Health

St. Croix Autism Provider Says EDC Tax Relief Is Key to St. Thomas, St. John Expansion

ST. CROIX — Tropical Behavioral Services told Economic Development Commission members Thursday that tax benefits are central to its plans to expand autism and behavioral-health services beyond St. Croix, saying the company currently reaches only 5 to 10 percent of children in the territory who need diagnosis and support and could otherwise face another five to seven years before establishing a St. Thomas facility. TBS, which currently operates in Castle Coakley, is seeking EDC beneficiary status as it looks to open a second facility on St. Thomas and eventually establish a third location on St. John. Company officials said the tax relief would allow them to hire clinical staff more quickly, improve wages and benefits, expand employee training and accelerate a territory-wide model that has taken seven years to establish on St. Croix. “They’re a unique team with unique talents, and they’re quietly doing an enormous amount of good for the community,” legal counsel Mark Skandier told com...