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Qualified Employees
The goal of PTDZ is to create quality jobs in targeted business sectors throughout Maine.
The basic job creation requirement is that at least one net new quality job is created.
A quality job:
- Meets the income requirements in the table below. This includes employee earnings, and employer payments toward employee benefits including retirement, health insurances, education and dependent care. (See details lower on the page.)
- Includes access to group health insurance (employer contribution encouraged but not required)
- Includes access to group retirement benefits subject to ERISA (employer contribution encouraged but not required)
In addition:
- The program is not intended to be used for job retention.
- Existing Maine jobs that are moved from one location to another are not considered “new” jobs.
Income Guidelines: Calendar Year 2012
| County | Annual Income |
|---|---|
| Androscoggin | $34,808 |
| Aroostook | $29,817 |
| Cumberland | $45,147 |
| Franklin | $29,636 |
| Hancock | $36,164 |
| Kennebec | $35,418 |
| Knox | $37,563 |
| Lincoln | $37,229 |
| Oxford | $29,199 |
| Penobscot | $33,149 |
| Piscataquis | $29,950 |
| Sagadahoc | $37,243 |
| Somerset | $29,197 |
| Waldo | $31,457 |
| Washington | $29,464 |
| York | $37,316 |
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis
(Per Capita Personal Income for Maine Counties, 2008)
Background Information
Per Capita Personal Income
The per capita personal income for the county of employment [see attached “Income Guidelines: Calendar Year (CY) 2012”] is the “income derived from employment” standard that must be exceeded in order for net new jobs to be considered filled by full-time qualified employees. Beginning in CY2005, income derived from employment includes employee earnings, and employer payments toward employee benefits including retirement, health insurances, education and dependent care.
Proof of employee eligibility must be retained by the qualified business for purposes of audit requests by the State of Maine.
Income Derived from Employment (IDE)
Earnings:
“Earnings” means the base pay paid by the qualified business, plus any overtime, incentives or commissions paid.
Retirement:
“Retirement benefits” means company-paid contributions to a retirement program subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, 29 United States Code, Sections 1001 to 1461, as amended.
Health:
“Health and welfare benefits” means company-paid contributions to group insurance programs, including health insurance, medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, life insurance, and long-term disability coverage.
Other:
“Other” paid benefits, including “education benefits” and “dependent care benefits” means education expenses and dependent care expenses paid by the qualified business on behalf of a participating qualified employee for education assistance and dependent care assistance provided as part of an employee benefit package.
Annualized:
IDE may be annualized for any qualified employee who held the net new position for less than the full calendar year.
Printable version of income table and regulations (Word)
Please contact your local Business Development Specialist for more information.
