Latest News

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  • BRIEF
    Mar 9, 2010 — The Wisconsin State Journal
    The CDA is responsible for big projects such as the redevelopment of Allied Drive, Villager mall and Truax public housing.
  • Cedar Falls northern industrial park set for construction
    Mar 9, 2010 — Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier
    Last year, the city got into high gear, drawing up designs for the park, establishing a Tax Increment Financing District, securing a $5.5 million federal grant for infrastructure and platting the land.
  • LCC gets incentive from city
    Mar 9, 2010 — The Register-Guard
    So far, LCC has secured $17.5 million for the work, excluding the proposed city package. Early estimates have placed the total cost of the LCC project at about $27 million. Spilde agreed that the city's proposal is generous.
  • Pittsburgh, Buncher set to develop Allegheny riverfront
    Mar 9, 2010 — Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
    The URA bought the 123-acre LTV site in 1993 and the first buildings from the Soffer Organization weren't completed for 11 years. The URA will agree to adding infrastructure such as streets, parks and trails to the parcels behind the terminal building on Smallman Street, which Mr. That would create space for riverfront access for Lawrenceville residents -- access, parks and other riverfront amenities are major parts of the master plan.
  • Should taxpayers pay $300 million for casino in Atlantic City?
    Mar 9, 2010 — Asbury Park Press
    Before the revision, nine taxes, including one state-level tax, could be included in a TIF grant. Some studies argue that tax incentives draw jobs and investment to a region, while others found very little correlation between TIF grants and economic development. State Sen. Raymond Lesniak, D-Union, sponsored the Economic Stimulus Act and also co-sponsored S-920, a bill that would ban referendums on local redevelopment ordinances.
  • Support for Northrop Grumman tax incentives waning in D.C.
    Mar 9, 2010 — Washington Post
    Robert F. McDonnell (R) sent late legislation to both houses of the General Assembly aimed at drawing the firm. The bills would allow the Governor's Opportunity Fund, an economic development grant program that can be spent only on public infrastructure, to be used to renovate private buildings as well. The company is considering lots at Fourth and E streets SW and Sixth and E streets SW near Nationals Park.
  • Vision on track for railroad district
    Mar 9, 2010 — Independent Record
    Many members of the neighborhood association have steadfastly opposed the project, saying it doesn't fit in their long-range vision for the historic district.
  • Chicago Tribune Greg Burns column
    Mar 8, 2010 — Chicago Tribune
    Greg Burns Mar. 8, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Times sure seem tough in the trucking business. They're concerned about everything from pollution levels to an unfair financial burden if the development obtains tax increment financing. Otherwise, she said, "It doesn't belong.
  • City says District 150 will reap benefits from Southtown TIF
    Mar 8, 2010 — Journal Star
    ...district, possibly this year. Its assessed value had been frozen at what it was in 1986, providing the district only about $20,000 annually. The next TIF, however, does not expire for another eight years. Speaking during a meeting -- arranged by Mayor Jim Ardis' "education aide," former Dunlap Superintendent Bill Collier -- Setti said it's impossible to know whether some Southtown developments would have taken place if a TIF was not created. Since Southtown was created...
  • Neosho could continue with interim city manager
    Mar 8, 2010 — The Joplin Globe
    In the interim, I'd prefer someone who (has) experience in such a role. A group of residents also has successfully petitioned the state auditor to review the city's books. The city also has received unsolicited resumes, he said.
  • Water plant complete after delays
    Mar 8, 2010 — Kokomo Tribune
    The wastewater treatment plant capacity was increased from 60,000 to 125,000 gallons per day in July 2007. In exchange, the trust won't appeal the assessed value of the building. --Ken de la Bastide is the Kokomo Tribune enterprise editor.
  • The Next Page: Midsize cities, big ideas
    Mar 7, 2010 — Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
    Streets, public transit, bikeways and connected green space weave the city together. Compared with other cities of its size, Pittsburgh has the highest percentage of daily transit use to its employment centers. Pittsburgh is a world leader in sustainable development.
  • Attorney bilked Calumet Park of more than $1 million, state alleges
    Mar 6, 2010 — Chicago Tribune
    He allegedly offered the village $100,000 of his own money. McCombs has represented a host of other municipalities, including Posen, Cicero and Justice.
