An Empire Zone is an area of up to two non-contiguous miles, in which tax incentives are offered by the state of

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

, under the

Empire Zones Program An empire is a "political unit" made up of several territories and peoples, "usually created by conquest, and divided between a dominant center and subordinate peripheries". The center of the empire (sometimes referred to as the metropole) ex ...

. This program was designed to bring new businesses and jobs to the state. In 1999, the New York State Economic Development Zones program became the Empire Zones program at the direction of Gov.

George Pataki George Elmer Pataki (; born June 24, 1945) is an American lawyer and politician who served as the 53rd governor of New York from 1995 to 2006. An attorney by profession, Pataki was elected mayor of his hometown of Peekskill, New York, and went on ...

. Today there are 82 Empire Zones in New York, and 9,800 certified businesses operating within them. Qualifying businesses within these zones can apply for these incentives: *Wage Tax Credit *Zone Capital Credit *New York State Sales Tax Refund *Real Property Tax Credit *Tax Reduction Credit

External links

Empire State Development Empire Zones Page
Taxation in New York (state) Special economic zones of the United States {{NewYork-stub