Tax breaks OK’d for LV-area firms

Thursday, Jan. 13, 2000 | 10:38 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The state Commission on Economic Development on Wednesday approved tax breaks for two companies -- one locating in Henderson and the other expanding its business in Las Vegas.

Ford Motor Credit Co. is building a regional center in Green Valley in Henderson to employ 450 workers initially and plans to hire an estimated 30 percent more within the next three years.

It will spend $7.5 million on equipment and the commission, meeting in Reno, unanimously voted to give a $398,803 abatement from the sales and use tax. In addition, it permitted the company to defer payment of $151,925 of the sales and use tax due.

Ford also received approval from the commission to reduce its business license tax by $105,000 over the next four years. The company would pay $105,000 during that period.

Ford plans to pay an average hourly wage of $16.89 and provide health, vision and dental insurance, legal aid, financial planning, paid vacations and dependent care for its workers.

The center will serve Ford Credit's retail and lease customers in portions of 12 western states.

The commission also voted for tax breaks for SimpleSearch.com, which plans to expand its business in Las Vegas from 34 to 76 workers, paying an average hourly wage of $15.87.

It has purchased $1.5 million in equipment and will receive a tax break of $83,680. And it will be able to lower its business tax bill over the next four years by $15,000. It will still pay $15,200 in the business tax.

SimpleSearch.com is an Internet search engine that incorporated in Nevada in March last year. It started with four workers and now has 34 employees. It said it may have to expand into Silicon Valley or Washington D.C. but it will continue to have its corporate headquarters in Las Vegas.