Economic development

Streamlining Corporate Tax Cuts to Encourage Job Growth: New Mexico Tax Reform

Virtually every state and local government offers tax credits to businesses in an effort to lure and retain jobs and increase tax revenues. The New Mexico Economic Development Department retained Public Works to analyze its portfolio of corporate tax credits and to propose policies that would streamline these tax credits and incentives and effectively attract high wage jobs to New Mexico. The Public Works proposals identified incentives that would benefit New Mexico workers by rewarding the creation of jobs with above-average wages and employee benefits in likely high-growth, 21st Century industries.

New Economy Policies to Attract High Tech Businesses: New York

The New York State Office of the State Comptroller retained Public Works to develop a menu of best practices that New York State could pursue in the areas of tax policy, Internet access and related areas. The Comptroller's Office asked Public Works to identify best practices, strategies, and policies that have been successful in attracting high tech industry and talent in the context of the New Economy and prepare a report enumerating successful policies, illustrating how successful policies were implemented, and how those policies were measured to determine their success. Public Works produced reports on issues such as rural development of broadband technology and the development of future high-growth industries such as clean energy, environmental clean-up technology, and chip manufacturing as part of this effort.

Growing an Urban Middle Class: New York City

The New York City Council asked Public Works to study and formulate ways in which New York City could attract a larger middle-class. The specific policy areas addressed were economic development, transportation, education, and housing. Public Works studied the City's historical development, its economy, culture and character, and other environmental factors directing or limiting avenues of policy development. The resulting reports involved a thorough environmental assessment of City governmental capabilities, evaluation of a wide range of existing policies and programs, and formulation of an extensive list of policy recommendations for the City government.

State and Local Collaborations to Encourage Smart Growth: Delaware

State and local governments throughout the country struggle with the pressures of growth and development. While the needs of a growing economy require policy-makers to accommodate increased development, they must also contend with the negative consequences of increased congestion, pressures on open space, and other "quality of life" concerns. As "smart growth" initiatives take hold across America, practical problems develop in maintaining this delicate balance. In New Castle County, Delaware, Public Works has been working with the county government to make sure transportation needs are addressed along with additional growth and development. By looking to new and innovative relationships between the county and state governments, Public Works seeks to create greater cooperation and accountability between the state, which controls transportation planning and spending, and the county, which makes land use decisions. The goal is a better integration of transportation and land use policies that will result in sustained economic growth, more certainty in the development process, and reduced congestion in this already-developed part of the state.

Rural Service Delivery and Development: California Office of Planning and Research

Public Works was retained by the California Governor's Office of Planning and Research to evaluate rural service provision by state human services agencies. Public Works provided assessments of and recommendations to improve California's "small cities" grant program.

Expanding Information Technology Industries: Delaware

Public Works developed a package of legislative policy proposals for the Delaware Information Technology Initiative - a public/private partnership formed by the Governor to attract and expand technology industries in Delaware.

Securities Reform: West Virginia Task Force for Securities Administration

In response to the rapidly changing securities industry, the West Virginia State Auditor and Securities Commissioner established a blue ribbon panel of securities experts, the Task Force for Securities Administration, to improve how West Virginia protects consumers from unscrupulous activity and fosters capital formation to examine ways to promote economic growth. Public Works assisted the Task Force in identifying issues and developing recommendations to improve the administration of securities and increase protections to consumers, including:

• Facilitating communication by and among the Securities Industry, Investors and Commissioners Staff;
  
• Developing continuing education for practitioners;
  
• Creating a system of uniform and systematic resolution of customer complaints;
  
• Promoting financial literacy; and
  
• Pursuing a series of regulatory and enforcement related improvements.
  

Understanding Technology Trends: U.S. West's Center for Digital Culture

Public Works analyzed and advised U.S. West's Center for Digital Culture on emerging technology trends and their implications for government and society.

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