BUSINESS ASSISTANCE INCENTIVE PROGRAM
The Business Assistance Incentive Program, offered by HEDC - Type A and HCDC - Type B, provides financial incentives to new and existing businesses located within the city limits of Hearne, Robertson County, Texas to promote the development and expansion of businesses in order to increase economic activity, employment and stability.
Award of incentives will be based on the proposed project's overall contribution to the economic growth of the city of Hearne. Projects are considered on a case-by-case basis and evaluated on job creation, capital investment, wages, community impact as well as other qualifying criteria.
If you would like to have your project considered for an incentive award, please click on the button below to begin the process.
The Economic Development Sales Tax
In 1979, the Texas Legislature passed the Development Corporation Act of 1979 allowing a municipality to create nonprofit development corporations that could promote the creation of new and expanded industry and manufacturing activity within the municipality and its vicinity. The development corporations operated separately from the municipalities, with boards of directors appointed by city councils.
In November 1987, the voters of Texas approved an amendment to the Texas Constitution providing that expenditures for economic development could serve a public purpose and were therefore permitted under Texas law.
In 1989, the Texas Legislature amended the Act by adding Section 4A, which allowed the creation of a new type of development corporation. The legislation provided that a Section 4A development corporation could be funded by the imposition of a local sales and use tax dedicated to economic development. The tax could be leveled only after its approval by the voters of the city at an election on the issue.
In 1991, the Texas Legislature authorized a new type of sales tax, a Section 4B sales tax. The popularity of the Section 4B sales tax led the Texas Legislature in 1993 to broaden its availability to any city that was eligible to adopt a Section 4A sales tax if they had room in their local sales tax.
In 2009, the Act was codified in the Local Government Code and was renamed the "Development Corporation Act", and economic development corporations have come to be referred to as "Type A" or "Type B" corporations.
Our Beginning....
In May 1996, the majority of registered voters in Hearne, Robertson County, Texas voted on a Type A sales tax proposition ballot for the adoption of a sales and use tax for the promotion and development of new and expanded business enterprises at the rate of 0.005000 of one percent.
In May 1996, the majority of registered voters in Hearne, Robertson County, Texas voted on a Type B sales tax proposition ballot for the adoption of a sales and use tax for economic development at the rate of 0.005000 of one percent.
With voter approval the City of Hearne City Council created:
Hearne Economic Development Corporation, Type A (HEDC)
Hearne Community Development Corp.,
Type B (HCDC)
On October 1, 1996, the City of Hearne began collecting the sales and use tax at the rates the registered voters adopted.
HEDC - TYPE A
Hearne Economic Development Corporation aka HEDC - Type A is governed by a five-member board of directors appointed by a majority vote of the city council at an open meeting. There are no qualifying criteria for a person who serves as a director on the Type A board. The directors serve without compensation but must be reimbursed for actual expenses. The directors are appointed to a six-year term of office and may be appointed to unlimited subsequent terms; however, the directors serve at the pleasure of the city council and may be removed at any time without cause.
MEETINGS:
2nd Tuesday of each month at 4:00PM
Public Safety Building - Council Chambers
306 W 3rd St, Hearne, TX 77859
Emmett Aguirre
Director / President
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Sharon Cortemelia
Director / Treasurer
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Ronda Jackson
Director / Secretary
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Rick Shear
Director
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LaTonya Wafford
Director
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HCDC - TYPE B
Hearne Community Development Corporation aka HCDC - Type B is governed by a seven-member board of directors appointed by a majority vote of the city council at an open meeting. A person who serves as a Type B director must be a resident of the city or a resident of the county in which a major part of the area the city is located or reside in a place that is within 10 miles of the city's boundaries and is in a county bordering the county in which a major portion of the city is located. Three of the seven director positions must be persons who are NOT city officials or city employees. The directors serve without compensation but must be reimbursed for actual expenses. A director serves at the pleasure of the city council for a term of two years; however, the city council may vote to remove a director at any time without having to specify a cause.
MEETINGS:
2nd Tuesday of each month at 6:00PM
Public Safety Building - Council Chambers
306 W 3rd St, Hearne, TX 77859
Virgil Blankenship
Director / President
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Latonya Darnell
DIrector
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Paula Deal
Director
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Travis Lacox
Director
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Karen McDade
Director / Secretary
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Charles Shear
DIrector
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VACANT
Director
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