The Economic Development Digest - December 20, 2013

Womble Carlyle’s Economic Development Digest aggregates news, opportunities and legislation impacting business in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic U.S.

In this week's Economic Development Digest:

National

22 states trying to woo Boeing with tax incentives, TaxAnalysts.com (December 16, 2013)** The desire of various states to land some 8,500 highly skilled and highly paid jobs as part of a facility to build Boeing's new 777X jetliner and pay dearly for the privilege is greater than initially reported, the company confirmed to Tax Analysts.

South Carolina

Site consultants, IT experts give South Carolina high ranks, scedablog.com (December 16, 2013) "South Carolina was recently recognized as a top state for conducting business, and when it comes to doing business with the government, the state website received kudos as well.Area Development magazine ranked South Carolina No. 2 in its Top States for Do" South Carolina issues per capita income figures for calculating tax incentives, TaxAnalysts.com (December 18, 2013)** The South Carolina Department of Revenue has issued an information letter containing the per capita income figures for the state and its counties, and explained tax credits and incentives that are calculated using per capita income. South Carolina, Wisconsin look to eliminate income tax, TanAnalysts.com (December 20, 2013)** South Carolina and Wisconsin are looking to join the ranks of seven other states that don't collect individual income taxes. South Carolina ranks counties for job tax credit purposes, TanAnalysts.com (December 20, 2013)** The South Carolina Department of Revenue has provided the county rankings for 2014 for job tax credit purposes; rankings are based on per capita income and unemployment rates.

Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, LLP

Release of new payment card data security standards, wcsr.com (December 16, 2013) Effective January 1, 2014, companies involved in payment card processing must meet new data securitiy requirements.

**Note: a paid subscription is required to access this article. A brief description has been provided. Please contact Womble Carlyle’s Economic Development Team for more information on these developments.

Womble Carlyle's Economic Development Team helps clients explore opportunities for locating or expanding operations in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic U.S. Our Economic Development Team combines a thorough working knowledge of economic development incentives; land use and siting procedures; and regulatory matters at the state, county and local levels, drawing on strong relationships built over many years with key governmental and civic leaders. For more information visit www.wcsr.com/economicdevelopment.

If you have any questions about this Economic Development Digest, please e-mail EconDigest@wcsr.com or contact any member of Womble Carlyle's Economic Development Team.

The Economic Development Digest - December 13, 2013

Womble Carlyle’s Economic Development Digest aggregates news, opportunities and legislation impacting business in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic U.S.

In this week's Economic Development Digest:

California

Activists, utility expand claims in suit over CPUC energy efficiency charge, Environmental Newstand (December 13, 2013)** Attorneys for a major environmental group and one of California's largest investor-owned utilities are expanding competing arguments in a closely watched lawsuit that may determine the extent of the California Public Utilities Commission's (CPUC) authority to approve new ratepayer charges to fund energy efficiency and renewable power research and development programs.

Florida

Lasting tax cuts will help the most, Tallahassee Democrat (December 7, 2013) $600 million of tax cuts are being primed for legislative passage in next year’s session in Florida.

National

12 states compete for Boeing jobs, but few disclose details, TaxAnalysts.com (December 12, 2013)** Executives at aerospace giant Boeing Co. on December 10 received a pile of early Christmas presents chock-full of tax breaks and incentives from states hoping to secure production facilities for a new line of commercial jets, the 777X.

North Carolina

State income taxes will drop, but new paperwork confuses some, The News & Observer (December 7, 2013) A major overhaul of the North Carolina tax system takes effect in a few weeks. Boeing's 777x site criteria revealed as Charlotte joins hunt, The Post & Courier (December 5, 2013) Charlotte, North Carolina has joined the hunt for a site for Boeing to produce its forthcoming 777X passenger jet. Decker says changes at Commerce Department will affect 61 state workers, The News & Observer (December 12, 2013) North Carolina Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker confirmed this week that the pending move of the North Carolina Commerce Department’s business recruiting and marketing functions to a private nonprofit is expected to affect 61 state workers, and could cost the state as much as $1.8 million in severance payments.

South Carolina

S.C. leaders seek to strengthen connection between college, jobs, scedablog.com (December 9, 2013) Through a new program called “Completing Through Knowledge”, South Carolina leaders hope to build a stronger connection between students in college and employers. Boeing announces land purchase, expansion in N. Charleston, Live5News (December 13, 2013) Boeing strengthened its commitment to building planes in North Charleston Friday, as officials announced the acquisition of over 450 acres of land and future plans to build new facilities on its campus.

**Note: a paid subscription is required to access this article. A brief description has been provided. Please contact Womble Carlyle’s Economic Development Team for more information on these developments.

Womble Carlyle's Economic Development Team helps clients explore opportunities for locating or expanding operations in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic U.S. Our Economic Development Team combines a thorough working knowledge of economic development incentives; land use and siting procedures; and regulatory matters at the state, county and local levels, drawing on strong relationships built over many years with key governmental and civic leaders. For more information visit www.wcsr.com/economicdevelopment.

