Nearly every community talks about attracting more entrepreneurs. But aside from programs like SCORE, which assists entrepreneurs with business plans, and some efforts at growing venture-capital funds, most communities scratch their heads over how to
Nearly every community talks about attracting more entrepreneurs. But aside from programs like SCORE, which assists entrepreneurs with business plans, and some efforts at growing venture-capital funds, most communities scratch their heads over how to actually help small businesses.
An innovative nonprofit, SeedAmerica, encourages industrial companies to donate buildings that can then be used to house small businesses at lower-than-market rents. (The key is a tax credit for the donating company.)
"SeedAmerica uses what's called the 561 Exchange or the RIM (replacement, market, income) Exchange. Those terms refer to IRS Publication 561, which spells out appraisal rules for donated property. The big advantage for the donor is a tax break that can be greater than what the property would sell for, and can be spread out over five years. Completing the 561 Exchange takes a few months. Trying to sell used industrial property can take years."
Thanks to Otis White
Read the full story: Nonprofit turns donated properties into space for small businesses
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
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Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
Mamdani’s pied-à-terre tax survives legal challenge
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Eastern Nebraska is running out of electricity
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Seattle passes record-breaking transit services expansion
Proposition 1 will double the city’s transit tax to add 95,000 more bus trips and preserve 180,000 bus trips annually.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
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Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
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City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority