In Case You Missed It: Fresno County Officials Rally for Enterprise Zones

Fresno County business owners and elected officials voice their support for the Enterprise Zone tax credit

(FRESNO, CA)—Business owners and elected officials met at Holt Lumber in Fresno to discuss their opposition to Governor Brown’s proposal to eliminate Enterprise Zones.

The Business Journal: Fresno Co. officials rally for enterprise zones

The proposal by Gov. Jerry Brown to eliminate the enterprise zones in the state budget prompted a group of Fresno County business owners and elected officials to voice their concerns today at Holt Lumber in Fresno.

In Sanger, where the unemployment rate is approaching the 30% mark, Mayor Joshua Mitchell believes cutting the program will make the unemployment rate soar even higher.

“All we’re doing with eliminating these initiatives is lengthening the recession,” Mitchell said.

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Approximately 1/3 of Holt Lumber’s current employees were hired because of tax credits. If the enterprise zones are eliminated, David Powers, the controller for Holt Lumber, expects lay offs would follow within three to six months.

“We’re at a level of sustainability, but if the enterprise zone goes away, that will mean more employee cuts,” Powers said.
Powers does not believe it would be the entire 1/3 that was hired because of the tax credits, but it would be a significant number.

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