Indian River County
Chamber of Commerce
Contact: Helene Caseltine
1216 21st St
Vero Beach, FL 32960
Phone: 772-567-3491
www.indianriverchamber.com

Indian River County, Florida

With a quality of life unique even to Florida, Indian River County is where lifestyle and work style unite to create a highly productive and profitable environment. Our Indian River County Chamber of Commerce is a county-wide organization representing the business community by providing services, benefits, and leadership for positive growth. We serve all of Indian River County including Vero Beach, Sebastian, Indian River Shores, Fellsmere, Wabasso, and the Town of Orchid.

In addition to its beaches and waters for swimming, scuba diving, boating, fishing, and other water sports, Indian River County's parks offer countless opportunities for recreation and enjoying the outdoors. Five public golf courses allow for all levels of play and tennis facilities are widely available. With a host of museums, theaters, restaurants, night spots, and shopping areas, and you have the makings for an incomparable vacation.

Centrally located 75 miles south of the Kennedy Space Center and 135 miles north of Miami, our 543 square miles contain beautiful beaches, immaculate ocean and river front communities, and endless groves of renowned Indian River oranges and grapefruit.

Over 139,000 people reside in Indian River County, enjoying a climate moderated by the warm tropical waters of the Gulf Stream. Balmy winters combine with summer’s fresh ocean breezes to keep the average temperature a delicious 73 degrees, allowing residents to swim, golf, and play tennis all year long.

In addition, the 26 miles of unspoiled beaches, the serene waterscapes of the Sebastian and Indian Rivers, and miles of pristine woodlands and fields provide an endless array of recreational adventures. Free from urban sprawl and congestion, Indian River County offers the ideal setting for living life to its fullest.

Economic Development

Indian River County welcomes inquiries from businesses seeking to relocate. More than one business has come to our area because the president, CEO, or other officer visited here, recognized our unique environment, and decided to relocate. Our ideal climate, wealth of recreational and cultural opportunities, wide range of housing options, and business relocation support make the transition a pleasant experience for everyone.

Economic Development Incentives

Below is a list of economic development incentives available to qualified targeted businesses relocating to, or expanding in, Indian River County:

• Participation in the Florida Qualified Target Industry Tax Refund Program
  
  
• Local Jobs Grant Program
  
  
• Tax Abatement
  
  
• Enterprise Zone Program tax benefits for businesses located within the Zone
  
  
• Impact Fee Financing
  
  
• Utility Deposit Waivers
  
  
• Expedited permitting process
  
  
• Availability of infrastructure with sufficient capacity (roads, water, sewer)
  
  
• Availability of Industrial Revenue Bonds
  
  
• Availability of job training and training grants through Indian River Community College
  
  
• Assistance in acquiring federal or state grants (such as Community Development Block Grants)

Business can receive a tax refund of up to $5,000 per new job created, and $8,000 if located in the Enterprise Zone. Business must pay an average wage of at least 115% of local average annual wage. Business must create at least 10 new jobs in any of the state’s target industries. If an expansion, the expansion must result in at least a 10% increase in employment. The county provides 20% match of the total taxes refunded.

Local Jobs Grant Program

The Local Jobs Grant Program is a cash incentive paid to a business meeting eligibility requirements as specified above. Grants are paid over a three-year period, after the new jobs are in place, provided that the business has maintained the minimum job threshold at the wage levels stated on the application.

The application is submitted to the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce and reviewed for completeness. It is forwarded to the county’s Economic Development Council, who makes a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners.

Grant Calculation

A 10% bonus is available when a business locates or expands within the Enterprise Zone.

The maximum grant amount available to an individual company is $500,000, except for businesses in the Enterprise Zone.

The Local Jobs Grant Program can be used as the local match required by the state’s Qualified Targeted Industry Tax Refund Program.

Ad Valorem Tax Abatement

An Ad Valorem Tax Exemption (abatement) may be available to eligible new and expanding businesses throughout Indian River County. The exemption is applied to the increased value from improvements made by the company to existing real property and tangible personal property, and can remain in effect up to 10 years as determined by job creation, wage criteria and capital investment. The job creation factor is more flexible for projects located in our Enterprise Zone.

Enterprise Zone Tax Benefits

• Job Tax Credit on Sales Tax or Corporate Tax for new jobs created in the Enterprise Zone
  
  
• Sales Tax Refund on building materials purchased for rehabilitation of real property, and on the purchase of machinery/equipment used in the Zone
  
  
• Corporate Tax Credit based on increased ad valorem on improved real property

Impact Fee Financing Program

Allows financing of county-imposed Impact Fees up to six years for businesses listed on the county’s target industries list. Details of terms and conditions available on request.

Waiving County Utility Deposit

The county will guarantee county utility deposits of up to $10,000 (water and/or sewer) for businesses meeting eligibility requirements. Details of terms and conditions available on request.

Testimonials About Indian River County

Testimonials from corporate executives will tell you first hand why Indian River County is an ideal choice when considering a corporate relocation:

“The natural beauty, relaxed lifestyle and affluent atmosphere make it a popular alternative to busier vacation destinations.”
General Manager, Disney’s Vero Beach Resort

“Local people are often surprised to learn that the third largest privately-owned company in Florida is headquartered here in Vero Beach. In the high-profile corporate world it is nice to blend in and become part of the community’s ambience.”
Chief Financial Officer, George E. Warren Corporation

“Recruiting and keeping a skilled workforce like ours is much easier in a community that offers such a satisfying quality of life. Also, Indian River County is easy to get in and out of which is important to us because our distribution and customer base is worldwide.”
CEO, Piper Aircraft, Inc.

“I have looked all over Florida the past five years for the ideal spot to relocate my New Jersey-based test equipment manufacturing business. When I decided on Vero Beach, the rest was easy. I quickly found the right location and had no problem recruiting people.”
President, M. C. Miller Company

"A majority of our customer base is in Florida and Vero is less than 3 hours from any major city. We have been here for 20 years and Vero Beach is just a great place to live, play and work."
President, Nylacarb Corporation

If you have any questions, please contact our Economic Development Director at directored@indianriverchamber.com.