530/741-6463 or fax 530/742-7835
mhansen@syix.com

YUBA-SUTTER ENTERPRISE ZONE
SEEKS 5-YEAR DESIGNATION EXTENSION

The Yuba County Board of Supervisors and the Marysville City Council unanimously approved at yesterday’s official board and council meetings two actions relating to the five-year extension of the Yuba-Sutter Enterprise Zone. A resolution was approved accepting a negative declaration to meet the environmental documentation requirement and a resolution was approved accepting the zone’s economic development plan. Similar actions will be before the Sutter County Board of Supervisors next Tuesday evening and the Yuba City Council on the following Tuesday evening.

The Board and the Council received presentations highlighting the zone’s 15-year designation and its accomplishments, including elements of the new economic development plan, from Enterprise Zone Manager Mary Hansen.

The Yuba-Sutter Enterprise Zone was designated by the state on October 15, 1986, as a joint partnership among the County of Yuba, the County of Sutter, and the Cities of Marysville and Yuba City The 15-year program is scheduled to terminate on October 14, 2001. However, state legislation has allowed those zones designated prior to 1990 to apply to the state for a five-year extension.

The application consists of two parts. Part I was completed by the Zone’s Lead Agency, the Yuba County Airport & Industrial Development Department, in 1999. Yuba-Sutter received 190 out of a possible 200 points. The sections concerning the zone’s overall performance and the zone’s Memorandum of Understanding concerning the partnership of the four jurisdictions both received 100 percent of the points allowed. Part II is based on the creation of an Economic Development Plan for the zone program and is also scored on a point factor.

"I have every confidence that the Yuba-Sutter Enterprise Zone will receive the five-year extension. Yuba-Sutter has received four State Zone Excellence Awards in the past three years and remains one of the top performing zone’s throughout California," stated Zone Manager Mary Hansen.

"We are so confident, that we are moving forward with our application to the state sporting a new enterprise zone logo that will be used to promote the zone’s extended designation."

The Economic Development Plan is based on five sections that will be individually scored and include Marketing, Financing Programs, Job Development, Planning and Local Incentives, and Program Management. The plan includes updated goals and objectives, along with additional, new local incentives to add to the existing incentives offered.

Hansen spoke highly of the Zone’s partnership with the One Stop Centers that have contributed to providing the local zone businesses with over 4,841 state hiring tax credit vouchers in the past three years – vouchers that have the potential of creating some $29,200 in state tax credits for each voucher issued or a total potential of $141.3 million over five years. Businesses located within the zone can receive a state tax credit for hiring individuals that are eligible under the Workforce Investment Act or other enterprise zone eligibility criteria.

The zone application is due to the state no later than March 14, 2001. The state has 120 days to review the application. The announcement of the final scoring is expected on July 15, 2001. If approved, the zone designation will be extended to October 14, 2006.

Approximately 1,750 businesses are located within the boundaries of the Yuba-Sutter Enterprise Zone. If you need further information on the program or want to know if you are in the zone, you can contact the Zone office at 530/741-6463 or visit the zone’s website at www.yubasutterez.com.