The Womble Carlyle Economic Development Digest - May 16, 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:

California

California puts $750 million in tax credits into retaining employers, Los Angeles Times (May 12, 2014) The Governor of California unveils a $750 million program to offer financial incentives to encourage California employers to “stay put” and to lure other companies to California. State governments look to entrepreneurs for creativity, efficiency, The Record Searchlight (May 15, 2014) California looks to its entrepreneurs for creativity and efficiency.

Georgia

Georgia ensures redrawn areas near military bases will not lose eligibility for credits, TaxAnalysts.com (April 15, 2014)** Georgia HB 791, signed into law as Act 511, ensures that the redrawing of census tracts will not disqualify an area near a designated military zone that previously qualified for business enterprise credits from losing its status as a less developed area if it continues to have pervasive poverty. Congress reaches deal on bill critical to Ga. port, Miami Herald (May 9, 2014) Georgia is confident that a $652 million plan to deepen its shipping channel to the Port of Savannah is about to become a reality, after 15 years of delays.

Maryland

Maryland expands Health Enterprise Zone Credit Program, TaxAnalysts.com (May 5, 2014)** Maryland HB 668, signed into law as Chapter 417, expands eligibility for the health enterprise zone (HEZ) tax credit to include, in addition to HEZ practitioners, all for-profit and nonprofit entities that employ qualified employees and provide healthcare services in an HEZ, and requires special consideration for community-based applicants.

South Carolina

South Carolina DOR announces committee to study alternative apportionment methods, TaxAnalysts.com (May 1, 2014)** The South Carolina Department of Revenue announced that it has ceased work on a proposed revenue ruling on combined unitary reporting and has formed a committee to study alternative allocation and apportionment methods to reach an equitable and balanced approach to corporate taxation that applies objective and reasonable standards.

Texas

Toyota to Unify North American Operations in Texas, Bloomberg (April 29, 2014) Governor Rick Perry offers Toyota a $40,000,000.00 incentive package to relocate its headquarters to Texas. Will Tesla 'gigfactory' fight come down to Texas vs. California?, Austin American-Statesman (May 12, 2014) Tesla breaking ground on two sites, only one of which will ultimately win the $5 billion, 6,500 job project. One site is in Texas; the other in California.

Virginia

The right engine for transportation goals, Daily Press (May 10, 2014) The Hampton Roads Transportation Commission “transforms the old game and puts the right people at the table”: 14 mayors and county chairs, five state legislators, plus as non-voting members the state's Highway Commissioner, Executive Director of the Virginia Port Authority, Director of Rail and Public Transportation and a commissioner of the Commonwealth Transportation Board.

**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.

The Womble Carlyle Economic Development Digest - May 2, 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:

California

California updates FAQs for California Competes Tax Credit Program, TaxAnalysts.com (April 8, 2014)** The California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) has updated guidance regarding frequently asked questions about the California Competes Tax Credit program. California BOE proposes sales tax exemption reg for manufacturing, R&D equipment, TaxAnalysts.com (April 22, 2014)** The California State Board of Equalization has proposed a regulation to provide a partial state sales tax exemption to some businesses on purchases of qualified manufacturing and research and development equipment. Senator wants GHG revenue for California clean energy "Green Bank", Environmental NewsStand (April 25, 2014)** A leading senator wants revenue from California’s greenhouse gas allowance to go towards a “green bank” that would aim to carry out clean energy projects and programs. Industry Energy Bill clears committee amid doubts, Sierra Club opposition, Environmental NewsStand (April 25, 2014)** California will develop a “state energy plan” for 2030 and 2050, which aims to promote economic growth. The legislation is in response to California’s expanding regulatory programs battling climate change.

Florida

Florida craft brewers oppose Senate's revised beer bill, news-press.com (April 21, 2014) Florida legislature’s proposal to allow small craft brewers to directly sell beer in bottles and cans isn’t well regarded by this growing industry. Bill could slow Florida craft beer industry growth, Miami Herald (April 19, 2014) Legislation could slow Florida’s craft beer industry growth. Counties on the hook for film incentives, The Tampa Tribune (April 19, 2014) Legislation aims to lure movies to Florida.

