The Womble Carlyle Economic Development Digest - May 29, 2014

Womble Carlyle Economic Development Summit - June 20 - Daniel Island Club, Charleston, SC - details coming

 

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

In this week's Economic Development Digest:

California

Weakened industry-backed bill for post 2020 energy plan clears assembly, Environmental Newsstand (May 27, 2014)** An industry-backed bill requiring state officials to develop an energy plan for 2030 and 2050 that promotes economic growth this week cleared the legislature this week.

Delaware

Smyrna Council discusses zoning changes for north corridor, microbrewery, Smyrna-Clayton Sun-Times (May 15, 2014) Delaware town amends zoning requirements to accommodate a microbrewery to encourage "continued economic development opportunities."

Maryland

Maryland allows local property tax credit for commercial property rehabilitation, TaxAnalysts.com (May 20, 2014)** Maryland SB 605, signed into law as Chapter 538, allows county and municipal governments to provide a property tax credit for qualifying investments used to bring existing commercial properties up to code; the credit may not exceed 50 percent of the investment and may be distributed over a 10-year period.

National

The FIRST Act has two flaws that could limit future discoveries, The Washington Post (May 20, 2014) Congress soon will make an important set of decisions that could significantly impact our nation's global technological and economic edge now and for years to come. Citywide rezoning process begins in Raleigh, NC, wcsr.com (May 23, 2014) The time has come for those new zoning districts in Raleigh, North Carolina.

North Carolina

Local legislators seek to repeal film incentive sunset dates, Star News Online (May 20, 2014) Without legislative action this session in North Carolina, the film and historic preservation credits - both of which local leaders say are key to economic development in Wilmington, North Carolina - expire at the end of this year. Asheville business owners understand the value of a clean environment, The Asheville Citizen-Times (May 24, 2014) Asheville, North Carolina resident and small business founder opines that the North Carolina legislature seems to be focusing too much on luring big businesses from out of state.

South Carolina

Committee to discuss so-called "Stone Bill" aimed at attracting beer jobs to South Carolina, The Post and Courier (May 21, 2014) A joint House and Senate conference committee started this week in South Carolina to review a bill aimed at recruiting large, out of state breweries that “promise a bonanza of jobs and millions in economic impact” for South Carolina. Craft beer law change on fast track, The Greenville News (May 16, 2014) Craft beer production bill coming to a head in South Carolina South Carolina lawmakers: Craft beer bill compromise reached, The Post and Courier (May 27, 2014) A compromise on a bill that could mean a spending and infrastructure bonanza for craft breweries in South Carolina is expected to pass this year and could bring a major California-based craft brewer to South Carolina.

**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.