South Carolina #Brownfield Tax Credit

Financial incentives are available for non-responsible parties who have entered into the South Carolina VCP. They include:

1. State corporate income tax credit for expenses incurred by a taxpayer in cleaning up a site. For your convenience, the "Credit for Expenses Incurred Through Brownfields/Voluntary Cleanup Program" form has been placed on the Department of Revenue's web page.
2. Jobs tax credit in the amount of an additional $1000 to established job tax credit
3. Property tax exemption, with county concurrence
4. Fees in lieu of property taxes, with a $1 million threshold minimum

To find the form for the income tax credit:

1. Type http://www.sctax.org in your web browser
2. Go to "Forms and Instructions"
3. Current Years Forms and Instructions
4. Tax Forms and Instructions Table of Contents
5. Scroll to SC SCH TC-20 - "Credit for Expenses Incurred Through Brownfields/Voluntary Cleanup Program."

If you have any questions concerning the form, please call Lynda May, Department of Revenue at (803) 898-5786.

STATE-FACILITATED TIF FOR BROWNFIELD REDEVELOPMENT

While #brownfield redevelopment offers many benefits, it also has its costs (including expenses related to demolition, site preparation and construction, and environmental assessment and planning) and perceived risks. Public financing not only provides monetary support for a project, but also reflects government faith in the project’s viability. As a result, some form of public financing or government-backed financial incentive can help jumpstart a brownfield reuse program and ensure that sites do not remain idle and contaminated. Tax increment financing (TIF) has emerged as one type of financing tool to close funding gaps for desirable economic and community development projects. With other state and local funding options limited, localities have increasingly turned to TIF as the primary financing incentive that is both within their control and can meet the scale
of funding needed.

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Denton, TX to ask for more time on #brownfield land transaction

Source: DentonRC.com, P. Heinkel-Wolfe

Published: 23 May 2012 12:05 AM

After an hour in executive session Tuesday evening, the Denton City Council agreed to give City Manager George Campbell the authority to amend a contract the city has to buy 2 acres of county-owned land downtown. The briefing was the eighth such closed-door session on the city’s proposed purchase of the parcel since discussions first began in March 2011.Council members made no public comment as they cast a unanimous vote at the end of a work session, though city documents attached to the agenda show the city manager is poised to ask Denton County Commissioners Court for more time to finish the deal, which was originally scheduled to close Nov. 29, 2012. City staff had recommended the move, citing a need for more time to make a thorough environmental assessment of the property.

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Writing a Request for Proposals for Brownfield Assessment Grants

So you've been awarded a #Brownfields Assessment Grant.... Now what?  It's time to put together a Request for Proposals (RFP) or Request for Qualifications (RFQ), so you can get the environmental engineers, geologists, and qualified environmental professionals on contract to do the work outlined in your Brownfield Assessment Grant Proposal.  Here are a couple of important considerations:

1. Be sure the RFP includes any required certifications under State Brownfield Regulations or State Law.  For instance, some States consider Phase I and/or Phase II Environmental Site Assessment work to be considered the "practice of engineering" or the "practice of geology".  Other States have "Licensed Site Professional" programs, requiring the work to be done by certain individuals.  Contact your State Brownfield Director for information related to licensing.
2. You will be inundated by calls from "professionals", "consultants", and carpetbaggers who can do anything.... yes, anything related to brownfields.  Get your RFP published as soon as possible so you can put the phone calls, meetings and "let me take you to lunch" dates to bed.
3. Ask for a copy of a completed "Phase I Environmental Site Assessment" (ASTM Standard 1527-05) that meets the "All Appropriate Inquiry" requirements to be included in their Proposal.  Here's a link to EPA Guidance on what to look for in a Phase I ESA (http://epa.gov/brownfields/aai/AAI-Reporting-fact-sheet-and-checklist-062111-Final.pdf).  Use it to compare against what the Proposer has submitted along with other Proposers.
4. Use the following guidance developed by EPA on contractor selection to assist you (http://epa.gov/brownfields/aai/HiringEP_Addendum_factsheet.pdf ).
5. Contact past Brownfield Assessment Grant recipients and ask questions.  They've been down the road you are now on and have maybe even had a flat tire or run into a ditch (or two).  Their insight is invaluable.

