Economic Development Tax Refund, Tax Credit, and Grant Program

Department of Commerce

Division of Economic Development

40400100 Economic Development 

Line- Item 2403 and 2415 in 2026-232 Laws of Florida; All refunds, credits and grants under this project are appropriated under a lump-sum category and allocated to other categories via a budget amendment.   The funds provided in Specific Appropriation 2403 shall be allocated as follows:  Program	Funding Source	Appropriation Economic Development Tools	General Revenue	 $4,000,000  State Economic Enhancement and Development (SEED) Trust Fund	$16,000,00   	Economic Development TF	$2,500,000    The funds provided in Specific Appropriation 2415 shall be allocated as follows:  Program Funding Source Appropriation Grants & Aid - Florida Job Growth Grant Fund General Revenue $40,000,000

098019 Lump Sum - Economic Development Tools; 108741, 136024, 136025, and 136026 - Florida Job Growth Grant Fund ¿ CF

General Appropriation Act; Ch. 20.60 & 288, Florida Statutes

Funding economic development initiatives throughout the state that are for industry and business expansion or improvement, and job creation opportunities. Below is a list of current activities under this state project for Fiscal Year 2025-2026.

Brownfield Redevelopment Tax Refund
Qualified Target Industry Business Tax Refund
Qualified Target Industry (QTI) Tax Refund - Brownfield Redevelopment Bonus
High Impact Performance Incentives (HIPI)
Florida Job Growth Grant Fund

Florida competes globally to bring jobs to the state from businesses that have other location options. Economic development incentives are components of a toolkit designed to address various business needs in a competitive environment. A competitive economic development project is one in which a business has identified multiple locations that can meet its needs. Incentives may be used to reduce costs associated with a site, facility, or equipment and can help facilitate the location of businesses in Florida. They are designed to promote job creation, job retention, and capital investment in Florida.
A core principle of the state¿s economic development incentive programs is that businesses are eligible for, and receive, incentive awards based on verified performance. The performance requirements are included in a performance-based agreement, including jobs created and retained, capital investment expenditures, and taxes paid, as applicable to the agreements.
Incentive agreement requirements are typically phased in and met over multiple years, and performance is measured and verified annually. Most agreements contain between five and ten scheduled performance years.
Businesses submit most of their claims related to performance, completed within a calendar year, between January and March of the following year. After a claim is submitted, an Independent Auditor obtains additional support documentation as part of its confirmation process. Each performance claim is reviewed and verified prior to the release of a payment to the business. The Auditor obtains information directly from businesses and other state departments to document performance for every claim and every incentive payment.
The timing of the Division's confirmations and payments is dependent on receiving sufficient supporting documentation, and for some incentive programs, the required matching payment from the local governments

Grants
Tax Refunds
Other

For Profit, Non-Profit and Local Governments

Funds provided in Specific Appropriation 2403 are provided to make payments and tax refunds in Fiscal Year 2026-2027 for the following programs: 

Qualified Target Industry (QTI)
Brownfield Redevelopment Bonus; Brownfield Redevelopment Tax Refund; and High-Impact Business Performance (HIPI) Grant. Payments may only be made for projects that meet the statutory eligibility requirements. Funds may not be released for any other purpose and may only be disbursed when projects are certified to have met all contracted performance requirements. Funds provided in Specific Appropriation 2403 from the Economic Development Trust Fund represent local matching funds.

The Department of Commerce must provide monthly reports within ten business days after the end of each month to the Executive Office of the Governor's Office of Policy and Budget, the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and the chair of the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee regarding all escrow activity relating to the Quick Action Closing Fund and the Innovation Incentive
Fund programs. The report must include information regarding any funds and interest earnings returned to the appropriate fund in the state treasury, and the anticipated date(s) of all funds held in escrow.

Prior to the release of funds, a performance-based agreement is executed between the recipient and the Department.

Brownfield Redevelopment Tax Refund
N/A

High Impact Performance Incentives (HIPI)
N/A

Florida Job Growth Grant Fund
N/A

The following Programs and not accepting applications due to being repealed;
Quick Action Closing Fund
Qualified Target Industry Business Tax Refund
Qualified Target Industry (QTI) Tax Refund - Brownfield Redevelopment Bonus
Qualified Defense Contractor and Space Flight Business Tax Refund
Innovation Incentive Program

Brownfield Redevelopment Bonus Refund Prospective
applicants may obtain an application package from the INFORMATION CONTACT listed below.

High Impact Performance Incentives Prospective
applicants may obtain an application package from Enterprise Florida, Inc., at the INFORMATION CONTACT listed below.  Applications must include a complete description of the facility, business operation and product or services associated with the project; the number of full-time equivalent jobs that will be created by the project and the average annual wage of those jobs; the cumulative amount of investment to be dedicated to the project within 3 years; a statement concerning any special impacts the facility is expected to stimulate in the sector, thee state, or regional economy and in state universities and community colleges; and a statement concerning the role the grant will play in the decision of the applicant business to locate or expand in this state.

Florida Job Growth Grant Fund
The department and Enterprise Florida, Inc., my identify projects, solicit proposals, and make funding recommendations to the Governor, who is authorized to approve based on local and regional needs.  Applicants may submit project proposals at floridajobs.org.

The following Programs are not accepting applications due to being repealed.
Quick Action Closing Fund
Qualified Target Industry Tax Refund
Qualified Target Industry (QTI) Tax Refund - Brownfield Redevelopment Bonus
Qualified Defense Contractor and Space Flight Business Tax Refund
Innovation Incentive Program

Brownfield Redevelopment Bonus Refund
Applications are accepted year-round.


High Impact Performance Incentives
Applications are accepted year-round.

Florida Job Growth
Proposals will be considered until all the funding is committed.

Web Address:	

Brownfield Redevelopment Bonus Refund
www.floridajobs.org


High Impact Performance Incentives
www.floridajobs.org

Florida Job Growth Grant Fund
www.floridajobs.org/jobgrowth
www.floridajobs.org/jobgrowth

Jason Mahon 
Deputy Secretary
Division of Economic Development
107 E Madison Street
Tallahassee, FL, 32399-0001
PHONE: (850) 717-8972
EMAIL:Jason.Mahon@commerce.fl.gov

Caroline Womack
Chief Financial Officer
107 East Madison Street MSC 100
Tallahassee, FL 32399
PHONE: 850-245-7126
EMAIL: Caroline.Womack@commerce.fl.gov

www.floridajobs.org