Posted on 08/24/2017 2:19:27 PM PDT by TigerClaws
I went to school in Des Moines and agree that it's a nice place to live.
More than that. Son-in-law and his brother came west from Iowa to California because of lack of jobs. His sister also transplanted to California. Changes in Iowa enticed them back to Des Moines. Tax incentives drew them back, as well as industry. Where government couldn't make money because of empty factories and vacant homes, there has been a renaissance due to government incentives. There are now jobs where there were none before. New buildings going up, builder's cranes and work crews are in evidence. Lots of craftsmen at work, construction crews busy in neighborhoods.
I think you need to rethink your position in regards to tax incentives, because what government is doing in Iowa is working at creating jobs. Unlike Illinois, NY, and liberal rat-holes, the people in Iowa aren't wasting money but drawing it in.
One of our granddaughters started Kindergarten in Des Moines a couple weeks ago; we walked her with her parents to school a few blocks away. The principal and teachers went out of their way to greet us and learn our names, and walked the kids up to each parent or car, remembering each family, even my wife and I as grandparents. Quite a contrast to another grandchild starting school kindergarten here in California this past week, principle and teachers couldn't care less about the parents and kids, not warm at all. Iowa is friendly.
So Apple needs financial assistance but not the mom abd pop start-ups? SC has given plenty of tax help to draw businesses and the upstate is booming. But millions for 50 jobs? You do the math. Really makes no difference to me. I’m retired and have no desire to visit Iowa.
Read the article again, instead of speculating and making things up. I guessed you missed the part about it being a property tax abatement of 71 percent over 20 years. The government is not handing over taxpayer money over to Apple. They are giving property tax relief where currently there is no property tax income going to government. Also, Apple is giving $100 million towards public improvements. So local public gets money from Apple, while giving none to Apple.
Cook said Apple will contribute up to $100 million toward a "public improvement fund" for the city of Waukee, adding the first project supported by the fund will be a youth sports complex that "will be open to all." The bulk of the subsidy is a planned $188.2 million property tax abatement of 71 percent over 20 years provided by the city of Waukee, according to economic development officials.
You’re right. Apple needs all the help they can get.
Now you're nitpicking to divert from the article. That report of overseas money is a proven bogus report. Apple makes money overseas and pays taxes on it overseas. Why should they double pay taxes to the USA when they're paying taxes overseas where it is earned? They pay plenty in taxes here when goods are made and sold here. Apple is no different than thousands of other companies who make money overseas and pay taxes there and not bring money into the USA. Doesn't make sense, but then again logic is lost on people.
This is a mile from me.
A great thing!
Lots of construction jobs; then some good paying jobs once it’s up.
I do mortgage lending. Our local economy here is very strong with lots of different industries.
Apple is a great addition .
Since when are economic stimulating tax cuts a bad thing on Free Republic? Talk about buzz kill.
Tax cuts are always good. Joe’s garage is going to see a huge increase in business. win-win.
Glad to hear that! I'm currently looking at living in Iowa part of the year, that's why I've been looking into buying real estate there, have made offers. Daughter and son-in-law invested in building a home and restaurant there, and tell me that local government is friendly and cooperative in helping builders and not having red tape, unlike the difficulty in working with obstructive codes, regulations and logjams in California. My wife and I just sold a house and had a thick stack of papers and regulations to sign, regards energy efficiency, low-water use, checks for underground oil tanks, etc., ridiculous stuff. Charged hundreds of dollars each for checks before allowed to sell. Couldn't sell until the attic was specially insulated, couldn't get that done until an electrical check (where a guy simply stuck his head in the attic and glanced around for 20 seconds costing hundreds). I like what I see in Iowa.
My point is the super rich don’t need the help - the little guys/girls do. And the article says 50 permanent jobs will be created. Again, you do the math.
Did you cheer when the government bailed out Wall St.?
Send them out here to flyover country. Des Moines. Kansas City. You can't meet a nicer bunch of people.
You can’t really believe that buying into a bunch of
pedo-pizza conspiracy crap is what got Trump elected.
Nobody is that idiotic.
Are they?
Do you work on K street?
Were you invested in Solyndra??
How much good farmland will Apple destroy?
meh...
This is the booming west end of the Des Moines metro area. Any farmland was going to be developed anyway. Lots of high end homes not far from this location. Not sure they are real happy!
I do few loans out of state during the year.
Always amazed to see the extra fees charged in many other parts of the country. Those just look they go for no good reason; other than giving money to a govt entity!
Yes things are good here now; not perfect. Our central location is a great asset. I think e-commerece will figure we are a great location to ship out orders.
Apple put a data center about 15 miles from where I am sitting. It is in the largest business park in the US. In the desert and it consumes mass quantities of water - a precious commodity around here. Oh and the number of long term jobs is pitiful compared to the 1 million square foot facility size.
Oh yeah, Apple doesn’t really care. They just look for the best deal.
There’s already a bunch of data centers around Des Moines, with lots of big insurance and banking customers. Very stable geography and plenty of water compared to a lot of places.
The locals with expensive homes and comparatively difficult commutes probably like the fact that the data center doesn’t have many jobs.
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