We've included some links to some RFPs/RFQs used by past Brownfield Assessment Grant recipients that you may want to review as you are putting your own RFP/RFQ together.  These are strictly examples and should not solely be relied upon since every grant proposal and every community is different.  They have been provided strictly as examples.

• Cocoa, FL
• Tampa, FL
• Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council
• Pasco County
• Mitchell County Development Authority
• Central Florida Regional Planning Council

Finally, and most importantly, if someone calls you and tells you that he is a "BrownSfield Expert,".... he's not.

EPA Announces Brownfield Grants

EPA has announced $69.3 million in new #Brownfields grants to provide communities with funding necessary to assess, clean and redevelop contaminated properties, boost local economies and create jobs while protecting public health. The 245 grantees include tribes and communities in 39 states across the country, funded by EPA’s Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (ARC) grants and RLF Supplemental Grants. Among the recipients in Region 4 are:

•  Decatur, AL
• Talladega, AL
• Brooksville, FL
• Casselberry, FL
• Orlando, FL
• Atlanta, GA
• DeKalb County, GA
• Cumberland Valley Area Development District, KY
• Kentucky Dept. of Environmental Protection
• Northern Kentucky Area Development District
• Columbus, MS
• Hernando, MS
• McComb, MS
• Cooleemee, NC
• Greenville, NC
• Havelock, NC
• Hickory, NC
• Land-of-Sky Regional Council, NC
• Wilson, NC
• Allendale County, SC
• Greenwood, SC
• South Carolina DHEC
• Union County, SC

For more information, check out the following web site:

http://epa.gov/brownfields/news/index.htm

Governor Jindal, Dyno Nobel announce feasibility study for $800 million project in Jefferson Parish

Source: NBC23tv.com

Waggaman, La — Today, Governor Bobby Jindal and Simon Atkinson, president of Dyno Nobel International, announced the company will complete a $30 million study to establish the feasibility of building an $800 million ammonia production facility in Waggaman. The plant would produce 750,000 metric tons per year at Cornerstone Chemical Company’s existing complex on the west bank of the Mississippi River in Jefferson Parish.
The proposed project would create 50 new permanent jobs for Cornerstone Chemical, while Dyno Nobel would create another 10 new permanent jobs at the site. The 60 new direct jobs would result in 440 new indirect jobs. Salaries for the new direct jobs would average nearly $58,000 per year, plus benefits, and the project would retain 441 existing Cornerstone jobs.

....

 “The plant is on a brownfield chemical complex site,” Atkinson said. “The site currently has several downstream chemical plants operating and one that would off-take ammonia from the plant. In addition, it has a capital advantage, as the infrastructure for the ammonia plant already exists.”

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Brownfields offer tax breaks but cleanups not always required

Source: Florida Today.com, S. Cervenka, J. Waymer, D. Berman

The owners of Matt’s Casbah invested hundreds of thousands of dollars to transform a former gas station into a popular downtown restaurant that employs 65 people. That meant removing nine fuel tanks — both above and underground — and making sure none had contaminated the ground.Florida Department of Environmental Protection holds up the downtown Melbourne restaurant as a shining example of the state’s Brownfield Redevelopment Act in action, calling it a “must-eat dining destination.”

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Brownfield Sessions at Mississippi Municipal League Conference

During the 2012 Mississippi Municipal League Annual Conference in Biloxi, Mississippi, representatives of MDEQ will provide conference attendees the opportunity to learn more about redevelopment in Mississippi at the following sessions:

Roundtable Discussion (Monday, June 25, 1PM-4PM) -Brownfield Redevelopment Tools, Grants, and Incentives

Concurrent Session (Tuesday, June 26, 1PM-2PM) -Redevelopment Strategies and Incentives - Learn about strategies and incentives that have been used to secure EPA Brownfield Grants and how communities are leveraging resources to revitalize their community.


