Woodhaven Neighborhood Empowerment Zone (NEZ)
The Woodhaven community was designated by the City of Fort Worth as a Neighborhood Empowerment Zone (NEZ) in the spring of 2003. The NEZ program encourages economic development by giving financial incentives including tax abatements and waiving of building permit fees, etc. The City council permitted the Woodhaven community to maintain some control over the type of businesses and properties that could receive NEZ benefits by requiring all applicants to receive recommendations from Woodhaven Community Development and Woodhaven Neighborhood Association prior to the City's consideration for such benefits.
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Background
Chapter 378 of the Texas Local Government Code, effective since May 1999, authorizes municipalities to create NEZ's and provide tax and other incentives to promote affordable housing and economic development, and improve the quality of social services, education, or public safety for residents of the NEZ. Pursuant to this law, the Fort Worth City Council created the NEZ program in 2001 to encourage redevelopment activities in Fort Worth's central city.