Rockaway Peninsula Empire Zone

The NYS Empire Zone program was created to stimulate economic growth in economically distressed areas such as Far Rockaway.This is accomplished with a variety of State tax incentives designed to attract new businesses to New York State and to enable existing businesses to expand and create more jobs. 

Rockaway Development & Revitalization Corporation  is the administrator of the NYS Empire Zone Program for the Rockaway peninsula. The Empire Zone Program enables RDRC to offer qualified businesses a package of economic incentives and utility discounts that support the local community’s economic stability and encourage employment growth.  Boundaries include retail, manufacturing and industrial areas from Beach 9th Street to Beach 116th Street.  There are currently 29 certified Empire Zone businesses providing over 1300 jobs in the Rockaways.

Our Annual Empire Zone Workshops are held in Far Rockaway during the month of June.   At the workshops, EZ certififed businesses can work on updating their Business Activity Reports and address any outstanding issues they may have related towards their certification.   This is also a great venue where State and City officials update all certififed EZ businesses on the status of the existing Empire Zone program.