Incentives & Trade

The City of Eagle Pass seeks to provide support to retain, attract, and expand growing industries. On December 3rd, 2019, through Resolution No. 2019-60R, City Council adopted its own Chapter 380 Policy aimed at achieving the following:

• Diversify the tax base
• Attract new quality jobs
• Retain and grow existing local industries
• Develop the existing workforce

Through the new incentives policy, the City can provide powerful new tools to businesses that seek to move or expand operations within city limits.

To download a copy of the incentives policy along with the application, click here

Incentives: Categories

Job Driven Development - Applicants who make a minimum investment of $3 million are eligible for a  60% rebate on ad valorem property taxes above the base year value (Higher incentives are available based on the workforce and pay).

Retail Development - Applicants within the Fortune 500 list that do not currently have a presence in Eagle Pass can qualify for a  50% sales tax rebate for eight quarters (Applicable to the City’s portion only).

Destination Tourism - Applicants who develop and operate a three-star or higher star-rated hotel of fifty rooms or more are eligible for a  50% hotel occupancy tax rebate for eight quarters (Applicable to City’s portion only).

Infill Projects - Applicants who develop mix-used projects within the downtown area are eligible for 80% rebate ad valorem property taxes over the base year value and 50% of sales tax for eight consecutive quarters if the project contains at least four housing units and one retailer. (Applicable to City’s portion only).

Capital Intensive Development - Applicants who make an investment of more than $20 million dollars are eligible for an 80% ad valorem property tax rebate in excess of the base year value (Applicable to the City’s portion only)

Employer Incentives through Workforce Solutions Middle Rio Grande- 

• Workforce Opportunity Tax Credit-The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is a federal income tax benefit administered by the U.S Department of Labor (DOL) for employers who hire individuals from specified target populations. WOTC reduces a business’s federal tax liability, serving as an incentive to select job candidates who may be disadvantaged in their efforts to find employment.  
• The State of Texas  Tax Credit- An employer may qualify for a state tax refund if he/she pays individual Taxes (franchise, state, inheritance, hotel, or manufactured housing) to the Texas Comptroller of Public accounts; and pays wages during the first year of employment to an employee who is a Texas resident; and who received TANF or MEDICAID benefits in any month during the six months before the start date of employment; and provides and pays for a part of the cost of a qualifying major Medical Insurance for the employee. 

Incentives: Programs

Revolving Loan Fund - Applicants that operate a for-profit business and locate operations within the Central Business District may request a low-interest loan for up to ten years. The City may award up to 40% of the project’s full cost with a minimum loan of $5,000 and a maximum amount of $100,000.

Main Street Façade Restoration Grant - Applicants who make façade improvements to downtown businesses are eligible for a one-to-one match grant on qualified expenses up to $20,000

Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) - PACE financing is a tool that property owners can use to upgrade facility infrastructure with little or no capital outlay by reducing operating costs and helping owners pay for water conservation, energy efficiency, resiliency, and distributed generation projects. To view the required PACE Program report, as per Local Government Section 399.009, please click HERE

Foreign Trade Zone - The City of Eagle Pass is the authorized grantee for Foreign Trade Zone No. 96 (FTZ 96) and operates under the Traditional Site Framework. Through the FTZ, a company can:

• Reduce or eliminate tariffs on foreign goods coming into the U.S.
• Defer duties on merchandise until it is ready to enter the U.S. market
• Exempt duties on re-exports
• Expedite transfers of goods among other FTZs
• Eliminate duties on scrap or waste
• Submit a weekly entry to reduce paperwork
• Avoid Duty Drawback

Opportunity Zone

Eagle Pass has a designated opportunity zone adjacent to its downtown area and within the path of both ports of entry, Bridge 1 and Bridge 2. An additional site exists in the Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) of City limits, mostly comprised of undeveloped land. For business opportunities within either of these areas, please contact the Economic Development department at (830) 773-1111.

Opportunity Zones Map