Downtown Homerville Development Incentives

Please contact Homerville Main Street Manager Laura Nipper at (912) 599-0204 or mainstreet@cityofhomerville.com. All applications must be submitted before beginning any work in Downtown Homerville.

Homerville Main Street Program and the Downtown Development Authority of Homerville established a Facade Improvement Program to incite exterior improvements to properties and to promote economic development in the historic Central Business District. This program is intended to preserve and restore historic properties and details that reflect Downtown Homerville’s historic character.

The program encourages reinvestment in downtown by matching private investment 50-50 with a maximum match amount of $5,000. For example, if a rehabilitation project costs more than $10,000, the maximum amount the applicant can receive is $5,000. If the project costs less than $10,000, the maximum amount the applicant can receive is half of the total cost of the investment. Applications for the facade improvement program will be reviewed and approved or denied based on the funds available, the order in which applications are received, and the quality of the design. Applications will be reviewed by the Downtown Development Authority of Homerville at regular meetings with the following criteria taken into consideration:

● The historic, cultural, and/or architectural significance of the building

● The potential impact of the project on the downtown in general and on the building in particular

● The location of the building with visually prominent areas and economically blighted areas given precedent

● The overall cost of the project

● The quality of the proposal and adherence to procedure

The Facade Improvement Program can be layered with the Rural Zone Tax Credit.

Façade Improvement Program

R.U.R.A.L. Tax Credits (Revitalizing Underdeveloped Rural Areas Legislation)

Downtown Homerville is one of only 40 communities in Georgia to be designated a Rural Zone. The R.U.R.A.L. Zone designation provides tax credit incentives to promote the revitalization of vacant rural Georgia downtowns by encouraging investment, job creation, and economic growth in long-established business districts. The purpose of the Rural Zone is to encourage small business investment and job creation to help preserve small town assets and stimulate economic activity. For more information:  Georgia Department of Community Affairs

Rural Zone Tax Credits

Job Tax Credits

  1. Must create 2 full-time equivalent jobs

  2. $2,000 credit per new full-time equivalent job.  Not to exceed $40,000 credit per year

  3. Eligible businesses include professional services or retail

  4. Credit can be taken for 5 years as long as jobs are maintained

Rehabilitation Tax Credits​

  1. Equivalent to 30% of qualified rehabilitation costs not to exceed $150,000

  2. Credit should be prorated equally in three installments over three taxable years

  3. Must create a minimum of two full-time equivalent jobs

Investment Tax Credits

  1. This credit is for purchasing property downtown within the Rural Revitalization Zone

  2. Equivalent to 25% of the purchase price not to exceed $125,000

  3. To claim this tax credit the investment property must be within the designated zone and create two full-time equivalent jobs

  4. Credit can be claimed over 5 years