Enterprise Zone Board

Created in December 1984. The membership of the Enterprise Zone Board consists of representatives from Adams and Brown Counties, including the Mayor, 2 Aldermen and 12 citizens.

The Quincy/Adams County Enterprise Zone Board is a governmental advisory and administrative board that oversees the Enterprise Zone Program for the City of Quincy and Adams County. An Enterprise Zone is a designated geographic area where state and local incentives are offered to encourage economic development, business investment, job creation and redevelopment, particularly in areas that could benefit from revitalization.

The Enterprise Zone itself is established through an agreement with the State of Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO). The Board is charged with administering and guiding its operations at the local level.

Key duties and responsibilities are:

• The board evaluates applications for businesses or development projects that want to participate in the Enterprise Zone and receive tax incentives. Their review ensures that proposals meet program requirements and benefit the community’s economic goals. These can include:

• Building new facilities
• Expanding existing operations
• Redeveloping underused or vacant property
• Engaging in other qualified economic activities within the zone boundary

• The Board oversees and authorizes local incentives available through the Enterprise Zone, such as:

• Sales tax exemptions on building materials used in qualified projects
• Property tax abatement or incentives (when applicable)
• Utility tax incentives or state income tax benefits tied to job creation

• Once an incentive is awarded, the Board helps track whether the business or project is:

• Meeting investment commitments
• Achieving job creation or retention goals
• Complying with legal and program requirements

• The Enterprise Zone Board provides regular reports and recommendations, such as success evaluations of the Enterprise Zone, requests for boundary adjustments or expansions and policy recommendations for better zone performance to:

• Quincy City Council
• Adams County Board
• Economic development partners
• The Illinois DCEO

• The Board also plays a promotional and planning role by:

• Working with developers, businesses, and community leaders
• Responding to inquiries about zone benefits
• Helping coordinate zone participation with other economic development programs