Rural Zone Webinar Scheduled Today for Lavonia Downtown Business Owners

Downtown Lavonia business owners have an opportunity today to take part in a Rural Zone webinar sponsored by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.

The webinar takes place this afternoon at 1p at the Lavonia Train Depot and is an opportunity for business owners to learn about the benefits of investing in a rural zone, such as tax incentives for job creation, and downtown property purchases and renovations.

The Georgia Department of Community Affairs awarded the City of Lavonia a Rural Zone designation for 2022 last October.

In making the announcement, Lavonia Mayor Courtney Umbehant said the designation will help with the continued revitalization of the downtown area.

Communities in rural zone areas are encouraged to develop strategies and share information about the benefits to businesses and investors, including the program’s three tax incentives:

• Job Tax Credit, which offers $2,000 per new full-time equivalent job created
• Investment Credit, which is equivalent to 25% of the purchase price of the building
• Rehabilitation Credit, which is equivalent to 30% of qualified rehabilitation costs.

Each of the three tax credits is dependent upon the creation of at least two new full-time equivalent jobs.

In order to be eligible for the Rural Zone tax credits a municipality must have a population of less than 15,000; have a core downtown area with structures older than 50 years; produce evidence of blight or disinvestment in the downtown area; have an implementation of a strategic plan in the downtown area; and submit a completed market analysis, which indicates gaps within the local business makeup.

Lavonia’s Rural Zone designation from the Department of Community Affairs will run for five years.