The Enhanced Enterprise Zone Advising Board considered two options for reducing the size of the zone in Columbia at its meeting Friday.
Also known as an EEZ, the program gives tax credits to businesses locating or expanding within the zone. The board voted to remove six areas of town from the map last Friday. Today, members of the board considered removing either the business loop and the downtown commercial district of MU's research park, Discovery Ridge, and an area south of town.
Director of the District Cqarrue Gartner says removing the business loop and the downtown commerical district would be a mistake.
"It's really importaant to keep the business loop and downtown in the EEZ because the whole purpose of the EEZ is to create jobs," said Gartner, "an really, so many of the jobs, particularly in creative, consulting, and computer industries are downtown."
The next advisory board meeting is tentatively scheduled for April 5th at 7 p.m. and the board will voite on the removal of additional parts of town.