If you have any questions about this Economic Development Digest, please e-mail EconDigest@wcsr.com or contact any member of Womble Carlyle's EconomicDevelopment Team.

The Economic Development Digest - December 6, 2013

Womble Carlyle’s Economic Development Digest aggregates news, opportunities and legislation impacting business in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic U.S.

In this week's Economic Development Digest:

California

High-speed rail: Judge's decision also endangers $3.3 billion in federal funds, San Jose Mercury News (November 28, 2013) A California judge’s decision to block California’s access to funds to build a bullet train endangers potential federal funding too. California considering draft regulations on business tax credits, TaxAnalysts.com (November 25, 2013)** Proposed draft regulations presented by the California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development at public workshops across the state would govern the California Competes Tax Credit program, which provides income tax credits to businesses that relocate and expand in the state.

Missouri

Missouri Senate passes Governor's plan for huge Boeing tax breaks, TaxAnalysts.com (December 5, 2013)** The Republican-controlled Missouri Senate on December 4 voted by a two-thirds majority to pass Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon's plan to grant about $1.7 billion in tax breaks to Boeing Co. over the next two decades.

National

IRS provides guidance on obtaining refunds for employment and income taxes paid on same-sex benefits, and IRS adopts new Use it or Lose It rule for Health FSAs, wcsr.com (December 2013) The Internal Revenue Service recently provided guidance for employers and employees to make claims for refunds of overpayments of Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) taxes and Federal income tax withholding (employment taxes) with respect to certain benefits provided to same-sex spouses resulting from the Supreme Court decision in United States v. Windsor. Treasury and IRS provide Thanksgiving surprise: Proposed 501(c)(4) political activity rules, wcsr.com (December 2, 2013) The Treasury Department and the IRS delivered their own holiday gift. On Tuesday, November 26, they released proposed guidance aimed at clarifying which conduct by tax-exempt social welfare organizations – 501(c)(4) entities – qualifies as political campaign activity.

North Carolina

North Carolina DOR summarizes 2013 tax law changes, TaxAnalysts.com (November 21, 2013)** The North Carolina Department of Revenue has released a publication designed for DOR personnel, that summarizes tax law changes that take effect for tax year 2013 and changes made by the General Assembly in 2013 regardless of effective date. Until recently, local incentives were rarely used to lure business, Star News Online (December 1, 2013) An increase in incentive packages approved in the Wilmington, North Carolina area lately is a departure from economic development activity in recent years. Charlotte weighs bid for major Boeing plant, Charlotte Observer (December 4, 2013) Charlotte officials are working to enter the multi-state competition for a manufacturing plant to build Boeing’s new 777X jetliner, a project that could potentially bring more than 8,000 jobs and a major aerospace industry player to the city.

South Carolina

Where factory apprenticeship is latest model from Germany, The New York Times (November 30, 2013) The New York Times reports that in South Carolina, apprenticeships are mainly funded by employers, but the state introduced a four-year, annual tax credit of $1,000 per position in 2007 that proved to be a boon for small- to medium-size companies. In South Carolina, the emphasis on job training has also been a major calling card overseas for South Carolina officials, who lured BMW here two decades ago and more recently persuaded France’s Michelin and Germany’s Continental Tire to expand in South Carolina.

Virginia

Falls tax law to be sought anew, TriCities.com (November 26, 2013) City leaders in Bristol, Virginia prepare to ask the General Assembly of Virginia to modify legislation enabling tax funding for an economic development project commonly referred to as “The Falls”. Patents bring bioscience innovation to life, Richmond Times-Dispatch (December 3, 2014) The CEO of VirginiaBIO discusses the importance of an effective patent system and its impact on the life sciences industry in Virginia.

Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, LLP

Morris Ellison, Partner at WCSR, is currently participating in a business and research mission to Israel. A large South Carolina delegation is on the trip, and the goal is to promote relationships between South Carolina and Israel, including trade, joint ventures, investment and joint research opportunities. Mr. Ellison will be participating in the Globes Israel Business Conference, and South Carolina is the only U.S. state with an official presence at Israel’s premier annual business gathering.

West Virginia

Statewide listening tour is a good idea, Charleston Daily Mail (November 22, 2013) West Virginia’s economy seems to be picking up, as the Commerce Chief announces existing plant expansions and potential new investments in the state.

**Note: a paid subscription is required to access this article. A brief description has been provided. Please contact Womble Carlyle’s Economic Development Team for more information on these developments.

Womble Carlyle's Economic Development Team helps clients explore opportunities for locating or expanding operations in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic U.S. Our Economic Development Team combines a thorough working knowledge of economic development incentives; land use and siting procedures; and regulatory matters at the state, county and local levels, drawing on strong relationships built over many years with key governmental and civic leaders. For more information visit www.wcsr.com/economicdevelopment.

If you have any questions about this Economic Development Digest, please e-mail EconDigest@wcsr.com or contact any member of Womble Carlyle's Economic Development Team.