For information about MML Conference, including registration, go to their web site at http://mmlonline.com/conferences.aspx .

LDEQ - RFP for Targeted Brownfield Assessment Services - Due June 18, 2012/3:00 p.m. CST

The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, hereinafter referred to as “the Department”, requires the services of a well-qualified contractor to provide assistance for planning and performing site assessments and development of remediation options. The goals are to supplement and work with other efforts under EPA’s Brownfields Program to promote the cleanup and redevelopment of brownfields. The Department invites all qualified parties (companies and individuals) to submit proposals for providing these services. The Department
reserves the right to award multiple contracts.

1.2 Contract Term and Compensation

The term of the contract resulting from this RFP will be twenty four (24) months, beginning
approximately September 1, 2012 and ending approximately August 31, 2014 with the option to
renew for one additional year (not to exceed a total of 36 months).

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North Carolina #Brownfield Tax Incentives (§ 105-277.13)

Qualifying improvements on brownfield properties are designated a special class of property under Article V, Sec. 2(2) of the North Carolina Constitution and shall be appraised, assessed, and taxed in accordance with this section. An owner of land is entitled to the partial exclusion provided by this section for the first five taxable years beginning after completion of qualifying improvements made after the later of July 1, 2000, or the date of the brownfield agreement. After property has qualified for the exclusion provided by this section, the assessor for the county in which the property is located shall annually appraise the improvements made to the property during the period of time that the owner is entitled to the exclusion.

(b) For the purposes of this section, the terms "qualifying improvements on brownfield properties" and "qualifying improvements" mean improvements made to real property that is subject to a brownfield agreement entered into by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the owner pursuant to G.S. 130A-310.32.

(c) The following table establishes the percentage of the appraised value of the qualified improvements that is excluded based on the taxable year:

Year Percent of Appraised Value Excluded
Year 1 90%
Year 2 75%
Year 3 50%
Year 4 30%
Year 5 10%.

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Kentucky Brownfield Tax Incentives

For qualified parties, the state and local property tax rates on a remediated brownfield property are reduced. For three years following the issuance of a no-further-remediation letter, the property will not be subject to local ad valorem property taxes. The state ad valorem property tax rate will be reduced from 31.5 cents per $100 of assessed value to 1.5 cents per $100 of assessed value.
   
Qualified parties can also receive up to $150,000 worth of income tax credits for expenditures made in order to meet the requirements of the cabinet-approved cleanup. The allowable credit for any taxable year is a maximum of 25 percent of the credit authorized. The credit may be carried forward for 10 successive years following the issuance of a no further remediation letter.  

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Textile Mill turned into affordable housing, restored pond and greenspace

Project Background:
Located in the heart of Union, South Carolina, the former Union Textile Mill operated from the late 1800s to the 1990s, once serving as the community’s principal employer. In 1998 the Union Mill caught fire, destroying the main section of the mill’s primary structure and many outbuildings. After the Mill sat idle and charred for over ten years and due to concerns raised by city officials and residents about the site’s potential contamination and the visual, the Union City Council passed a resolution in 2002 declaring the site a slum and blighted area. A Phase I assessment—conducted in 2003 prior to the city acquiring the property—confirmed the need for a Phase II assessment. In 2003, the City of Union acquired the property for $350,000, allowing Phase II environmental assessments to move forward. A number of Phase II assessments, partially funded with $50,000 from Catawba Regional COG’s EPA Brownfields Assessment grant, were conducted from 2004 to 2008. These assessments confirmed that polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were the primary contaminates in the surface soil. Metals were also found in sediment in the fire water pond on the property, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were found in the groundwater and surface water from a former dry cleaner located upgradient of the property. A cleanup plan was developed, which set projected cleanup costs at $939,000.

