State approves incentives for eBay, 2 documentaries

The Governor's Office of Economic Development board voted Thursday to offer eBay about $2 million in incentives to expand customer support operations in Draper.

The incentive is in the form of a refundable tax credit based on 25 percent of new state revenue over 10 years.

EBay already employs about 1,000 Utahns, and the company is adding about 250 positions between its new data center and customer support operation. The new project would support an additional 207 full-time positions in Utah by the end of 2010, with the promise to maintain that level for the 10 years the incentive covers.

Of those new jobs, 107 will meet wage criteria set at 125 percent of aggregate average wage.

It's a post-performance incentive, payable after the criteria are met and state tax receipts are verified.

The board also approved two incentives from its motion-picture-incentive fund. Knights Templar Brewing Co. will be offered a cash rebate of no more than $406,627, amounting to no more than one-fifth of the dollars it leaves in Utah during production of the documentary "A Toast to the American Dream." The film will include about 17 Utahns in the cast and 13 in the crew, as well as 15 extras. It's slated to start production in November.

The other film incentive offers a rebate of no more than $30,000 to Vineyard Production for the documentary "The 5 Browns," also set to begin work in November. It includes an estimate that five Utahns will be in the cast, and the Utah crew will be 25 strong.

— Lois M. Collins