Anniston council discusses incentives proposal

The Anniston City Council Monday discussed creating a standardized process for offering incentives to potential businesses in the city. The proposed policy is the latest in the city's efforts to fill up vacant storefronts in the downtown area.  City Manager Brian Johnson said he will bring the incentives proposal before the council for a vote during its regular meeting Monday.  Johnson said the incentive plan officially lays out what the city would offer a prospective business.  Specifically, the incentives package would offer to abate city sales tax and property tax to a new business in the form of a rebate for a period of five years.  The city is also currently attempting to hire an in-house economic developer who will focus his or her efforts on retail growth in Anniston. The city a few weeks ago opened its new Planning and Development Services Department at City Hall, a one-stop shop that streamlines services for residents and business developers — from issuing business licenses to providing building inspections.