  • Commissioners OK grant for shopping center
    Mar 6, 2010 — High Point Enterprise
    The two Democrats also voted against the grant.
  • Democrats Need a Rally Monkey
    Mar 6, 2010 — New York Times
    “When a party’s snakebit, it’s really snakebit,” said Charlie Cook, the independent political handicapper, who is predicting a thumpin’ for Democrats in November. Pushing the Employee Free Choice Act could rally labor. In the scenario best for the Democrats, the Tea Party peaked with Mr.
  • Group passes transportation act
    Mar 5, 2010 — The Dominion Post
    State Highway Engineer Marvin Murphy said no -- the language of the bill refers to road maintenance, but that's for completed projects. Murphy said that would depend on what agreement the local government reaches with the state.
  • Thomasville considers incentives
    Mar 5, 2010 — High Point Enterprise
    ...-- THOMASVILLE -- The Thomasville City Council will consider an economic incentives package for a company Monday that could have a "good future" in the Chair City, Councilman Raleigh York Jr. said this week. If the City Council approves the incentives package for the company, which is being code-named Project 3C, it would join the Davidson County Board of Commissioners in trying to entice the company to the county. Last month, commissioners agreed to give the company $5,400...
  • Tipton moves to create ED group
    Mar 5, 2010 — Kokomo Tribune
    ...to the trust over a period of years. Those funds would allow the trust to lower the price of the building to the potential buyer. Getrag Transmission Manufacturing and Chrysler LLC announced plans in 2007 to construct the $530 million facility in Tipton County for the manufacture of transmissions for Chrysler. In 2008 the partnership fell apart after Chrysler filed suit against Getrag over financing for the plant. Getrag Transmission Manufacturing later filed for bankruptcy...
  • Madison may use new fund to buy Union Corners
    Mar 4, 2010 — The Wisconsin State Journal
    A $60 million first phase had 140 condos and commercial space, and McGrath secured $4.9 million in tax incremental financing support. But the condo market softened and construction was stopped in June 2007. The TIF money is no longer available. The site is mostly cleared except for a few small buildings and a large billboard owned by Adams Outdoor Advertising.
  • Board mulls grant for shopping center
    Mar 3, 2010 — High Point Enterprise
    He also lobbied commissioners to approve $1.3 million for the program. Granite Church Street LLC has land valued at $1.7 million, according to county records. The new shopping center at 5820-28 Church Street would include a 42,000-square-foot Lowes Food grocery.
  • Ending earnings tax would hurt KC, administrators say
    Mar 3, 2010 — The Kansas City Star
    Louis would then hold referendums on the earnings tax every five years. If the tax went away, payments on those projects could be jeopardized. Noll said there simply aren't a lot of other reliable revenue sources to replace the earnings tax. He said he is still researching how Kansas City's tax burden compares with that in area suburbs.
  • Jobs, economy surface as Janesville issues
    Mar 3, 2010 — The Janesville Gazette
    Janesville needs to be known as the place where you want to do business," he said. Briarmoon said times are scarier than people want to admit. Janesville must maintain a high quality of living and maintain city services to attract business here, she said. The council will have to look at raising taxes, expanding user fees and/or cutting services to balance the budget.
  • Square Feet: Slumbering Pittsburgh Neighborhood Reawakens
    Mar 3, 2010 — New York Times
    By the 1980s East Liberty had lost more than one million square feet of commercial space and half its population. The women’s clothing retailer, Anthropologie, will lease 12,000 square feet. Google’s Pittsburgh office will build out 40,000 square feet of space in the complex, moving from the campus of Carnegie Mellon University, two miles nearer to downtown.
  • $20,000 donated to heating assistance fund
    Mar 2, 2010 — Bangor Daily News
    When those benefits run out, or if people don't qualify, she said, they turn to THAW. Last year, the program provided assistance to about 300 households in the two counties.
  • Belleville sets budget hearing
    Mar 2, 2010 — Belleville News-Democrat
    Eckert said city leaders have no interest in keeping the building, but that they hope to guide development there. The park is on about 190 acres sandwiched between Green Mount Lane and Illinois 15. The existing two phases are part of another tax increment financing district, and they're nearly full.
