COMIDA Board approves tax incentives for TopGolf
BRIGHTON, NY – Tax incentives for a new TopGolf facility in Brighton were approved Tuesday and are expected to have a major economic impact on the area.
“This influx of tourists, approximately a quarter of a million annually, will boost local businesses, including restaurants, hotels and other retail stores,” said Monroe County Executive Adam Bello.
The Monroe County Industrial Development Agency (COMIDA) board voted 6-1 in favor of tax incentives for the project during a packed meeting Tuesday. TopGolf plans to begin construction later this year on a patch of grass behind Costco in Brighton.
The developers want TopGolf to be a central and regional destination for Monroe County. It would be the first TopGolf in Western New York and the second in the state.
Advocates say the tax breaks, to the tune of more than $4 million, will boost TopGolf at CityGate. Developers say the project, located in the city of Brighton, should create almost 300 jobs. Incentives were also approved for a Del Monte hotel to locate on the city of Rochester’s side of the border.
“This particular project will essentially occupy an inactive, landlocked former landfill (that’s right, it’s a former landfill) over the next ten years, generating approximately $324,000 in property tax revenue for Monroe County, the city and the school, and We will take that site and transform it,” Bello said.
“It’s important for us to have winter events to promote, winter attractions to promote in Monroe County, and this is it,” said Don Jeffries, president of Visit Rochester.
Others were more skeptical.
“It would be great if they came here, but you have no idea if the benefits outweigh the costs, you have no idea how many people come to TopGolf from outside of Monroe County,” said Monroe County Legislator Rachel Barnhart, who represents parts of Rochester and Irondequoit.
“In the era of climate change, and at the beginning of the era of energy and resource scarcity, we should give incentives to community organizations and food relocation,” said community member Claudia Perea.
The developers hope to begin construction before the end of this year, with plans to complete the project in the summer of 2025.
AI helped with the formatting of this story. Click here to see how WHEC News 10 uses AI
For related stories: CityGate FOOD tax incentives tax exemptions TopGolf
Keynote USA
For the Latest Sports News, Follow @Keynote USA Sports on Twitter.