Renaissance program offers new incentives for McClusky “Grow or die”
Renaissance program offers new incentives for McClusky “Grow or die”
By ALLAN TINKER
In one of those sessions where negative attitudes hang in the air like clouds, the public meeting regarding the Renaissance Zone program was underway promptly at 6:30 p.m. on August 27.
Sheridan County Resource Center (SCRC) Director Brian Tinker introduced Gordon La France from the North Dakota Dept. of Commerce. LaFrance presented information through a PowerPoint display and later answered questions on that information and some apparent misinformation that had been gathered before the meeting.
A common thread that ran through the initial questioning was who would have the control over the approval of the projects within the proposed zone. The answer, always, was the city retains control of the entire project.
Another question arose as to what the negatives were with the Renaissance Zone program. LaFrance answered that, try as he might, he had not been able to find any negatives or downsides to the program. “You either grow or die,” he emphasized.
He also stated that no property taxes are lost, no grant money is eligible for tax credits, nor are there any grant “handouts” for any projects that fall under the program. There are also no programs that require a project to be in a Renaissance Zone in order to qualify for funding, he added. The taxpayers do not get a “double whammy” as they do in some other community improvement projects.
