Government assistance continues to be a dominant economic force in the development of needed public and private infrastructure. We understand the importance, especially in the current economic environment, of access to economic development incentives in all forms, including grants, tax credits, tax exemptions, and loan guarantees.
A large part of our success is our ability to secure economic incentives for our clients, enabling them to move their projects forward, expand existing operations, and research and develop new technologies. We regularly assist clients in accessing federal, state, and local economic development programs, including: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA Federal Stimulus), Federal Energy Loan Guarantees, New York State Empire Zones, Brownfield Cleanup Program tax credits, Historic Preservation tax credits, and in obtaining the tax benefits of IDA projects. Our attorneys pioneered the use of Project-Increment-Financing, or PIF, through IDAs. In addition, we have experience creating community benefits agreements, whereby private businesses develop unique partnerships with local governments and the larger community.
We also have in-house expertise in responsible and sustainable community revitalization. We have experience handling projects centered on green building strategies and energy efficiency techniques, such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and Energy Star certifications, and the availability of Federal and State government incentives for green design, including tax credits. The Firm’s Energy and Natural Resources practice group has extensive experience in utility tariffs, parallel operating agreements, and project grant applications under the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority Distributed Generation and Combined Heat and Power Program.