Thinking about Starting a Business in Warren?
Whether you have decided to open a new business in Warren or relocate an existing business, you should talk to the staff at Town Hall. Here are the basic steps:
• Contact the Zoning Officer to verify that the type of business you are interested in opening is allowed at the location you are proposing. Do not put this off until the last minute! The Zoning Officer will want to know what type of business you are opening (restaurant? art gallery?) and what activities will occur there. The Zoning Officer will also ask if you know what signage and parking you need, and advise you on what is currently permitted. Understanding this process up front can save you time and money. Although you are always welcome to drop by Town Hall, please make an appointment to ensure that your questions are answered as completely as possible.
• Not sure where you should locate or need to know about other resources that can help? Contact Alan Crisman at (401) 245-4222. Mr. Crisman is a consultant to the Town of Warren who assists businesses in locating, creating business plans, understanding tax programs and other resources that can make starting (and running) a business easier.
• Fill out a Business License Application and other applications you may need. You can download the application by find an "Application for a Business License" in the Document Libraries (Applications Section) or call the Town Clerk's office at (401) 245-7340. Contact the Town Clerk to find out what other licenses or approvals you may need prior to opening shop.
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Opening an art studio or gallery?
The Town of Warren has a certified Arts District that allows artists living in Warren, creating in Warren, or selling products created in Warren to be exempt from income tax on the art they have sold. In addition, if you are a merchant that sells products created by a local artist or artisan you do not have to charge your customers sales tax or pay state sales taxes on those products sold. All artists must apply for eligibility through the Rhode Island Council on the Arts, which will submit an application to the Rhode Island Division of Taxation for approval. A map of the Arts District can be found in the Maps section of this website.
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Mount Hope Enterprise Zone
What is the Enterprise Zone Program?
The Enterprise Zone Program provides incentives to businesses willing to relocate or expand in a designated Enterprise Zone. Included are various tax incentives, financing alternatives and job training programs.
What are the Enterprise Zone Program Requirements?
A participating firm must be doing business from a facility physically located in the Enterprise Zone. Membership is accorded only to a facility located in the zone, regardless of how many facilities the firm many have elsewhere. Tax credits granted to a firm apply to and can be used in the Current Calendar Year. Unused credits may be carried forward for three years.
To receive tax credits, the firm must:
1. Increase its Enterprise Zone work force by a minimum of 5% (or at least 1 if the work force is 20 or fewer.)
2. Create permanent, full time jobs (30 hours per week or more) that begin and end the work day at the firm's facility in the zone.
3. Hire residents of Rhode Island for the newly created jobs.
4. Retain employees hired for newly- created jobs on the payroll through December 31st of the year in which the credit is claimed.
5. Increase its total Rhode Island payroll for the year in which the credit is claimed.
6. Sign an affidavit declaring that the firm has not changed its organizational form in the last 12 months to take advantage of the credits offered by this program. Rhode Island firms that fulfill the above requirements can claim 50% of the wages paid to new hires (in the calendar year they were hired) up to a total of $10,000.00 per worker. Beginning in 1999, if a new hire is not only a Rhode Island resident, but a resident of any Rhode Island Enterprise Zone, the tax credit increases to 75% of the wages paid up to a total of $15,000.00.
How can it help me?
The Town of Warren offers tax abatement programs to businesses who build new or expand existing facilities in the area. Tax abatement programs apply to new buildings or significant expansions to existing buildings and run for a period of five years. When authorized, taxes are collected on a new or expanded facility at the rate of 0% of assessment in the first year, 20% in the second year, 40% in the third year, etc.
Contact Information
The Enterprise Zone is a program of the Business Services Office located on the first floor of the Town Hall, 514 Main Street. Town Hall is open from Monday - Friday, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm. Alan Crisman consults for the Town as the Administrator. He can be reached at (401) 245-4222, by fax at (401) 245-7421 or by email jacrisman@aol.com.
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