Weathering the Storm: Free Seminar

on Post-Sandy Rebuilding Rules

 

Archer & Greiner land use lawyers will team with experts from Marathon Engineering and Environmental Services to present "Weathering the Storm: Land Use Approval Process for Rebuilding Waterfront Homes and Businesses," a free seminar in Red Bank, N.J., on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013. Speakers will also include Christopher Dolphin, Land Use Regulation Section Chief with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and Anthony Mercantante, Administrator for the Township of Middletown, N.J., which was heavily affected by Super Storm Sandy.

The event at the Molly Pitcher Inn on Riverside Avenue begins at 8 a.m. with a complimentary breakfast. Click here for more information and to register.

Read an article on the rebuilding process written by one of the seminar presenters, Clint B. Allen, Partner in Archer & Greiner's Land Use Group.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) have extended the deadline for returning applications for disaster assistance loans for damage from Super Storm Sandy.  The new deadline is March 1, 2013, extended from Jan. 30.

FEMA disaster assistance for individuals and families can include money for rental assistance, essential home repairs, personal property and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance. SBA loans are available to homeowners, renters and business owners for physical and economic damage.

 Click here for more information and to apply.

The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) has reduced interest rates on five business loan programs to encourage new economic growth and job creation. DCED lowered rates from 2.75% to 1.5% for the Machinery and Equipment Loan Fund, the Small Business First Program, the Pollution Prevention Assistance Program and the Export Financing Program. Additionally, the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA) approved lowering its interest rates to 1.5%.

Read more about the loans and how to apply.

By: Brian M. Nelson, Esq.

States are currently faced not only with competition from out-of-state gaming halls, but also from remote computer servers hosting electronic games of chance, which are difficult to regulate. As demand increases for cash-strapped states to retain revenue derived from gaming and lotteries, many have turned to the Internet to compete. 

In August 2012, Nevada issued its first permit for online poker games. Also in 2012, Illinois began allowing the sale of lottery tickets online. Delaware has also begun to authorize certain forms of online gaming. Greatly accelerating these efforts is a September 2011 determination by the U.S. Department of Justice, which concluded that interstate transmissions of wire communications that do not relate to a sporting event or contest are not prohibited by the Wire Act (18 U.S.C. § 1084(a)). For lotteries as least, this determination seemingly resolved a conflict with the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (31 U.S.C. §§ 5361-5367) as it appears to carve out the intermediate out-of-state routing of electronic data associated with lawful lottery transactions that otherwise occur in-state. 

In New Jersey, there are currently numerous legislative proposals seeking to authorize various forms of electronic gaming and lottery.

Read More

Mayor's Task Force Will Recommend Ways to Boost Manufacturing in Philadelphia 
 

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter has established the Manufacturing Task Force to evaluate the state of manufacturing in Philadelphia and develop a strategy to promote and grow an important sector of the City's economy. The Mayor's Task Force will be comprised of up to 25 members, including manufacturing industry executives, policy experts and business leaders. The members will work with a consultant to develop an action plan to encourage business growth and attraction as well as to promote innovation.

Read more about the Manufacturing Task Force.

For information on how Archer & Greiner can help your business in Philadelphia, contact Carlton L. Johnson, Government Affairs Group Co-Chair, or any member of the Group.

Introduced by Assemblyman Albert Coutinho, Chair of the Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee, the bill, A3680, would merge five state tax-incentive programs into two, with one focused on job creation and the other on economic development. It would expand two programs administered by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority: The Grow New Jersey Assistance Program would be the state's premier business attraction and retention incentive, and the Economic Redevelopment and Growth Grant program would be the sole redeveloper incentive. The bill would phase out the provisions of the Business Retention and Relocation Assistance Grant Program, the Business Employment Incentive Program and the Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit Program.

Read more about the legislation.

For more information on state incentive programs, contact a member of the Government Affairs Group.

Haddonfield, NJ 856.795.2121 | Hackensack, NJ 201.342.6000 | Princeton, NJ 609.580.3700
Flemington, NJ 908.788.9700 | Shrewsbury, NJ 732.741.9993 | Philadelphia, PA 215.963.3300
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