The Spokane Community Empowerment Zone program is intended to stimulate economic development throughout Spokane County by offering qualified businesses special tax incentives. The Spokane CEZ includes most of the West Central, East Central and Hillyard neighborhoods and surrounding areas. To qualify for tax incentives, businesses must be engaged in Manufacturing, Research & Development or Software Development; apply for tax credits prior to ground breaking or hiring; hire residents of the zone; and locate or expand within the designated geographic area in order to receive the sales and use tax deferral/exemption on construction projects..

The CEZ offers the following tax incentives:
Sales and Use Tax Deferral/Exemption on new equipment and construction costs for new or remodeled buildings used in manufacturing, research and development activities, or computer-related activities.

Business and Occupation New Job Tax Credit of $2,000 (wages and benefits $40k or less) or $4,000 (wages and benefits more than $40k) per new job created by manufacturing, research and development, and software development firms.

Business and Occupation International Business Tax Credit of $3,000 (up to five years) per new job created by firms providing certain international business services.

Business and Occupation Training Tax Credit of 20 percent of the amount spent on employer-provided job training that is designed to enhance employee performance, up to $5,000 annually per firm.

Companies interested in learning more about the CEZ program should contact Greater Spokane Incorporated for more information. The Economic Development team is very knowledgeable about the CEZ program and is prepared to provide assistance to local businesses interested in applying for program benefits. Greater Spokane Incorporated is also available to provide educational presentations to professional business groups about the CEZ program.