Issue Position: Economic Development

Issue Position

Building a stronger framework of local businesses is the best way to improve the local economy. I worked to pass Assembly Bill 45, known as the TIF Bill, which allows several towns to participate in one tax incremental financing--or TIF--district. This is a great economic development tool that will help municipalities bring in new business. Municipalities can start taking advantage of this new opportunity starting October 1st, when the law goes into effect.

I worked on several other bills last session in the interest of economic development. Some sought only small progress, such as Assembly Bill 638, which would have made it more affordable to create more visibility of businesses from the interstate by removing vegetation, including for a new auto dealership in Coloma. Other bills offered more extensive aid to economic growth. Assembly Bill 486, for example, allowed investors in small businesses to claim tax credits based on their level of involvement, encouraging investment in--and growth of--small businesses.

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