(a) As used in this section, the following terms shall have the following meaning:
(1) JUMP START COUNTY. Any Alabama county which meets all the following:
a. That does not qualify as a targeted county.
b. That has experienced negative population growth over the last five years as determined by the Commissioner of Labor as of each January 1 using the most current data available from the United States Departments of Labor or Commerce, the United States Bureau of the Census, or any other federal or state agency or department.
c. Contains no more than two opportunity zones as they existed on June 1, 2019.
(2) TARGETED COUNTY. Any Alabama county that has a population of 50,000 or less, as determined by the Commissioner of Labor as of each January 1 using the most current data available from the United States Departments of Labor or Commerce, the United States Bureau of the Census, or any other federal or state agency or department.
(b) In making the findings required by Section 40-18-373(a), a company that proposes a qualifying project in a targeted or jumpstart county shall be an approved company for purposes of this section only if the Secretary of Commerce makes the additional finding that the qualifying project will increase the economic diversity of, or otherwise benefit, the targeted or jumpstart county.
(c) For purposes of determining in Section 40-18-372(2)b. whether a qualifying project may receive the jobs act incentives, a project to be located in a targeted or jumpstart county shall employ at least ten new employees and shall involve, directly or indirectly, at least two million dollars ($2,000,000) of capital, absent a finding of extraordinary circumstances by the Secretary of Commerce.
(d) If the qualifying project is located in a county which is deemed to be a targeted or jumpstart county on the date the project agreement is executed, the following shall be applicable:
(1) The jobs credit provided in Section 40-18-375(a) shall be 4.0 percent of the wages paid to eligible employees during the prior year; and
(2) The investment credit provided in Section 40-18-376(a) shall have an incentive period of 15 years.
(e) Each year, the incentives in subsection (d) may be extended to no more than two qualifying projects not in targeted or jumpstart counties. Such incentives shall be granted in project agreements executed by the Governor on the recommendation of the Secretary of Commerce.
Last modified: May 3, 2021