Businesses within Enterprise Zones are eligible for substantial tax credits and benefits, for example:
- Firms can earn $37,440 or more in state tax credits for each qualified employee hired.
- Corporations can earn sales tax credits on purchases of $20 million per year of qualified machinery and machinery parts.
- Up-front expensing of certain depreciable property.
- Lenders to Zone businesses may receive a net interest deduction.
- Unused tax credits can be applied to future tax years, stretching out the benefit of the initial investment.
- Enterprise Zone companies can earn preference points on state contracts.
- Up to 100% Net Operating Loss (NOL) carry-forward. NOL may be carried forward 15 years.
As you can see, Kern County and the City of Taft are positioned for an exciting future. We are also working with 4th District Supervisor Ray Watson regarding other plans that will create even more exciting possibilities for the greater Taft area.

HESPERIA • The state has named Hesperia as one of five new enterprise zones that will allow businesses to generate millions of dollars in tax credits.
Hesperia, along with  along with Sacramento, Taft, Pittsburg and Tulare have been only conditionally designated at the moment, according to Steve Lantsberger, Hesperia’s head of economic development. But it’s essentially just a matter of some signing agreements between the California Department of Housing and Community Development and the city before it’s official.
“We spent a lot of time going through all of the requirements so that, if we were successful, there’d be very few things we’d have to do if we were conditionally designated,” he said Thursday. His office began working on the application 18 months ago, and the city will be an enterprise zone until 2024.
The enterprise zone covers most of the city, outside of residential areas. Businesses already operating in the zone as of Aug. 19 are eligible, as are new businesses.