Retail Rules

Development Moratorium - Tacoma, WA

smitchell — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 08:23:07 -0500

On August 30, 2011, the city of Tacoma, Washingotn, adopted a 6-month moratorium on the development of retail stores over 65,000 square feet. The city is using the time to review the economic, environmental and social impacts of large stores and to consider long-term changes its zoning law.

Economic Impact Review - California

smitchell — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 10:29:13 -0500

In September 2011, the California Legislature pased a bill requiring cities and counties to have an economic impact analysis prepared before deciding whether to approve an application to develop a large superstore. The legislation defines a superstore as a retail store of at least 90,000 square feet that devotes 10 percent or more of its space to groceries. The law lists a range of impacts that the study must assess and quantify.

Local Purchasing Preference — Oregon

smitchell — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 12:36:40 -0500

In June 2011, Oregon enacted a new law (HB 3000) that allows state agencies and local governments to give preference to goods made in Oregon and services perfomed by local businesses, even if it entails paying up to 10 percent more than the cost of out-of-state suppliers. Previously, schools, prisons and other government agencies had to choose the lowest bidder and were not allowed to consider the economic benefits of buying locally.

Internet Sales Tax Fairness - Connecticut

smitchell — Mon, 23 May 2011 08:43:16 -0500

In May 2011, Connecticut passed a law that requires e-commerce retailers to collect and remit state sales taxes if they generates more than$2,000 in sales a year through sales affiliates based in the state.

Internet Sales Tax Fairness - South Dakota

smitchell — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 07:59:48 -0500

In early 2011, South Dakota enacted the following law, which requires out-of-state retailers to notify their South Dakota customers that they owe use taxes on their purchase.

Internet Sales Tax Fairness - Illinois

smitchell — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 17:06:16 -0600

In March 2011, Illinois passed a law that requires large e-commerce retailers to collect and remit state sales taxes if they generate more than $10,000 in sales a year through sales affiliates based in Illinois.

Local Purchasing Preferences - Colorado

smitchell — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 10:05:25 -0600

A bill (HB11-1142) submitted in Colorado's 2011 legislative session would require that, when reviewing bids for contracts of $150,000 or more, "the state purchasing director or the head of the purchasing agency shall consider the state economic impact of the bid as a component of the cost assessment of the bid."

Local Purchasing Preferences — California

smitchell — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 09:20:05 -0600

California state law grants local, independently owned, small businesses a 5 percent preference when competing for state contracts. The law also sets for state agencies a goal of making at least 25 percent of their purchases with small businesses.

Community Impact Review — San Diego, CA

smitchell — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 15:23:24 -0600

San Diego enacted, in 2007 and 2010, two separate ordinances that require the city to review the economic and community impact of large-scale retail development proposals before deciding whether to approve them. One applies to all retail stores over 50,000 square feet and the other to supercenters over 90,000 square feet.

Main Street Fairness Act

smitchell — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 16:54:55 -0500

Sponsored by Senator Dick Durbin and introduced in August 2011, the Main Street Fairness Act would allow states, provided they have met certain conditions, to require large internet and mail-order retailers to collect state and local sales taxes.

Community Banks

smitchell — Mon, 10 May 2010 17:00:05 -0500

Small local and regional banks (under $10 billion in assets) provide the majority of loans for small businesses. Although small and mid-sized banks control only 22 percent of all bank assets, they account for 54 percent of small business lending. The largest 20 banks, meanwhile, command fully 57 percent of all bank assets, but account for only 28 percent of small business lending. (See our graphs for more detail.)

Community Development Financial Institutions

smitchell — Mon, 10 May 2010 16:55:57 -0500

Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) are mission-driven financial institutions that invest in businesses and community development in low-wealth areas.