriate layers, the map should now show the Enterprise Zone for Henrico County.
Enterprise Zone Annual Reports
Each year Henrico County submits to the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development an Annual Report describing activity in the County Enterprise Zone for the previous year.
Additional information about the Enterprise Zone and detailed maps can be reviewed at the Permit Centers in the Eastern and Western Government Centers, at any of the Henrico County public libraries, or at the Department of Community Revitalization. For more information concerning the Henrico County Enterprise Zone or for general information on this subject, call the Henrico Department of Community Revitalization at (804) 501-7640.
Older Henrico County EZ Annual Reports are also available upon request, or via search of the Community Revitalization Public Data.