Georgia

Georgia Roundup: Governor approves economic development incentives, TaxAnalysts.com (April 23, 2014)** This is a roundup of legislation moved through the Georgia General Assembly since early April, including HB 958, a $200 million package of economic development incentives that includes extensions of sales tax breaks for construction materials and up to $25 million in annual tax credits for film production and video game development.

National

Supreme Court makes it easier to recover attorney fees in patent cases, wcsr.com (April 29, 2014) The United States Supreme Court issued two opinions today that eliminated the Federal Circuit’s rigid two-part test a prevailing party must meet in order to recover attorney’s fees in a patent case, and heightened the appellate standard of review of a district court’s determination to award attorney’s fees.

North Carolina

Park may benefit city residents more than another hotel, Citizen-Times (April 19, 2014) Debate arises in Asheville, North Carolina about “smart growth” practices.

South Carolina

CARTA plans new train, bus hub at historic Liberty Hill, The Post & Courier (April 20, 2014)  CARTA plans a new train and bus hub in the Charleston region, South Carolina.

Texas

In a split vote, Denison Council approves brew pubs in downtown, Herald Democrat (April 21, 2014) Denison, Texas approves a change to ordinances to allow for brew pubs and micro breweries in downtown Denison, Texas saying it will omit the red tape for businesses looking to relocate to Denison.

Washington D.C.

D.C. Mayor announces reauthorization of tax increment financing for shopping center, TaxAnalysts.com (April 28, 2014)** District of Columbia Mayor Vincent Gray (D) announced that he has signed the Skyland Town Center Omnibus Act of 2014, which reauthorizes $40 million in tax increment financing for the Skyland Shopping Center.

**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.

The Womble Carlyle Economic Development Digest - March 10, 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:

California

Reopen Fresno's Fulton Mall to traffic, City Council says in historic vote, The Fresno Bee (February 27, 2014) A 50-year urban experiment ends and Fresno, California City Council votes to put traffic back on the street in the Fulton Mall area, citing that the mall did not work as a pedestrian walkway. California adopts emergency California competes tax credit regs, TaxAnalysts.com (February 20, 2014)** The California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development has adopted emergency regulations to implement the California Competes Tax Credit program that provides income tax credits for businesses that relocate and expand in the state. Israel and California sign R&D agreement, Globes (March 6, 2014) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and California Governor Jerry Brown have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for R&D cooperation between Israel and California.

Florida

Florida Governor will use State of the State speech to push for tax cuts, TaxAnalysts.com (March 4, 2014)** Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) will use his State of the State address on March 4 to urge lawmakers to approve his fiscal 2015 proposed budget, which includes $500 million in tax cuts. Florida Governor proposes $500 million in tax cuts in State of the State, TaxAnalysts.com (March 4, 2014)** In his March 4 State of the State address, Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) attributed the state's drop in unemployment to tax cuts and regulatory reform and proposed an additional $500 million in tax cuts to spur further job growth.

North Carolina

North Carolina Justice Center discourages switch to single-sales-factor apportionment, TaxAnalysts.com (March 1, 2014)** The North Carolina Justice Center has released a report discouraging the legislature from adopting a single-sales-factor apportionment formula for corporate income tax because it will put smaller North Carolina businesses at a competitive disadvantage, reduce public revenue, shift the tax burden to individuals, and fail to spur job creation.

South Carolina

Inc. magazine recognizes South Carolina job creators, scedablog.com (March 3, 2014) South Carolina is well represented in Inc. magazine’s “Hire Power” job creator award winners for 2013.

Virginia

McAuliffe bill helps The Falls project, Tricities.com (February 28, 2014) Virginia works hard to not lose development to Tennessee, with an immediate focus on development in Bristol, Virginia.

**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.