WASHINGTON – Jan. 26, 2012 – Wyoming, Florida and Texas rank among the 10 best states for taxes on business, while companies in states like New York, New Jersey and California have a far less pleasant tax climate, according to the Tax Foundation’s State Business Tax Climate Index, now in its 8th edition.
The Tax Foundation says it looks at dozens of state tax provisions to create the ranking –a single easy-to-use score that measures each state’s tax climate against every other state. While some similar studies focus on residents’ tax burden they pay each year, the Index focuses on how a tax system enhances or harms a state’s businesses.
“Even in our global economy, a state’s stiffest and most direct competition often comes from other states,” says Tax Foundation economist Mark Robyn. “State lawmakers need to be aware of how their states’ business climates match up to their immediate neighbors and to other states in their region.”
The 10 best states in this year’s Index
1. Wyoming
2. South Dakota
3. Nevada
4. Alaska
5. Florida
6. New Hampshire
7. Washington
8. Montana
9. Texas
10. Utah
The 10 lowest ranked states in this year’s Index
41. Iowa
42. Maryland
43. Wisconsin
44. North Carolina
45. Minnesota
46. Rhode Island
47. Vermont
48. California
49. New York
50. New Jersey
The Tax Foundation has monitored fiscal policy at the federal, state and local levels since 1937. A copy of the latest report is available on the Tax Foundation’s website.
© 2012 Florida Realtors®
HUD to release $110M in assistance grants
WASHINGTON – Jan. 11, 2012 – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that it would release $110 million in grants to transform public and assisted housing and to revitalize communities. Florida cities may apply for funds under the FY 2012 Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Program.
HUD made the announcement in yesterday’s Federal Register.
“We make these funds available for communities that are serious about breathing new life into areas that have seen very little public investment over the years,” said HUD Assistant Secretary Sandra Henriquez.
According to HUD, the Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grants are intended to take community planning off the drawing board and put them into action. Choice Neighborhoods focuses on three core goals:
• Housing: Transform distressed public and assisted housing into energy efficient, mixed-income housing that is physically and financially viable over the long-term.
• People: Support positive outcomes for families who live in the target development(s) and the surrounding neighborhood, particularly outcomes related to residents “health, safety, employment, mobility and education.”
• Neighborhood: Transform poverty neighborhoods into viable, mixed-income neighborhoods with access to well-functioning services, high quality public schools and education programs, high quality early learning programs and services, public assets, public transportation and improved access to jobs.
To receive the HUD grant, communities must have a comprehensive neighborhood revitalization strategy or Transformation Plan in place. This Transformation Plan must guide the revitalization of public and/or assisted housing units, and simultaneously oversee a transformation of the surrounding neighborhood.
Choice Neighborhoods Implementation grants are available for public housing authorities, local governments, nonprofit organizations, tribal entities and for-profit developers that apply jointly with a public entity.
Last August, HUD awarded its first-ever Choice Neighborhoods Implementation grants, a combined $122 million, to stimulate neighborhood revitalization in Boston, Chicago, New Orleans, San Francisco and Seattle.
Applicants have until April 10, 2012, to apply for FY 2012 Choice Neighborhoods Implementation grants. HUD anticipates awarding four to five grants with a maximum award of $30,000,000 each in December 2012. Applicants must submit their applications electronically through www.grants.gov.
© 2012 Florida Realtors®
Florida Realtors® Education Foundation
Student Scholarship Program
Do you have kids currently in college, or maybe one who is about to graduate high school? Are they interested in a possible real estate-related career?
Florida Realtors® Education Foundation Inc., a not-for-profit corporation, was established to provide real estate-related educational scholarships and grants. Who can apply for the student scholarship program? Florida high school seniors who will be attending an undergraduate college or university; students currently enrolled in an undergraduate college or university; and students pursuing graduate studies.
Scholarships to be awarded may range from $1,000 to $4,000, with a maximum of $2,000 to students attending a two-year college. Criteria to be considered include, but aren’t limited to: academic achievements, financial need, relationship to the Realtor family, and contributions to family, school and community. The Foundation’s board of directors has “sole and absolute discretion” over all decisions as to whether an applicant qualifies.
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