The attorneys in the Economic Development/Urban Renewal Practice Group partner with public entities as they work to creatively renew and develop their communities and create new jobs through the use of tax increment financing and other incentives. The use of public funds for economic development purposes presents a number of complex policy and legal issues, and the attorneys in this Practice Group endeavor to bring the projects to fruition while protecting the public interest.  Our attorneys can assist you in selecting and authorizing the mix of incentives that is right for your project. 

Representative Projects

  • Develop and draft urban renewal plans and amendments and help the communities adopt them
     
  • Develop and draft development agreements between the community and private businesses, and help the communities adopt them
     
  • Develop and draft agreements to provide the local matches to private businesses in conjunction with State programs (e.g., High Quality Jobs Program, Workforce Housing)
     
  • Assist communities with the acquisition or disposition of property
     
  • Assist communities with annexation and minimum assessments
     
  • Assistance in new market tax credit and historic tax credit projects
     
  • Develop and draft urban revitalization plans and amendments and help the communities adopt them
     
  • Assist communities with the adoption of Self-supported Municipal Improvement Districts
     
  • Develop and draft 28E Agreements to share urban renewal powers between, for example, cities and counties
     
  • Assisted two Iowa communities establish and utilize economic development tools necessary to attract billions of dollars of investment from leading technology companies