Luring businesses and creating jobs in Roswell may soon be a bit easier now that city officials have decided to take advantage of a relatively new state program.

If an urban redevelopment plan for two areas in the city is adopted and then approved by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, businesses in those areas that qualify can apply for job tax credits from the state.

Mayor Jere Wood said the two areas could generally be described as being along Ga. Hwy. 9 from Mansell Rd. to the Town Square and Holcomb Bridge Rd. from Old Alabama Rd. to Ga. Hwy 9.

The Georgia Opportunity Zone Job Tax Credit Program “is an opportunity that only exists in this particular area [of north Fulton],” Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Brandon Beach told Roswell council members Monday.

“We need every tool in our toolbox to attract jobs in this area.”

Joseph Young, an attorney who helped draft the enabling state legislation, said an opportunity zone can be authorized only if it is adjacent to a residential census block group with 15 percent or greater poverty.

“The logic is that oftentimes jobs are needed in the adjacent commercial areas. Basically, these jobs would be within walking distance of the areas where people live who need jobs,” Wood said on Tuesday.

The program is simple, Beach said. “If you hire two employees or more, and it doesn’t matter if it is a low level or high level job, you get a $3,500 tax credit [per job].”

The incentive would be available for new or existing businesses and is renewable once a year for five years. Businesses would have to submit an application to the state, validated by the city, verifying they are in an opportunity zone.

According to the DCA Web site, 22 cities and counties have approved opportunity zones. One of the biggest success stories is Union City, Young said, where a zone was authorized in February 2009.

Within 60 days, the city had commitments for two new facilities, one with 750 jobs and one with 550 jobs, he said.

Penn Hodge, one of the developers of Alpharetta’s Encore Park, urged council members to support the program.

“This thing could really have a dramatic effect on redevelopment in the north Fulton area,” he said.

After a public hearing on the urban redevelopment plan, Roswell will submit is applications for opportunity zones to the state. Approval could take anywhere from 60 days to several months, Young said.