incentives

Talk about incentives: Harlingen offers an abundance. The Harlingen EDC is equipped with an incentive toolkit of more than 24 local, state and federal incentives. And rather than wading through all of them here, we ask that you talk to the EDC first. We know all about our incentives, and we’re eager to learn all about your business, your challenges and opportunities. Together we can custom-design an incentives package that fits your enterprise needs now and into the future. Below are a few highlights:

Harlingen’s 16 local incentives

  • Harlingen’s $2 million loan fund for small businesses

  • Equip Harlingen matching grant program that provides up to $3,000 for new equipment purchases for qualified expanding businesses

  • Chapter 380 Economic Development Agreements allow the City the flexibility to custom-tailor a variety of incentives.

  • Freeport Tax Exemptions applying to a range of qualified products

  • Sales Tax Incentives available to expanding and relocating business

  • Customized Programs for qualified businesses that meet statutory requirements

  • Economic Studies Grants for qualified projects to assist in the cost of applying for state funding programs such as the Enterprise Fund, Enterprise Zone, or Chapter 313 impact studies.

  • IDA-Industrial District Agreements that contractually protect qualified companies inside the designated district from annexation and City requirements such as permitting and platting in exchange for Payment in Lieu of Taxes.

  • Infrastructure Grants available for qualified projects to defray costs of off-site improvements.

  • Job Creation Grants for qualified projects that create over 50 full-time jobs.

  • EDA Grants, available to HEDC through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration, to offset costs associated with qualified new projects that create manufacturing jobs or increase private investment.

  • Land Grants to subsidize a portion or all of the cost of land for a qualified greenfield grant development, typically large industrial projects that create large number of jobs.

  • Matching Job Training Grants helping to subsidize employee training through matching grants for Texas Workforce Commission programs.

  • Public Improvement Districts that can be created for qualified development projects.

  • Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones (TIRZ) to support development and redevelopment for qualified projects that align with City goals and objectives.

  • Property Tax Abatements on new value created as a result of a qualified large industrial project.

State incentives

  • Texas Skills Development Fund, which defrays the costs for new and expanding business in training and reskilling for qualified projects

  • Texas Enterprise Zone 

  • Texas Sales and Use Tax Exemptions

    For more information, click here. 

Federal incentives

Federal incentives include EDA grants from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration that help offset the costs of new projects creating manufacturing jobs and increasing private investment. 

So when you’re ready to talk incentives, we’ve got a lot to talk about. 
Let’s get together!