Governor Kaine has approved Halifax County’s application for re-designation as a Virginia Enterprise Zone community. Qualifying entities located within the defined boundaries of the Halifax County Enterprise Zone are eligible to receive state-based grants in return for investments in real property and for job creation. In addition, there are a series of local incentives available from the County of Halifax and the Town of South Boston. In recent years, the Enterprise Zone program has been highly effective as a stimulus for new and expanding enterprises in Halifax County. The IDA teamed with the County of Halifax, the Town of South Boston and the Southside Planning District Commission in developing the successful application. The program is administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. “This is another important step towards creating more jobs and more opportunities in distressed areas of the Commonwealth,” Governor Kaine said. The new designation is retroactive to January 1, 2008. The IDA and the Town of South Boston, in conjunction with the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, will conduct an Enterprise Zone workshop in mid-2008 wherein the details of the qualification and application processes for Enterprise Zone benefits will be explained. For immediate questions about the Enterprise Zone, contact IDA Development Director Patsy Vaughan at 434-572-1734 or via E-mail to pvaughan@halifaxvirginia.com.