Key Accomplishments:

• Public health concerns regarding contamination at the site were eliminated through cleanup activities
• $420,000 in EPA Brownfields Assessment and Cleanup grant funding leveraged over $1.3 million in local, state and federal dollars for cleanup and redevelopment
• Union Mill Crossing generates approximately $100,000 per year in property taxes and utility fee revenues for the City of Union, and employs an onsite property manager
• Removal of general blight has positively affected the neighborhood by replacing an unsafe eyesore with attractive waterfront land,greenspace, and affordable and safe living options

Outcome:

Through a series of community participation opportunities, a redevelopment plan calling for affordable housing and greenspace on the former Union Mill site was finalized in 2006. To facilitate the site’s redevelopment, the City of Union used a $370,000 loan from the SC DHEC EPA Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund to finance a portion of the $939,000 in cleanup costs. Cleanup activities, such as excavating soil and installing a permeable geotextile barrier in the bottom of the pond to encapsulate contaminated sediment, were conducted from September 2008 to January 2009. The city received a Certificate of Completion, which included deed restrictions for ground water and the site, from the SC DHEC on June 12, 2009. Redevelopment was completed in 2010 and created Union Mill Crossing, a residential community comprising 39 affordable rental properties on 4.7 acres and greenspace on 2.43 acres. The city plans to redevelop an additional 4.53 acres for offices with residential rental properties on the upper floors, as well as an additional 6.87 acres of greenspace. Based on the experiences gained through cleanup and redevelopment of the Union Mill and 16 other mill sites located across the Catawba region, the Catawba Regional COG is preparing a Textile Mill Redevelopment Guide. The guide will serve as a resource for local officials to clean up and redevelop textile-related brownfield sites in the Catawba region and throughout the state to improve economic viability in low and moderate income areas. In addition, other former mill sites in Union County are benefitting from the lessons learned during this project, including the communities of Jonesville and Buffalo.

Brownfield Grant Tool - County Health Rankings & Roadmaps

One of the criteria for #Brownfield Grants (Community Need) involves providing "information describing the health and welfare of sensitive populations such as children, pregnant women, minority or low-income communities, or other sensitive populations in the targeted community."  The following link may help in this effort.

The County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program helps communities create solutions that make it easier for people to be healthy in their own communities, focusing on specific factors that we known affect health, such as education and income. Having health insurance and quality health care are important to our health, but we need leadership and action beyond health care. Ranking the health of nearly every county in the nation, the County Health Rankings illustrate what we know when it comes to what’s making people sick or healthy. The County Health Roadmaps show what we can do to create healthier places to live, learn, work and play. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation collaborates with the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute to bring this groundbreaking program to cities, counties and states across the nation. The County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program includes the County Health Rankings project, launched in 2010, and the newer County Health Roadmaps project that mobilizes local communities, national partners and leaders across all sectors to improve health. The Roadmaps project includes grants to local coalitions and partnerships among policymakers, business, education, public health, health care, and community organizations; grants to national organizations working to improve health; recognition of communities whose promising efforts have led to better health; and customized technical assistance on strategies to improve health.

http://www.countyhealthrankings.org

Florida Brownfields Redevelopment Workshop

Florida #Brownfields Redevelopment Workshop

Monday June 4th, 2012    Alachua, Florida

Travel Stipends Available    AICP Credits Anticipated

Register today for the June 4^th Florida Brownfields Redevelopment Workshop, hosted by the Brownfield Communities Network, in association with NALGEP. This workshop, which will focus on rural communities, will provide useful information to those who are interested in learning about brownfields as well as those who are experts in the field.  AICP credits will likely be available for planning professionals.

The Goldstein Brownfields Foundation and the Environmental Justice Committee of the Florida Brownfields Association have teamed up to provide 10 stipends of up to $100 to help representatives from challenged communities attend the workshop. The deadline for the stipend application is May 14^th. 

For more information on the workshop and how to apply for a stipend, please see the attached final agenda, or visit http://www.nalgep.org.

Alabama's Brownfield Development Tax Abatement Act

BROWNFIELD DEVELOPMENT TAX ABATEMENTS

SUMMARY

The Brownfield Development Tax Abatement Act ( Chapter 9C, Title 40, Code of Alabama 1975) gives cities and counties the ability to abate the following:
   Non-educational city and county sales and use taxes;
   Non-educational state, city and county property taxes – up to 20 years;
   Mortgage and recording taxes.
To receive an abatement for any or all of these taxes, a business must meet certain qualifications and follow certain procedures, as determined by law and regulation.

STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS FOR BROWNFIELD ABATEMENTS
The property must be in the Alabama Department of Environmental Management’s voluntary cleanup program to qualify for Brownfield abatements.

CAPITAL INVESTMENT REQUIREMENT

New Company
There is no threshold or limiting investment amount for new Brownfield abatement project. The total amount of the capital investment by a company that is locating in Alabama is eligible for the tax abatements.

Major Addition
The additional capital investment by a company that is expanding their current facilities on Brownfield development property must equal the lesser of: 30 percent of the original cost of the property as remediated or $2,000,000.


CONTACT INFO:

Questions regarding tax abatements should be directed to:
Angela Till, Abatement Program Administrator

Office of the Commissioner
Alabama Department of Revenue
P.O. Box 327001
Montgomery, AL 36132-7001
Telephone: 334-242-1175
email: angela.till@revenue.alabama.gov

Mississippi Brownfield Tax Credit

Under this incentive, remediation costs paid for the assessment, investigation, remediation, monitoring, and related activities at a brownfield agreement site are eligible for at twenty-five (25%) tax credit for the tax year in which the costs are incurred.  

The annual credit shall not exceed the lesser of Forty Thousand Dollars ($40,000.00) or the amount of the income tax imposed upon the brownfield party at the brownfield agreement site for the taxable year as reduced by the sum of all other credits allowable to the brownfield party, except for credit for tax payments made by or on behalf of the brownfield party.

Any unused portion of the credit may be carried forward for succeeding tax years.  The maximum Total credit over the life of the project is One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000.00).

To receive the tax credit, you must obtain certification from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) that you are a brownfield party that has conducted remediation at a brownfield agreement site during the tax year for which the credit is sought.   You will need to fill out and return the pre-certification form to the address at the top of the form.

Business Improvement District bill signed by Mississippi Governor

Source: Cottonmouth Blog

HB 968 has been signed by the Governor of Mississippi on April 16, 2012.  It removes some of the more onerous provisions of the laws that allow for the creation of business improvement districts across Mississippi.  BIDs, as they are known, are areas where property owners vote to tax themselves for improvements and services provided within the district.  Downtown Jackson Partners runs the Downtown Jackson BID, providing additional security, beautification, community-building, and marketing efforts on top of those provided by the City of Jackson.  DJP has been successful, and was recently reauthorized by Downtown Jackson property owners.

Previous law was onerous, though, as BIDs were required to be reauthorized every 5 years by 70% of property owners.  And that's 70% of all property owners, not just those choosing to vote. HB 968 lowers the required majority to 60% of the participating property owners, and extends the re-authorization period from 5 years to 10 years.

This is good legislation, as many areas in Mississippi that would benefit from BIDs are dealing with absentee landlords who refuse to participate in the process.  DJP has worked wonders for Downtown Jackson, and other areas of the state could benefit from similar entities.  Here's hoping HB 968 makes its way through the Legislature.

Next Generation Broadband Cornerstone Infrastructure for 21st-Century Brownfields Redevelopment

Much as railroads were in the 19th century, and electric, telephone and highway transportation networks were in the 20th century, high-speed broadband will be the critical infrastructure of the 21st century. The availability of next-generation high-speed broadband will play a leading role in determining which communities will enjoy economic growth and prosperity in the 21st century.

Local governments and planners should therefore seriously consider incorporating next-generation broadband infra­structure into brownfields redevelopment projects, whether industrial, commercial, residential or mixed-use. With next-generation broadband, redeveloped brownfield areas can become magnets for economic growth. Without it, they may well fall still further behind the rest of the nation.

Next Generation Broadband: Cornerstone Infrastructure for 21st-Century Brownfields Redevelopment is intended to educate planners about the many other benefits of next-generation broadband and how those benefits can be leveraged to make brownfield redevelopment projects—and the communities where they exist—more suc­cessful. It also outlines how local governments might incorporate broadband into redevelopment projects and provides examples of successful broadband projects.

