City of Warrenton Rural Zone

Incentivizing Downtown Investment, Job Creation, and Revitalization
The City of Warrenton Rural Zone is a state-designated incentive area created to stimulate job creation, private investment, and downtown revitalization. Through this program, qualifying businesses and investors may earn significant Georgia state income tax credits for eligible activities occurring within the designated Rural Zone boundary.
The Rural Zone program is administered by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) in partnership with the Georgia Department of Economic Development, and is designed to strengthen historic downtowns in Georgia’s rural communities.

What Is a Rural Zone?
A Rural Zone is a geographically defined downtown area designated by the State of Georgia where businesses can receive tax credits for:

• Creating new full-time jobs
• Investing in downtown properties
• Rehabilitating and reusing existing buildings

The program is job-creation driven, meaning no tax credits are available unless new qualifying jobs are created as part of the project.

Program Term & Designation

• Rural Zones are designated for a five-year period
• The City of Warrenton’s designation allows qualifying activities through December 31, 2030
• The State designates up to 10 Rural Zones per year through a competitive application process

Available Tax Credits
Businesses and investors operating within the City of Warrenton Rural Zone may be eligible for the following state income tax credits, which may be layered together:
Job Tax Credit

• $2,000 per year per new full-time equivalent job
• Available for up to five years
• Jobs must meet program eligibility requirements

Investment Tax Credit

• 25% of the purchase price of a property within the Rural Zone
• Maximum credit: $125,000

Rehabilitation Tax Credit

• 30% of qualified rehabilitation costs for an eligible building
• Maximum credit: $150,000

Important:

• Job creation is required to access any Rural Zone credits
• Credits cannot be used in conjunction with other Georgia state tax credit programs

Eligible Activities
Eligible projects typically include:

• Opening or expanding a business within downtown Warrenton
• Purchasing and reusing vacant or underutilized buildings
• Renovating historic or existing structures for commercial use
• Creating permanent, full-time jobs tied to on-site operations

Projects must occur within the designated Rural Zone boundary and comply with all local zoning and building requirements.

Why the Rural Zone Matters for Warrenton
The Rural Zone designation provides the City of Warrenton with a powerful tool to:

• Encourage reinvestment in historic downtown properties
• Reduce barriers to private development
• Support small businesses and entrepreneurs
• Create long-term employment opportunities
• Strengthen the economic vitality of the downtown core

This program supports Warrenton’s broader goals of revitalization, reuse, and sustainable economic growth.

How to Get Started
Businesses, developers, and property owners interested in utilizing the Rural Zone incentives are encouraged to:

1. Confirm property location within the Rural Zone boundary
2. Discuss proposed job creation and investment plans early
3. Coordinate with your local office: Jeffrey Fowler, Executive Director - Warrenton Downtown Development Authority

Each community is encouraged to actively share information about the program and develop strategies to attract qualifying projects.

rural_zone_hb_73_statute.pdf
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rural_zone_rehabilitation_standards.pdf
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rural_zones_flyer.pdf
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rural_zone_1-page_fact_sheet_january_2026__1_.pdf
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rz_officialmap__warrenton.pdf
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