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Equip Harlingen grant program now accepting applications! Start Here.

Incentives

Local
Equip Harlingen Matching Grant Program

Equip Harlingen is a small business matching grant program offered by the Harlingen Economic Development Corporation that provides up to Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000) for new equipment purchases for businesses that are looking to expand their production capabilities.

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Local
Revitalize Harlingen

The program provides financial assistance up to $10,000 for improvements to eligible commercial businesses or property owners for eligible renovation costs that have occurred or will occur from December 1, 2023, through August 31, 2024, subject to the terms of the grant and final approval from the Board of Directors and the City Commission.

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Local
$2 Million Fund for Small Business Loans

The Harlingen Economic Development Corporation (HEDC) has partnered with PeopleFund to launch a revolving loan fund that will provide $2 million in loan capital for eligible small businesses located within the Harlingen city limits.

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Local
Chapter 380 Economic Development Agreements

Chapter 380 of the Texas Local Government Code allows Harlingen to offer a range of incentives for economic development, including the ability to rebate some of the city's portion of the 1.0% sales and use tax collected from business entities located in the jurisdiction.

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Sales Tax Incentive Program

The City of Harlingen and the State of Texas both offer great incentives for expanding and relocating business.

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Local
Customized Programs

HEDC may be willing to develop new programs for qualified businesses subject to meeting statutory requirements.

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Local
Economic Studies Grant

HEDC can assist in the cost of applying for state funding programs such as the Enterprise Fund, Enterprise Zone Project, or Chapter 313 impact studies for qualified projects.

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Local
Freeport Tax Exemption

Section 11.251 of the Tax Code provides for a freeport exemption applying to goods, wares, ores and merchandise other than oil, gas and petroleum products (defined as liquid and gaseous materials immediately derived from refining petroleum or natural gas) and to aircraft or repair parts used by a certificated air carrier.

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Local
IDA-Industrial District Agreement

An Industrial District Agreement contractually protects companies located in the designated district from annexation and City requirements such as permitting and platting in exchange for a Payment in Lieu of Taxes.

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Local
Infrastructure Grants

Available for specific off-site improvements for qualified projects.

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Local
Job Creation Grants

Available to projects that create over 50 full-time jobs.

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Federal
EDA Grants

The US Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration has programs available to HEDC that could help offset costs associated with new projects creating manufacturing jobs and increasing private investment. HEDC has been willing to help companies through these programs.

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Local
Land Grants

For qualified projects, HEDC may subsidize a portion or all of the cost of the land for a greenfield development. These types of grants are usually for large industrial projects with big job creation numbers.

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Local
Matching Job Training Grants

HEDC may participate in job training programs by providing matching grants for Texas Workforce Commission programs.

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Local
Public Improvement District

The City of Harlingen can assist developers wishing to create a public improvement district for qualified development projects.

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Local
Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones

The City has historically utilized Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones (TIRZ) as a powerful vehicle to develop and redevelop qualified projects based on City goals and objectives.

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Local
Tax Abatement

Qualifying businesses considering locate in Harlingen have the opportunity to apply for a property tax abatement on new value created as a result of a large industrial project. 

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Federal
Opportunity Zone

An Opportunity Zone is an economically-distressed community where private investments, under certain conditions, may be eligible for capital gain tax incentives. Harlingen has several census tracts designated as opportunity zones.

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State
Economic Development and Diversification In-State Tuition for Employees

Economic Development & Diversification In-State Tuition for Employees is a program that allows employees—and those employees’ family members—of a qualified business considering a relocation or expansion of its operations in the State of Texas to pay in-state tuition rates at public institutions of higher education in the state without first establishing residency.

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State
Skills Development Fund

Established by the 74th Legislature in 1995, The Skills Development Fund was designed to better utilize the public community and technical college system in Texas as well as other training organizations and have them partner with businesses throughout the state (with priority on small businesses) to train workers to meet the labor needs of employers and the regional labor market.

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State
Texas Enterprise Fund

The Texas Enterprise Fund (TEF) awards “deal-closing” grants to companies considering a new project for which one Texas site is competing with other out-of-state sites. The fund serves as a financial incentive for those companies whose projects would contribute significant capital investment and new employment opportunities to the state’s economy.

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State
Texas Enterprise Zone Program

The Texas Enterprise Zone Program (EZP) is a state sales and use tax refund program designed to encourage private investment and job creation in economically distressed areas of the state.

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State
Texas Sales and Use Tax Exemptions

Texas businesses are exempt from paying state and local sales and use tax on leased or purchased machinery, equipment, replacement parts, and accessories that are used or consumed in the manufacturing, fabrication, or repairing of tangible personal property for ultimate sale. Certain restrictions apply and the exemption is not for all equipment. In some instances, labor or services that are typically taxable may be eligible for the exemption.

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State
Texas Self Sufficiency Fund

The Self-Sufficiency Fund is a job-training program that is specifically designed for individuals that receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). The program links the business community with local educational institutions and is administered by the Texas Workforce Commission. The goal of the Fund is to assist TANF recipients become independent of government financial assistance.

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Local
HELP for Small Business

In trying times such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the Harlingen EDC has taken the necessary steps to ensure the continued success of our local businesses. Since the program’s launch in May of 2020, it has aided more than 50 local businesses in retaining more than 400 full-time equivalent jobs. Industries that have received HELP include local restaurants, salons, and spa and massage establishments. 

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