Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance Program (LERTA)
Every building constructed in CenterPoint receives a 10 year, 100% real estate tax abatement on improvements via the LERTA program. This abatement program was approved by Luzerne County, the Pittston Area School District, and Jenkins and Pittston Townships. The annual real estate taxes you will save when you move into a LERTA-approved building in CenterPoint may vary depending upon the cost of construction required to meet your exact specifications. Contact Mericle’s Leasing Team for a detailed savings estimate.
Foreign Trade Zone
Many of the lots in CenterPoint Commerce and Trade Park have Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) status. FTZs encourage and expedite import/export cargo movements. These specially designated zones are considered outside the Customs territory of the United States, which means that merchandise can be stored, exhibited, assembled, manufactured and processed without being subject to formal Customs entry procedures and payment of duties — unless and until the merchandise enters the Customs territory for domestic consumption.
- Duty Deferral:
No duty is ever charged on merchandise while it is in a Foreign Trade Zone, and there is no limit on the length of time merchandise may be kept in a Foreign Trade Zone. By deferring the duty, capital is freed for more important needs. - Relief From Inverted Tariffs:
Generally, if foreign merchandise is brought into a Foreign Trade Zone or Subzone and manufactured into a product that carries a lower duty rate, then the lower rate applies. - Duty Elimination On Waste And Scrap:
No duty is charged on most waste and scrap from production in Foreign Trade Zones. - No Duty On Domestic Content Or Added Value:
The “value added” to a product in a FTZ (including manufacture using domestic parts, cost of labor, overhead, and profit) is not included in its dutiable value when the final product leaves the Zone. Final duties are assessed on foreign content only. - Duty Exemption On Re-Exports:
If merchandise is re-exported after being placed in a FTZ or shipped to another FTZ and then re-exported then no duty is ever paid. - No Duty On Rejected Or Defective Parts:
Merchandise found to be defective or faulty, may be returned to the country of origin for repair or simply destroyed. Whichever choice is taken, no duty is paid. Many companies suffer from the “double duty crunch.” That is, they pay duty on imported merchandise, find it to be faulty and return it to the country of origin for repair, and then pay duty again when the merchandise reenters the United States. If you are a Foreign Trade Zone user or Subzone, the “double duty crunch” is never a problem, because your merchandise never enters the commerce of the United States. - Administrative Benefits:
Under Customs laws, a company is required to file a customs entry with each shipment of imported merchandise. This involves several associated costs including the cost of preparing, processing and filing the customs entry. Other costs include external service provider fees and a merchandise process fee (MPF) – a .21% ad valorem fee capped at $485 per customs entry – paid to the U.S. Government. However, under zone procedures, FTZ users are allowed to consolidate shipments from an FTZ to the customs territory of the U.S. into a single weekly entry transaction rather than filing an entry per shipment. This significantly reduces the number of customs entries filed by an importer resulting in significant operational and financial benefits.
PENNSYLVANIA STATE INCENTIVES
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, through the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), offers a wide variety of grant, low interest loan, job training and tax credit programs to help businesses grow. The following is a sample of what may be available to you and your business. For more information on these and other Pennsylvania programs please visit www.newpa.com.
Guaranteed Free Training Program
The Guaranteed Free Training Program (GFT-WED-netPA) is basic skills and information technology training for eligible employees of new and expanding businesses. The program can be used towards basic and entry level skills
training and Information Technology/Advanced Information Technology training. Introductory level training, such as word processing, etc. is not eligible.
The Program is available to Pennsylvania manufacturing and technology-based businesses; and for Information Technology training. Trainees must be Pennsylvania residents, employed in Pennsylvania, be permanent full-time employees and earn at least 150% of the current federal minimum wage.
The program’s Basic Skills training provides up to $450 per trainee and $75,000 per company. The Information Technology training provides up to $850 per trainee and $50,000 per company. To see if your business qualifies, please visit: www.newpa.com
Work Force Investment Act of 1998
The Workforce Investment Act of 1998 is a federal program that reimburses employers for part of the cost of training. Eligible candidates for this program include: private and public sector employers and employees. Any employer that trains program-eligible applicants can apply for reimbursement through the WIA program. Eligible applicants include dislocated workers, and unemployed persons.
The funds can be used for job search and placement, skills assessment and evaluation, counseling, training services, for individuals and companies, supportive services, and labor marketing information.
Companies can receive reimbursement for up to 50% of wages paid to eligible employees during training and up to actual costs of classroom training and related training support services. Reimbursement varies by local workforce investment area. Please visit: www.newpa.com for more information.
Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority Tax Exempt Bond Program
The Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority (PEDFA) Tax Exempt Bond Program assists in financing land and building acquisition, machinery and equipment acquisition and installation, as well as renovations and new construction.
The loan amount must fall between $400,000 and $10 million, and may be pooled bond transactions or stand-alone transactions. The loan can be up to a 30-year term. Since 1989, the base interest rate has averaged 46 percent of Prime. The rate is weekly variable and dependent on a variety of market factors. Those eligible for the PEDFA Tax Exempt Bond Program are industries such as manufacturing, energy, solid waste disposal, wastewater treatment, transportation facilities, assisted living/housing, and nonprofit 501(c)(3). Eligible businesses may apply through Industrial Development Authorities and Industrial Development Corporations. Please visit www.newpa.com for more details.
Pennsylvania First Program
The Pennsylvania First Program is a comprehensive funding tool used to enable increased investment and job creation within the Commonwealth. The program assists businesses, municipalities, or IDCs who intend to create or retain a significant number of jobs and make a substantial investment within Pennsylvania. These businesses can receive support in the form of grants, loans and loan guarantees for job training, property acquisition, site preparation, land and building improvements, purchasing or upgrading machinery and equipment, infrastructure, environmental assessments, job training, and working capital.
The program requires participants to commit to operating at the approved project site for a minimum of seven years. Businesses aided by Pennsylvania First must create or retain at least 100 full-time positions, or increase their full-time employment by 20% within the Commonwealth. Full-time employees must earn at least 150% of the federal minimum wage. Other requirements include offering a substantial economic impact for the region and, at the least, matching the Pennsylvania First assistance requested with private investment.
Loan terms can be up to 15 years for real estate and infrastructure and up to 10 years for machinery and equipment. Interest rates will be set at the time of approval and will be based on the 10 year Treasury rate. Those interested in applying can complete the Single Application for Assistance online at www.newpa.com. Please visit www.newpa.com for more requirements and restrictions.
OTHER INCENTIVES
Luzerne County’s Business Development Loan Program
Your business may be eligible for low-interest loan assistance through this Luzerne County funding source. Loan funds are available for eligible businesses at an interest rate of 1.5% for terms of 7 or 15 years. The County can finance up to 50% of the eligible project costs up to a typical maximum loan amount of $1 million. County funds will be secured by a letter of credit from a financial institution. Funding will be provided for land and/or business acquisition, construction/renovation activities, purchase of machinery and equipment, and professional and financial fees.
Loans are typically made available at $35,000 per job to be created (typical loan maximum is $1 million). Please note that this program is only offered to projects that occur within CenterPoint and other business locations in Luzerne County. Companies that locate in other counties are not eligible for these funds.
A local industrial development corporation (IDC) must sponsor the loan application on your behalf. The IDC of the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce will be pleased to serve as the sponsor.
MERICLE INCENTIVES
Electronic Signs
Mericle owns two large digital signs that are located in CenterPoint Commerce & Trade Park. The signs are visible to drivers traveling north on I-81 and I-476. More than 75,000 vehicles pass these signs daily. We will post information about your job openings on these signs for as long as you have jobs available.