Rural Opportunity Zones

Rural Opportunity Zones

2011 Kansas Legislature

• SB 198 – 47 Counties then amended to 50

• Providing tax abatement for out-of-state persons moving into state

• Amended to allow loan repayment for in-state persons who move into ROZ counties

Two Incentives

– Student Loan Repayment– Up to a maximum of $15,000 paid over the

course of 5 years (20% of maximum eligible balance each year)

– Income Tax Waiver– A credit against an individuals entire Kansas

income tax liability for up to 5 taxable years

Student Loan Qualifications

– Move to a participating ROZ county

– Degree from an accredited institution

– Outstanding student loan balance

Income Tax Credit Qualifications

– Move to one of the 50 ROZ counties

– Must have lived outside the state for the 5 years immediately prior to moving

– Must have earned less than $10,000 in Kansas-Source Income in each of those 5 years

To Date…

571 Applications

208 from out of state

44 of 45 counties

1.19 applications per day

2826

9

19

6

5

32

2

2

4

10

5

4

3

9

3

13

7

6

1

1

5

3

1

3

45

5

22

31

3

1

Applications

Marketing

• Alumni groups

• Reaching out to current residents

• News Stories

• YRC Trailer wraps

• Google adwords

• Facebook ads

Local Promotion

Occupations

Income

*Average student debt: $24,979

Education

ROZ Factor in Decision

Applicant Concerns*

Housing – 64%

Jobs – 50%

Access to healthcare – 11%

Recreation Opportunities – 5%

*Applicants that had not yet moved to a ROZ county

Chris [email protected](785) 296-6815Fax (785) 296-37761000 SW Jackson St., Suite. 100Topeka, KS 66612-1354