Legislation could help business growth in Jackson County

Jackson County developers are hopeful that recent legislation passed by the Legislature will help in bring new retailers to the area.

The county has already embarked on the relocation and expansion of Cook road, between D’Iberville city limits and Washington Avenue/Tucker Road north of Oceans Springs. With the new road plan, officials sought help from Legislators to secure a TIF bond (Tax Increment Financing) so that they could draw new retailers to the area.

Last Thursday, Legislature passed SB 2425, granting the county access to 18.5 percent of sales tax collected from businesses located on the new road. However, they only have access to those taxes when it is being used to pay off county loans for more infrastructure improvements. A business would have to invest $10 million or more to qualify for the incentive.

While that 18.5 percent is already rebated by the state for cities that collect it, this bill makes Jackson County the first to secure the right to access that money.