The Brownfield Communities Network will host a free web cast on this topic on June 7^th, 2012 at 1:30pm EDT. In this webinar, the author of the paper, Tillman Lay, will discuss the white paper and its examples. Google is installing next-generation broadband throughout Kansas City, and Andrew Bracker from the Kansas City Brownfields Office will offer a local government’s perspective.

To access the report, click here.

For more information on the June 7^th web cast, click here.

Contact: Laura Watchman

Tel: 202-879-4000

Email:  nalgep@spiegelmcd.com

KY- City to try to clean up former Ohio Box Co. Brownfield site

Source: The Daily Record, B. Warren

April 26, 2012

WOOSTER -- A contingent from a Kentucky chamber of commerce descended upon Wooster Wednesday to explore what has made this area successful in terms of economic development. Members of the Jessamine County Chamber of Commerce periodically take trips to other cities to see what works for them and to determine if it can be implemented back home. The Jessamine Chamber office is in Nicholasville, about 12 miles southwest of Lexington, Ky.

Jessamine County was also where Wayne County Commissioner Scott Wiggam grew up. He spoke to the group of 20 about how the county operates. Wiggam, along with Wooster Mayor Bob Breneman, Orrville Mayor Dave Handwerk and Rittman Mayor Bill Robertson shared with the group the successes and struggles of their cities. Wayne County was able to make it through the difficult economic times because everyone was willing to make cuts, Wiggam said. The commissioners made a political decision not to raise taxes, and it worked when all of the elected officials and department heads brought their expenses under the projected revenue by 2010, he added.

The county uses the Wayne Economic Development Council as its economic development arm, and in 2007 the county revised its tax incentive policy. The new document contained the philosophy and the mechanics, Wiggam said.  Robertson talked about the challenges Rittman faces after Caraustar, a paper packaging company shut down and left the city. At one time, the company, formerly known as the Packaging Corporation of America and the Ohio Boxboard Co., hired as many as 2,400 people, Robertson said. It started making wax-coated boxes for the salt company, now Morton Salt, and once produced all of the boxes for Tide detergent. Now, the 300-acre site sits empty, and the city is trying to clean up the brownfield in order to free up the land for commercial development. Right now, there is very little available land for development. The city is surrounded by valuable farm land, which is another reason why Robertson wants to see the Caraustar site cleaned.

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Brownfields Listening Session on the Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Grants Guidelines

In an effort to solicit public input on the Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (ARC) grant competition process, the Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization (OBLR) will host two strategic listening sessions via webinar on May 17 and May 22.

These webinars will be structured discussions to get feedback on the ARC process and guidelines and incorporate, where possible, that feedback into the FY 13 ARC process.
Webinar Information

Dates:     May 17, 2012
Time:      1-2:30 pm EST
Call In:   1-866-299-3188  Code: 2025661887#
Location: https://epa.connectsolutions.com/fy13-arc/
Dates:     May 22, 2012
Time:      1-2:30 pm EST
Call In:   1-866-299-3188  Code: 2025661887#
Location: https://epa.connectsolutions.com/fy13-arc-2/

Because space is limited to 140 persons per session, please RSVP to Jeanette Mendes by Tuesday, May 14 indicating which session you will attend (May 17 or May 22).
Additionally, should you have specific questions or ideas you would like to discuss, please forward them to Jeanette Mendes (mendes.jeanette@epa.gov) by Tuesday, May 14.
Possible feedback focus areas

• What would you fix about our brownfields guidelines and process? 
• How can the Office of Brownfields & Land Revitalization improve its grant programs to better address community needs? 
• What do you feel are the major problems or impediments, if any, in competing for Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Grants? 
• Are there ways the Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization could make it easier to apply for its competitive opportunities?

The FY12 ARC Guidelines can be found at http://epa.gov/brownfields/applicat.htm.
Should you have  questions regarding this webinar series, please feel free to contact Jeanette Mendes at (202) 566-1887 or email Jeanette Mendes (mendes.jeanette@epa.gov).

