Barry County Commission to apply for Enhanced Enterprise Zone designation

Community members appointed to Barry County EEZ Board

The Barry County Commission recently passed a resolution supporting application to Missouri for an Enhanced Enterprise Zone (EEZ) designation. The commission also created a seven-member EEZ Board.

The purpose of a Missouri EEZ is to enable a designated area to provide tax credits to new or expanding businesses. EEZs are specific geographic areas designated by local governments and certified by the Department of Economic Development (DED).

Zone designation is based on certain demographic conditions, the potential to create sustainable jobs in a targeted industry and a demonstrated impact on local industry cluster development.

Currently, there are 86 EEZ designations in the state of Missouri. The Barry County EEZ will encompass all of Barry County except areas covered by the City of Monett and the Monett School District.

The Barry County Commission also passed a resolution directing that the Jenkins Fire District be exempted from EEZ consideration, at the request of the fire district.

"The importance of being a designated Enhanced Enterprise Zone is in an area's ability to give tax abatements to new businesses that create new jobs," said Barry County Presiding Commissioner Cherry Warren. "This will help make Barry County more competitive in securing new employers and jobs."

Richard Asbill, Cassville School District superintendent, will represent the county's school districts, and Dennis Baker, Barry County Health Department vice chairman, will represent the county's special taxing districts.

The seven-member EEZ Board also includes: Mike Bennett, of Purdy; Steve Decocq, of Wheaton; Bill Easley, of Cassville; Mark Shumaker, of Golden; and Bob Stewart, of Shell Knob.

The board will meet and make recommendations to the Barry County Commission regarding the percent and duration of tax abatements to be granted and any other activities required for the EEZ designation.

A public hearing on the EEZ Board's recommendations will be scheduled in the fall.

For more information on Missouri's EEZ program, visit missouridevelopment.org.