Muscle Shoals Has Given Thousands of Dollars..

 

...to recruit new businesses. From fast food joints to factories, the City of Muscle Shoals has given almost limitless incentives to recruit new business. 

From a TimesDaily article:

City officials in Muscle Shoals have jumped into the game, recently giving away about $1 million in incentives to regional and national retailers picking the growing city for their next location.

Incentives package

Since 2013, the Muscle Shoals City Council has approved the return of up to $950,000 in sales tax collections and about $50,000 in site improvements. The incentives were offered to four developers through a 50-50 sharing of the city’s municipal sales tax collections generated by approved businesses.

The idea is these companies, with their branding power, will draw new consumers to the city, and new money into the city’s coffers. The sales tax revenues generated help offset the incentives offered, according to officials.

Mayor David Bradford said in putting together the redevelopment plan for the Woodward Avenue area of Muscle Shoals, city leaders pulled pieces from several different but similar incentives plans to come up with a formula he thinks works for Muscle Shoals.

The plan requires $1 million in annual sales, a business history and employment projections. The incentives plan is capped at $250,000, or five years of rebates, whichever happens first.

This is done to make sure the city is getting more than it is giving in these deals, Bradford said.

Muscle Shoals also requires any retail business that asks for a tax break must be a nationally known company. Mom-and-pop businesses are left out because they can’t showcase successes in other markets.

“Each of these is looked at individually,” Bradford said. “It seems to be working, but they are considered by the (city) council on a case-by-case basis.”

How about keeping the old? It's always been apparent that Aronov Realty is reluctant to invest new money in old property. According to the City, the Montgomery real estate firm has "repaired" the SouthGate water line 19 times; each time has proved a failure.

We're not sure how many established businesses are in SouthGate Mall at this time, but we know Tractor Supply and Burke's are big money makers. We believe there is also some sort of Bank Independent office in the complex. Aren't these current businesses worth anything to Muscle Shoals?

Yes, it IS Aronov's responsibility; however, if that company will NOT act, the city needs to do something. We understand that this is a situation Mayor Mike Lockhart has been aware of for some time, yet he's done nothing.

Whatcha doing, Mikey? Playing ball with Balacky while your city rots?

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This is Weevil. He's around seven months old and a mixed breed. You can adopt this nosey little fella at the Florence shelter in the industrial park: