A new program meant to increase the number of high-paying jobs in Pierce County will start Jan. 1, after it was approved unanimously by the Pierce County Council last week.
The Family-Wage Jobs Credit Program will reward employers who demonstrate they have created at least five new permanent family-wage jobs (with a salary of $52,197 or more) in unincorporated Pierce County after Jan. 1 and has paid an eligible charge or fee with a one-time rebate of $275 per job created. Eligible employers will be able to apply to the Department of Planning and Public Works, with the maximum allowed credit the total of eligible charges and fees paid by the employer to the county.
The program was developed in the days after the Seattle City Council voted to levy a $275 head tax on large for-profit employers in the city, a measure that was repealed in a stunning about-face just weeks later.
“Pierce County continues to be an outstanding place to start and grow a business,” said Vice-Chair Dan Roach in a press release. “With this ordinance in place, we can highlight and incentivize all that our county continues to offer businesses.”
Applications for the credit will not be accepted after Dec. 31, 2024, and the program sunsets at the end of 2025.
The vote was 6-0 in favor of the ordinance, with Councilmember Doug Richardson excused.
For more information on the Pierce County budget, visit www.piercecountywa.org/council.
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment