by Ellen D. Harpel | Mar 24, 2020 | Uncategorized
Governments are rolling out new loan programs to help local small businesses struggling for survival during the COVID-19 crisis. What will make these loan programs effective? Lessons learned from the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI)* tell us: Program...
by Ellen D. Harpel | Jan 23, 2020 | Opportunity Zones, Uncategorized
The 2019 Menino Survey of Mayors asked for mayors’ opinions on the federal Opportunity Zones program. The mixed findings reflect the national debate on whether opportunity zones are a good “plan to help distressed America” or “a windfall for the rich.” About half of...
by Ellen D. Harpel | Dec 3, 2019 | Uncategorized
Smart incentive use begins with good upfront due diligence on recipients and proposed investments. This post provides a quick refresher on why it is important to conduct background research on incentive applicants and the essential steps in the process. Problem...
by Smart Incentives | Sep 18, 2019 | Uncategorized
Service industries dominate modern economies, especially when measured by number of jobs. Yet service activities tend to be underrepresented in US economic research. For good quality research on service industries, it is helpful to look abroad to the European...
by Ellen D. Harpel | Jul 21, 2019 | Incentive programs, Uncategorized
The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) recently released the report Transforming Ideas into Advances: Best Practices in State and Regional Bioscience Economic Development Initiatives. This biennial report provides a good summary of state initiatives serving...
by Smart Incentives | Jul 8, 2019 | Program Evaluation, Uncategorized
Gaining insight into tax incentive costs, benefits, and effectiveness was the top priority among delegates attending the regional seminar on Improving the Use of Incentives in the Southern Mediterranean (MED) Region. The seminar was part of the EU-OECD Programme...
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