  • County eyes buying more industrial land
    Mar 2, 2010 — The Times and Democrat
    If the county exercises the option, the property's cost would be $1.2 million. Other requests that come in could be denied, they argued. According to Clark, the county doesn't write the checks until the expenses are incurred.
  • Neosho panel to take up question of more debt
    Mar 2, 2010 — The Joplin Globe
    The council placed Blase on paid suspension effective Jan. 26, pending final steps to fire him.
  • Belleville to set date for public to weigh in on wheel tax
    Mar 1, 2010 — Belleville News-Democrat
    City leaders have said they need the tax to make up for $775,000 the city won't be getting from the state this year in reimbursements. The park is on about 190 acres sandwiched between Green Mount Lane and Illinois 15. The existing two phases are part of another tax increment financing district, and they're nearly full.
  • The economy has hurt Gateway Center, but its 20 years have been a boon to Collinsville
    Mar 1, 2010 — Belleville News-Democrat
    Through boom years and in the current downturn, the center has continued to grow along with Collinsville. The economy has hurt travel and convention industries. While the center is not in trouble, recent economic stresses have hit it hard. The number of large conventions and trade shows hosted at the Gateway Center have remained relatively stable. Louis Woodworking Show, the Archon fiction convention and Pegasus Productions have returned to the center year after year.
  • Vice President Joe Biden tells groups of workers "we have come a long way" in a year
    Mar 1, 2010 — The Orlando Sentinel
    ...union leaders said they wanted to hear about. "Jobs, jobs, jobs," said newly-elected AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, when asked what Biden needed to talk about to address concerns of this traditionally Democratic-friendly audience. And in introducing the vice president, Trumka put aside any frustration and declared "the labor movement loves Joe biden." In his speech, Biden made only brief mention of the Employee Free Choice Act, a proposed law that unions say would make it...
  • EDITORIAL
    Feb 28, 2010 — The Kansas City Star
    Unfortunately, some petitioners are using misleading tactics to obtain signatures. Meanwhile, the mayor of Kansas City has a "What, me worry?" expression on his face, at least in public. Among the sobering issues: --If the earnings tax goes away, that ultimately would blow a $10 million-plus annual hole in the city's tax increment financing projects. Louis provides one route Funkhouser and the council ought to follow: Convince the General Assembly to give Kansas City and St.
  • McGuire wants railroad to built gas line to Southcentral
    Feb 28, 2010 — Alaska Journal of Commerce
    Tim Bradner Feb. 26, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- State Sen. Someday it may bring Alaska's gas to the Alberta," McGuire said. "But we cannot put all of our eggs in one basket.
  • More people apply for energy assistance to help with heating
    Feb 28, 2010 — USA Today
    Michigan, hit hard by auto industry woes in recent years, had an unemployment rate of 14.6% in December, the latest data available. President Obama has requested up to $5.3 billion for fiscal 2011 if certain triggers are met.Yahoo!
  • Will tiny town's residents be left on the hook for loan?
    Feb 28, 2010 — Pioneer Press
    The idea is that redevelopment will increase a parcel's value. The bank responded by offering a $580,000 loan to pay down the first loan and cover the new development costs. The new loan would be paid through TIF proceeds, the parties agreed. State law dictates how much of, and in what time frame, TIF proceeds can be paid out.
  • Columbia candidates rip redevelopment plan
    Feb 26, 2010 — The State
    ...-- A plan for redeveloping two parts of Columbia came under fire Thursday from most City Council candidates. Seven challengers called the idea of setting aside property tax revenues in those area -- possibly backs by water and sewer fees -- a mistake. All called for city leaders to back off the plan, defended by incumbents Tameika Isaac Devine and Sam Davis.The pair are among the field of candidates on the April 6 ballot. The disagreement came at a forum in Eau Claire...
  • Home builders adapt designs
    Feb 26, 2010 — Pioneer Press
    ...attached town homes built in the Twin Cities, maybe too much, so we sort of saturated that market," Pokorney said. Single-unit town homes are not new to the Twin Cities. Many newer developments with a mix of housing are including them. There are a half-dozen developments in Woodbury with detached units, associate planner Eric Searles said. "It's been a successful market in Woodbury," he said. Ron Clark Construction and Design has a few similar projects: "villas"...
  • Mall's $100 million tax break fast-tracked
    Feb 26, 2010 — The State
    S.C. voters also will elect a secretary of state in November.
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