New Kent supervisors renew commitment to business growth

New Kent’s Board of Supervisors renewed the county’s commitment to business expansion and development at their Nov. 14 meeting by approving a short-term fee waiver incentive to encourage economic development and limit the burden on the residential tax base.

A waiver of all county environmental, planning and zoning fees for commercial and industrial projects is in effect from now until June 30. Business applicants will still have to pay fees assessed by state and federal agencies for permits.

“The Board of Supervisors continues to aggressively promote business expansion in New Kent County during this uncertain financial market,” county administrator Rodney A. Hathaway said in a press release.

Supervisors’ chairman James H. Burrell agreed with Hathaway, saying, “The Board of Supervisors felt they needed to again offer this incentive for new businesses as well as expanding businesses.”

“While others talk about difficult economic times, the New Kent Board of Supervisors, by lowering fees, has taken positive action to actually reduce the cost of doing business in the county. For commercial development we have established a way of doing business that will make sense to business,” said Hathaway.

“These innovative policies, approved by county leadership express a real commitment to support existing businesses of the county as well as provide a valuable tool which our professional marketing staff can use in their efforts to promote the development of new commercial and industrial projects within the county.”