BOULDER - HEAD USA has been approved to receive up to $50,000 in rebates from the city of Boulder.

HEAD USA's winter-sports division recently moved to Boulder and will be eligible for rebates for sales and use taxes and permit-related fees, the city announced Wednesday.

The division moved into a 5,995-square-foot space at 3125 Sterling Circle in August. The office has 13 employees and is expecting continued growth.

HEAD USA is part of HEAD NV, an Amsterdam-based sporting goods company. HEAD is best known for racket-sports, ski and snowboarding equipment. HEAD USA is based in Norwalk, Connecticut, which was the former home of the winter-sports division.

The flexible rebate program is one of the city's business incentives and covers a wide range of fees, equipment and construction use taxes. Under this program, the city manager may consider a specific incentive package for tax and fee rebates to meet a company's specific needs. The company is then eligible for the rebate after it has made its investment and paid the taxes or fees to the city.

"The HEAD USA winter-sports division's move to Boulder is a significant addition to our community's vibrant outdoor-products industry," said Jane Brautigam, Boulder's city manager. "Boulder is pleased that the flexible rebate program helped this industry leader choose its new Boulder location and supported its investment here."

The flexible rebate program uses social, community and environmental sustainability guidelines. Companies choose the guidelines that best fit their circumstances, but must meet minimum requirements in order to receive the rebate.

HEAD USA provides funds to each employee for the purchase of a bicycle, as well as providing secure, covered bike storage and showers. In addition, the company has partnered with the global environmental charity Cool Earth to fight climate change by matching 10 times the company's annual carbon emissions with avoided deforestation credits.

HEAD USA's application is the eighth approved as part of the 2012 flexible rebate program. The city's 2012 program funding includes the approved 2012 budget of $350,000 as well as $45,000 in unallocated flexible rebate funds from previous years' programs as authorized by Brautigam. These unallocated funds were carried over to meet the demand of the increased number of applications in 2012.