EZ Certification
To participate in the Empire Zones Program, a business must first become Empire Zone certified. In order to become Empire Zone certified, a business must meet the following criteria:
- The business must be located within the boundaries of the Empire Zone. To find out if your business is located in an Empire Zone, please contact the Broome Zone office or review the Zone maps on this website.
- The business must demonstrate that it will create new jobs and make investments within the Empire Zone.
- Meet the eligibility guidelines set forth in the Broome Zone’s Development Plan.
- Submit a complete Empire Zone Certification Application.
- Pass a cost benefit analysis required by New York State. Businesses certified on or after April 1, 2009 are required to meet a cost benefit analysis ratio of 20:1, or 10:1 if the business is a manufacturer.
Certification Process
The certification process begins when the Zone Coordinator receives a completed Empire Zone Certification Application from the business and the above criteria are met. Once received, the application will be presented to the local Zone Administrative Board (ZAB) at a regularly scheduled board meeting. The ZAB will review the application and cost benefit analysis ratio, and decide whether or not to make a recommendation for approval. A recommendation for approval by the ZAB is only a recommendation and does not guarantee Empire Zone Certification.
If an application is recommended for approval by the ZAB, the application will then be forwarded to Empire State Development where the New York State Commissioner of Economic Development will have sole authority to approve certifications. Typically, the certification process takes about 10-12 weeks.
If the ZAB does not recommend an application for approval, the applicant will be notified by a letter from the Broome County Zone Administrative Board.
Once certified, a business has the opportunity to earn tax credits through the Empire Zones Program. Please note, the receipt of an Empire Zone certificate does not imply that a business is automatically eligible for all Empire Zone benefits; the Empire Zone business must still meet the eligibility requirements of each credit.
Forms for Certification
Return the completed application to the Broome County Empire Zone:
Broome County Empire Zone
Edwin L. Crawford County Office Building, 6th Floor
P.O. Box 1766
Binghamton, New York 13902-1766
Phone: (607) 778-6001
Fax: (607) 778-2175
email: mscarinzi@co.broome.ny.us