Monday, August 24, 2015

Twelve applications for tourism sales tax rebates

Twelve different organizations filed applications for tourism sales tax rebates since January 1, 2013. JJ obtained the applications through a public records request submitted to the Mississippi Development Authority. The applications are posted below. They include rebates as low as $1.9 million and as high as $96.2 million.  These applications are just that, applications.  They do not state whether the application was approved or rejected



Project,                                               Application Date        Sales Tax Rebate
Renaissance at Colony Park, LLC      December 23, 2013      $29, 594,938
First Nat. Bank of Vicksburg              December 29, 2014      $3,504,809
Gulfside/Copa Casino (hotel)            April 13, 2015               Not given
Nature’s Golf (West Point)                April 20, 2015               $3,276,915
Popps Ferry Rd. (D’Iberville)           December 3, 2013         $96,261,000
Freedom Real Estate (Flowood)        June 5, 2014                 $48,750,000
Desoto Mid-South Tourism Project   December 10, 2013      $33,990,000
Centennial Plaza (Gulfport)               December 1, 2014        $51,851,178
Biloxi Baseball, LLC                         June 2, 2015                 $6,000,000
Iron Horse Grill project                     October 26, 2012          $1,936,800
Capitol Hotel (Westin project)          November 18, 2013      $15,701,850
Spectrum Bloomfield (Outlets?)       July 22, 2013                $24,039,421




22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Would it be possible for JJ to ask MDA the criteria for granting the applications and the benefits to the State.

Anonymous said...

Figure out which rep Yates had in his pocket and then you will understand why this came to be.

Anonymous said...

I'm with 8:28. Did not even know this existed. Why would a hotel, not even built, qualify for rebates? Also, a hotel and casinos should benefit from tourism. What gives?

Mom said...

Gosh, as many times as I have been to Vicksburg and I didn't know the bank was a cultural attraction!!

Mom said...

Gosh, as many times as I have been to Vicksburg and I didn't know the bank was a cultural attraction!!

Anonymous said...

Who does the lobby work for Yates?

Anonymous said...

This is $315 million given away to millionaires and multi-billion dollar corporations while our roads and bridges fall apart and other needs are ignored.

Anonymous said...

9:12am..."lobby work"???? Is that what it is called these days? Call it what it is....illegal kickbacks and favors.

Anonymous said...

9:24, I bet you sit in your crappy world and b%$#h about your crappy world all day long!! Wake up people, we shouldn't be complaining about this, we should be encouraging more of it!! We are a broke d#$%k state because we wouldn't know innovation if it slapped us in the face. Just about everyone of these deals brings money and jobs into this god forsaken dump! And before any of you tell me to leave, shut up, there are a ton of us who are conservative and still want the state doing things like this. The private sector here needs a shot in the arm!

Anonymous said...

Corporate welfare.

Anonymous said...

So anyone who employs anybody - thus "bringing jobs" - shouldn't have to pay taxes, 10:06?

And where is the "innovation" at Renaissance? It's a mall.

Anonymous said...

The Westin is screaming failure before it even opens. Developer and contractor come out smelling like a rose. Same guys did the Iron Horse, who is giving these idiots business advice.

Anonymous said...

9:24

Yep, lobbyist for Yates for sure.

Rebate THIS! said...

The rebates should be restricted to municipalities that are struggling, small towns with zero industry that need infrastructure improvements and can't even afford stop signs. It's become a candy jar. And the legislature allows it to continue.

Anonymous said...

@11:03 I wouldn't bet on the failure of the Westin. While it might be an overpriced project ($50 million plus for just 200 rooms), they've already got $20 million from Hinds County (spent by the developers BEFORE they even broke ground!), $9 million for the JRA/City, and $16 million in Tourism Tax Rebate! They've got the best deal going (maybe even better than Yates).

Given this kind of public subsidy, I kind of doubt the Westin is going to be a failure.

I don't know what kind of deal terms they have with Hinds County, but if they were smart enough to get the County to let them use County funds for all of the pre-development costs, then they're probably smart enough to have non-recourse debt.

It's a sweetheart of a deal. I'm just jealous I wasn't smart enough to think of something like this and get into the development business myself. Instant millionaires!

Anonymous said...

I have noted that several of the Westin developers are listed as the committee heads on that bogus "Keep Ridgeland Great" website and facebook page, along with Alderman Scott Jones' daughter.

Anonymous said...

Government Sachs.

Anonymous said...

MDA is a joke, remember the Beef Plant debacle...

Book It, Danno! said...

11:53; It's quite possible, as you clearly illustrated, for the men behind the curtain to become millionaires while the project itself is a miserable failure. Think about it. The only times they'll sell out 200 rooms will be when the Justice Department or 100 black mayors come to town.

Anonymous said...

I have just the opposite expectation 11:53. Also, check your facts and the details on the debt.

Anonymous said...

@12:49 Correct. It may be capitalism, but this will place burden on the Kind Ed and Marriot. Those hotels are doing "ok" for now but adding this third hotel and now all will be fighting for scraps. Zero demand generators in downtown Jackistan. The convention center is laughable. The Westin developers have ZERO hotel experience. The Westin is a failure in the sense that it will never do the projected numbers compared to some BS proforma submitted to get the project green lighted. Let's see how it unfolds.

Surprised "The District" at Eastover isn't on the list.

Anonymous said...

Building more and more retail centers to compete against each other is not economic development. Phil started this thing to subsidize Yates.


Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.