The Womble Carlyle Economic Development Digest - March 21, 2014

Womble Carlyle’s Economic Development Digest aggregates news, opportunities and legislation impacting business in the United States.

In this week's Economic Development Digest:

National

Tax foundation publishes summary of 2014 state, local tax rates, TaxAnalysts.com (March 1, 2014)** The Tax Foundation published a report summarizing state and average local sales tax rates for 2014, reporting that Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, Washington, and Oklahoma have the highest average combined rates, and noting that comparing state sales taxes is difficult because states apply different rates to different bases and sales taxes should be considered in context of a state's overall tax structure.

North Carolina

Wolfpack chancellor touts university's ag roots, rural student programs, clintonnc.com (March 18, 2014) North Carolina touts the importance of agriculture to its economy.

South Carolina

Florence, state leaders talk working together to reach goals, Morning News (March 18, 2014) Florence County, South Carolina leaders gathered to discuss current and future plans for the county. Feds OK CARTA plan for new train and bus station, The Post and Courier (March 19, 2014) A $14.5 million bus, train and taxi hub is on a fast track.

Virginia

Virginia allows property tax exemption for solar energy equipment, facilities, TaxAnalysts.com (March 17, 2014)** Virginia SB 418, signed into law as Chapter 259, includes business-owned or business-operated solar energy equipment, facilities, and devices that collect, generate, transfer, or store thermal or electrical energy in a class of pollution control equipment exempted from real and personal property tax.

**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/Practices/Economic-Development.

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.