Knoxville's Cumberland Avenue Corridor Project set to clean up brownfield sites

Source:  Tennessee Journalist, J. Strating
April 27, 2012

A local development team including Budd Cullom, Jim Harrison and Mike McGuffin plan to build a shopping center dubbed University Commons less than a mile away from campus. The proposed retail center will be located in the old Futon Bellows area, the empty plot between Volunteer Boulevard and Alcoa Highway. The published renderings of the project show multistory brick buildings with the design of a new-age factory. The center would have available space for several smaller businesses in addition to the anchoring forces of national chains, Walmart and Publix. The 12 acre construction site has a long history as a manufacturing center in Knoxville.

[MORE]

JOINT Meeting between the Florida Brownfields Association and the Florida Redevelopment Association

DATE: May 15, 2012
TIME: 10:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Imaginarium Science Center ( www.imaginariumfortmyers.com )
2000 Cranford Avenue
Fort Myers, FL 33916

This in-person meeting includes lunch and for FBA members there is no cost!

Please RSVP to Becky Buice at becky@nstephens.com by May 4, 2012 (space is limited).

Agenda
9:30 a.m. Registration (coffee and tea provided)

10:00 a.m. Monthly Florida Brownfield Association Meeting (conducted via teleconference)

11:00 a.m. Keynote Speaker
The Honorable Randall Henderson, Jr., Mayor, City of Fort Myers

11:30 a.m. Networking Lunch

12:30 p.m. Imaginarium Brownfields Project – Roxanne Gause, HSA Scientists and Engineers
Improving Access to Health and Healthcare Through Redevelopment – Miles Ballogg, Cardno TBE
Innovative Bioremediation Methods – Tom Conwell, Biovation, Inc.

2:00 p.m Open Forum Discussion and Closing Comments

2:30 p.m. Adjourn

For further information on the FBA and the FRA,

Check:
http://www.Floridabrownfields.org/
http://redevelopment.net/member-services/regional-meetings/

Louisiana Brownfield Investor Tax Credit

EXPIRATION OF THE BROWNFIELDS INVESTOR TAX CREDIT

The Louisiana Brownfields Investor Tax Credit, authorized under R.S. 47:6021, was not renewed by the Louisiana Legislature and expired on December 31, 2009.

This expiration means that only eligible expenses that are actually incurred prior to January 1, 2010, can be claimed pursuant to this tax credit.  All eligible expenses incurred before that date by an applicant participating in the Louisiana Voluntary Remediation Program can be claimed for the purpose of the credit.  

In no case shall expenses incurred by the applicant on or after January 1, 2010, be eligible for this tax credit.  Applicants must of course keep records documenting dates on which expenses were incurred in accordance with applicable Louisiana tax law and regulations.

However, it should be noted that tax credit applicants do not have to receive approval of their Voluntary Remedial Investigation Report or their Voluntary Remediation Certificate of Completion prior to end of 2009.  Also, eligible VRP participants do not have to submit their Brownfields Investor Tax Credit Eligibility Application or their Certification of Expenditures prior to the end of 2009.  Although these elements can be completed on or after January 1, 2010, they remain elements necessary to perfect the use of the tax credit.  The project ultimately must be completed and the appropriate report submitted to the Department of Environmental Quality. 

Otherwise, the Brownfields Investor Tax Credit guidelines found at www.deq.louisiana.gov/brownfields will still apply to all tax credit applicants.

Tennessee Brownfield Property Tax Credit

Effective June 30, 2010, a franchise and excise tax credit equal to 50% or 75%, depending on the amount of capital investment ($25 million or $200 million, respectively) of the purchase price of Brownfield property purchased in Tennessee for the purpose of a qualified development project. The total value of credits authorized is capped at $10 million per year and allows the credit to be used for development projects using non-prime agricultural properties in any year in which credits remain available.

“Brownfield property” is defined as real property that is the subject of an investigation or remediation as a Brownfield project under a voluntary agreement or consent order pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. Section 68-212-224. [Tenn. Code Ann. Section 67-4-2009]